For those wavering about buying a Prius....

[BVISAILMAN]

Don't forget the $3,150 tax break, but HURRY.... This should make you feel real good

[bruceha_2000]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(quagmire0 @ Aug 2 2006, 02:49 PM) [snapback]296460[/snapback]</div>

with the dealer charging MSRP the trade-in is the only avenue to negotiate with.[/b]

Yep. When they will deal on the selling price, they figure out how much money they want out of your wallet and if you push for a higher trade in, they just don't lower the price on the new vehicle as much. Thus the 'set the price on the new vehicle before you talk about the trade-in' rule. Then you KNOW what they are really offering for the trade.

If they won't give you at LEAST the KBB trade-in value, I think walking is reasonable. the difference between trade-in and retail price leaves a lot of room for them to fix whatever might be wrong (pretty cheaply if the have mechanics on staff that aren't working full out, plus they aren't paying the inflated prices for parts that they charge us) and sell it at a profit.

[bruceha_2000]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kirbinster @ Aug 1 2006, 02:05 PM) [snapback]295767[/snapback]</div>

Keep in mind that depending what state you are in it may not pay to sell it yourself - and the dealers know that. Take for example that you have a car that is worth $10K in trade, in New Jersey if you trade it in for that value it reduces the taxable amount on the new vehicle, so you save yourself $700 in sales tax. Thus, you would have to make more than $10,700 yourself just to break even on a private sale not to mention the added insurance for however long you keep the car, etc....
[/b]

Not true in Vermont. You have 90 days to sell it privately. It doesn't matter if you trade it or sell it, you reduce the taxable amount of the purchased vehicle by the amount you get for the sold vehicle. For example: The new car costs $20K, the trade-in is $5K, the private sale is $7K, the retail sale is $9K:
Trade for $5K, taxes are $900, your out of pocket: $15,900. (6% sales tax in VT)
The dealer now has $4K to put into repairing and marketing the old car before they hit break even. Sweet deal for THEM. Maybe that is why they WANT you to trade in your old car, unless it is a junker.

Sell privately for $6K, taxes are $840, your out of pocket: $14,840. Even if you don't push for close to the KBB private price, you are still ahead by $1,060. Yes, you have some hassle, and yes, you have to clean the car up but that might be worth close to $1,100. If you get the $7K private sale price, your out of pocket: $13,780. You just have to decide how long you want to wait to sell the old car.


Moral: Check your state's tax laws (yes I know some of you don't have to do that )

[Three60guy]

When negotiating with a dealer remember he does not need to budge UNLESS you give him a good reason to. One reason which will still work today is the concept of the "Internet Department". Call a number of out of state dealers and ask if they have an Internet Dept. The odds are half of them will. Ask them what their best deal is. You will be surprised how many will give you $500 to $1500 off of MSRP. Now go with this information to your local dealer. Tell him "I have a number of offers.....here they are". Tell them what you found and ask if they would like to keep my business. Odds are you will find one local dealer who will want to keep your business local. Why do I know this? Because that is what I did. I got mine at $1000 below MSRP. See what you can come up with. Others have done better than I did. Persistance is the name of the game.

Cheers

p.s. Be prepared, however, to drive to that out of state dealer to pick up your new Prius. Some people fly there and drive back.

[kirbinster]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Three60guy @ Aug 10 2006, 03:56 PM) [snapback]301027[/snapback]</div>

When negotiating with a dealer remember he does not need to budge UNLESS you give him a good reason to. One reason which will still work today is the concept of the "Internet Department". Call a number of out of state dealers and ask if they have an Internet Dept. The odds are half of them will. Ask them what their best deal is. You will be surprised how many will give you $500 to $1500 off of MSRP. Now go with this information to your local dealer. Tell him "I have a number of offers.....here they are". Tell them what you found and ask if they would like to keep my business. Odds are you will find one local dealer who will want to keep your business local. Why do I know this? Because that is what I did. I got mine at $1000 below MSRP. See what you can come up with. Others have done better than I did. Persistance is the name of the game.

Cheers

p.s. Be prepared, however, to drive to that out of state dealer to pick up your new Prius. Some people fly there and drive back.
[/b]

You need to get unemotionally attached to the purchase in order to get a good deal. You have to look at as just a financial decision and be prepared to walk. Here is an example: I went to the local appliance store where I had already research prices of a new fridge that I wanted on Saturday. Their price was not bad as it was already on "sale" and was down to $479. On top of that they wanted $50 to deliver the new fridge and $10 to take away the old one plus 7% tax on top of that. I thought for a while and told them I would pay them $500 net net net. The sales man told me that was not possible - I told him to check with his manager. He came back and told me they could get down to $508. I told him that sounded good, but for $8 I was going to walk - my final offer was $500 as I told him, and I started to walk. Next thing I knew he asked me what credit card I wanted to use. Moral - be prepared to walk and most times you will get a good deal.

[tmgrl3]

I came in with all the paperwork from the internet on the Prius prices...

I wound up with 06 Seaside Pearl Pkg #5, $500 down and $27, change for rest...I did take the extended warranty for another 1800....just my choice..and now I'm trying to get Roadside service (which was discontinued in the 06) thrown in for all the grief I have had with no one at Toyota knowing whether it came as part of factory warranty or not.


This is our 5th? Toyota from same dealer. They wouldn't take my 91 Camry with 85,000 miles in trade....I really did do pretty good with that...$1800...so that covered my warranty and now the tax-break.

I knew I would wait and that I wasn't going to have much wiggle room.

I really wanted the Prius and that was that.

terri

[prez1]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ZenCruiser @ Aug 1 2006, 03:52 PM) [snapback]295865[/snapback]</div>

I just bought my '06 on 7/14/06. We were offered ~$500 for a '97 Grand Caravan SE that was in pretty good shape but had 125,000 miles on it [/b]

We had a Ford Windstar to trade in, a '96 with 185,000 miles on it and a transmission that was starting to act up. They gave me $500 for it, and I was thrilled. I was just glad I didn't have to pay them to take it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(terri @ Aug 10 2006, 06:35 PM) [snapback]301175[/snapback]</div>

I came in with all the paperwork from the internet on the Prius prices...

I wound up with 06 Seaside Pearl Pkg #5, $500 down and $27, change for rest...I did take the extended warranty for another 1800....just my choice..
terri
[/b]

When we bought our '06, I stupidly bought the extended warranty for $2600. Then I saw the forum with Troy Dietrich's deal. I went back in and cancelled the warranty, got a full refund. I just bought the 6 yr/ 100.000 platinum Toyota warranty for $875.

[tmgrl3]

I hear everyone talking about Troy's deal...but don't know where to go to get information on it?? Does Toyota honor it? If anyone has a link, please help!

I will probably keep mine ....I'm in my 30 day period until next week...

terri

[prez1]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(terri @ Aug 10 2006, 07:26 PM) [snapback]301199[/snapback]</div>

I hear everyone talking about Troy's deal...but don't know where to go to get information on it?? Does Toyota honor it? If anyone has a link, please help!

I will probably keep mine ....I'm in my 30 day period until next week...

terri
[/b]

At the top of the page, click on "Prius Accessories", then "Discounted Extended Warranty". It gives you all you need.

[IsrAmeriPrius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(terri @ Aug 10 2006, 05:26 PM) [snapback]301199[/snapback]</div>

Does Toyota honor it?[/b]

Troy is a Toyota dealer. He sells the genuine Toyota Financial Services extended warranty.