Leaning Towards Taking the Prius Plunge in Northern Virginia

[Teknocrat]

Hi all!

Been reading this forum for a while, but this is my first time posting. I've wanted a prius ever since the 2001's came out, but I am only now in the financial position to get one. I'm thinking about buying a 2005 soon if possible, but I'm a bit put off by all the talk of waiting lists and 6,000 dollar markups. So, I have some questions for anybody that has bought a 2004 or 2005 in the Northern Virginia/DC/Southern Maryland region. I've seen quite a few 2004's and 2005's tooling around!

My questions:
-I have not seen much talk on the lists recently about waiting lists. Anybody in the region know how long I'd have to wait?
-What about markups? I know the law of supply and demand and all that, but the simple fact is that I can't afford any markup. How many are getting MSRP? If marked up (or down?!?!?!) by how much?
-Dealers? Good experiences? Bad experiences? Which dealers have the most cars coming in?

ANY insight, help, tips appreciated. Hopefully I'll wave to your prius from mine soon!

[tntna]

FYI, you can find dealers that have Prius available NOW on this Forum and on PriusOnline. That's how I got my Prius in three days. I needed a car now and couldn't wait. I got it for MSRP. Some dealers will try to mark it up, others won't. The car was ordered by someone and they cancelled the order so the dealer is "stuck" with the car. They usually don't last long though. Good luck.

[randalla]

Hi all!

Been reading this forum for a while, but this is my first time posting. I've wanted a prius ever since the 2001's came out, but I am only now in the financial position to get one. I'm thinking about buying a 2005 soon if possible, but I'm a bit put off by all the talk of waiting lists and 6,000 dollar markups. So, I have some questions for anybody that has bought a 2004 or 2005 in the Northern Virginia/DC/Southern Maryland region. I've seen quite a few 2004's and 2005's tooling around!

My questions:
-I have not seen much talk on the lists recently about waiting lists. Anybody in the region know how long I'd have to wait?
-What about markups? I know the law of supply and demand and all that, but the simple fact is that I can't afford any markup. How many are getting MSRP? If marked up (or down?!?!?!) by how much?
-Dealers? Good experiences? Bad experiences? Which dealers have the most cars coming in?

ANY insight, help, tips appreciated. Hopefully I'll wave to your prius from mine soon!

Since you're in VA you might be interested in knowing that some folks were able to locate their Prius in West VA with little or no wait.

[rflagg]

My suggestion -

Call around, find out approximate wait times. Toyota of Alexandria didn't call me for the 3 months I was on their wait list (I called them every 2 weeks, it was the beginning of this year), while I got my car at Koons Tysons for $1k over msrp in less than a month. Some here got theirs from Koons at MSRP, others had problems with them. I guess it's just luck of the draw with specific dealer and salesperson and so on. If you call one dealer and get on a waitlist at MSRP, and things aren't moving along swiftly enough for you, call around and get on other lists (as long as deposit is refundable!) Some people waited 8 months for their car, some got it in weeks. It's just a matter of how soon you want it (travelling further, paying more, etc. vs being loyal to only one dealer, contacting only dealers in your immediate vicinity, etc.) Best of luck!!

-m.

[joanclare]

I got mine at Bill Page Toyota for MSRP. I had to wait 4 months, but that was about a year ago. I'd give them a call and see what their current availability/price is.

[hdrygas]

Hang in there, call around, you can get one at MSRP. You might have to drive a bit. Try more rural areas, but don't neglect the others. Things are getting looser. Visualize getting a Prius for 3k under MSRP.

[bruceha_2000]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hdrygas\";p=\"53721)</div>

Hang in there, call around, you can get one at MSRP.  You might have to drive a bit.  Try more rural areas, but don't neglect the others.  Things are getting looser. [/b]

Right. And DON'T go with just 1 dealer. They have NO control over how many cars they get or what color/pkg. Find those with shorter lists and higher cars/month. Tell them MSRP and refundable deposit or you aren't interested.

Visualize getting a Prius for 3k under MSRP.

Henry, what HAVE you been drinking! :-)

[DaddyLongLegs]

Bought mine at Miller Toyota in Manassas, VA at MSRP in less than 3 months after placing order. Reputable and a high volume Prius dealer. I moved up list rapidly on the list after agreeing a #9 package, which was more readily available. Here in NOVA there are a lot of Prius sales and availability appears to be increasing based upon production increases. Check around...

[zmre2b]

Try what I did: I got an offer for two cars within 2 weeks.

I called a bunch of dealers in the NoVa area and farther away in (W. Va and PA etc.). Told them all I wanted a Prius in A or B colors with package Y or Z. Some put me on a list; some said they would call me when they get something; only a couple wanted to charge my credit card for a deposit.

Koons at Tysons called 2 days later and said they could get me what I wanted in 2 weeks. I said great, but I was sceptical and kept looking. A couple other dealers called or sent me emails with various Priuii that did not meet my requirements. I checked in with Koons and asked for a Vin number. Koons called back with a vin number about 4 days before the car was due. I was then feeling less sceptical. They also confirmed the price was simply MSRP plus their doc fee (~$189?) tax and plates. It seemed too good to be true.

When the day came for delivery at Koons, Darcar Toyota in Silver Spring MD called me to say they have exactly what I want on their lot, but I have to come right now, and oh by the way, they want $3k over MSRP. I tell them what a surprise, that another dealer has a car for me also and is willing to sell it at just MSRP. They call back and counter with just $1k over. I say forget it. They finally call back and say ok at only MSRP. I say ok, I'll be there after work; they say no you have to come now. I say ok. So I quickly go to Koons, half expecting Koons to not have the car or for them to try to sell some dealer package with it or annoy me in some other way and then I'll just go to Darcar.

But everything went very smoothly at Koons. I was financing through my own bank with a rate their finance guy couldn't touch, and he wasn't obnoxious about trying to sell me any extra warranty etc. Amazingly they didn't try to sell me a bunch of garbage to increase the price.

The only problems with Koons are:
1) the fine print on their contract is very one-sided. Obnoxiously so.
2) they did not give me a predelivery inspection checklist.
3) they did not install the undercarriage plugs (I installed them later after finding them in the glove box, which suggests that they didn't even do a full pre delivery inspection).
4) the salesman didn't tell me a single thing about the car (although I did try to give the impression that I knew what I was doing and was in a hurry, so he could have been responding to that).
5) they didn't offer any free maintenence or other perks for buying from them.
6) They put a Koons sticker on the car even though I asked them not to (although it came off very easily).

But overall it was a very quick smooth transaction and I have to say that I can recommend them.

Darcar seemed a little slimy for trying to get over MSRP and saying I had to come now (Koons offered the car at MSRP from the start and was willing to hold the car for me).

Leesburg Toyota is very slimy for still not crediting my credit card after many calls to them to credit the refundable deposit.

[kschmohl]

Oursman Toyota in Chantilly,

Originally ordered a AM pkg silver on 11/06 and the car would have been in on 12/20 to pick up...

however, changed my mind...

As of 12/2/05 I switched my order to a BC pkg silver... they are saying mid-january but I am thinking Feb... March at latest...

Oh yes, MSRP price... they have free servicing too somewhat and a loaner program...

Kevin