Surprising events to make me smile..

[Indy]

To my surprise, I have been informed that my Prius is ready to pick up!

I ordered it about February 15, and I was told it would be an eight month wait. About a week later I was called and told that it would be much faster due to rapidly increasing shipments, perhaps two months. Then a week later I was called and told that one was available, almost like what I ordered. I turned it down, not wanting to compromise, and not really be financially ready (I ordered when I did to allow myself time to sell my other car and save for the down payment).

So I was called again Friday, when the dealer was getting ready to close for the night. I told the guy I would call back upon their opening Saturday. I needed the night to think about the money, but this time it was the exact car (the dealer explained to me that getting your car is not exactly like ordering a car, more like expressing a preference and waiting for the right one to be available to the dealer). When I called Saturday someone had already called about it and was coming to drive it! I told myself I would accept fate's decision, so when they called back and said the other guy had decided against it, I was thrilled!

So, I go in Monday to pick it up, and I am hurriedly compiling information, mostly from this site, but also from loan companies so that I do not have to accept the Toyota loan if it is not competitive. I want to offer my thanks to this community -- I would not have been ready of it were not for you, and you have given me much enjoyment in the process of learning. I have made the bronze annual donation in appreciation.

I will let you know how it goes!

[paprius4030]

This brings a question up that i always wondered about. Why can't you order a Prius the exact way you want it? Is this how Toyota does it for all their models or just the Prius? When I was looking to buy a Prius last year i was floored when the dealer told me the same as to Indy, that you can just state your preferences. I couldn't believe it, any other car, as least American cars, you can order one exactly the way you want it.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Toyota is making a bunch of Prii as quickly as they can. They make various models and ship them out when they are ready. The problem is that with such a shortage of Prii, there is no guarentee that your dealer will receive your vehicle in the immediate future. The color or package or both might be wrong. But there's nothing the dealer can do. That's why some poeple say they have been on the list longer than others.

Indy, for example, might have actually gotten the car ahead of people who have been on the list for longer. It just happened that Indy's car came in before someone else's.

It's hard to blame Toyota for this. They are doing what they can.

[paprius4030]

So can I order a Sienna, for example, exactly the way i want it like I can order a Caravan?

[Indy]

I ordered the Salsa Red with the lowest option package - only the side airbags. My guess is that the ones with more options are more in demand, so they take longer to get.

I plan to go to Goodyear immediately to upgrade to Comfortreads (Toyota, what are you thinking). Anyone have any information on upgrade costs?

[4X4 No More]

Indy,

The MSRP for the tires is $108.00 each. That price should cover the cost of mounting and balancing them. Assuming you are from IN (like me), there is a small tire tax that has to be paid. I think that it is a couple of dollars per tire. That may actually be a federal tax....not sure. Figure it is just an IN thing. They tax everything!

I think that Toyota must have chosen the set of tires they did for resistance reasons. There is a better rating for dry traction on the Comfor Tred tires. That means that there will be more friction between the tire and the road. So, that means lower MPG. It's hard to say how much lower without some crazy math formula.

Anyway, congratulations on the purchase of the new car. I just bought mine last Saturday. I fell in love with it the second that I drove it. The Salsa Red is a nice color too! Good luck with the tires!

[Indy]

When you say $108, do you mean that is a net cost? Will I not receive credit for the OEM tires?

Thanks.

[Canuck]

I'm not certain that it is common across Canada but we ordered exactly the 2005 Prius we chose from the information available and that is what arrived at our dealer in about 2 1/2 months. I still do not understand why a great many seem to have problems in getting what they wish to pay for and why they have to wait for such long periods. Must be different systems of dealership unless ours was unique.

[4X4 No More]

Oh yeah....sorry. I wasn't taking that into consideration. You probably can get somekind of money back since they are new. It probably won't be the full MSRP though. I would imagine you would have to haggle a little.

[Indy]

I am not sure, either, but just so that you know, as well, somewhere here someone posted about being able to go to a Goodyear dealer shortly after taking delivery of your car and getting some sort of credit for your OEM's in order to obtain upgraded Goodyears. Otherwise, quite frankly, I might consider some other brands. But, the Comfortreads are supposed to be very good, and my personal opinion is that tires contribute as much to the quality of the suspension of a car as the springs, shocks, etc., so I always invest in very good tires in order to best preserve my investment in the car (not to mention noise and safety considerations), so the OEM's are not an option.

By the way, it seems that suddenly I am seeing quite a few Priuses around Indianapolis. Probably my filters shifting, but it could be the increase of shipments into Indiana. Regardless, it warms my heart to know I am not the only alien living among us! 8)