Waiting List Estimates

[TechGuy]

I ordered my 2005 Prius about 3 weeks ago from a local dealer & put down a $500 non-refundable deposit. I specified package 6 in almost any color. I was told it would be a 2-6 month wait, and he'd let me know a better estimate after a month. I called last week, and he had no additional info. Based on posts here, I see it varies highly from dealer to dealer (or is it area-based?)... should I be calling around other dealers? Will any of them be able to give specific timeframes, or will I just find one at another dealer ready to be picked up? It looks like a lot of people here are only waiting a week to a month, and I'm pretty impatient as it is.

[dpool]

When we got our first Prius (a 2004) in January of 2004, we lived in Central Florida and things were so bad as far as waiting lists that I turned to the internet. I found a couple of cars available at dealers in parts of the country I would have traveled to (mostly because of family nearby) but they were not exactly what I wanted. Then I got a heads-up in a Prius group about two that were coming in to a dealer in Charleston, WV and one of them was exactly the car! We bought it and had it trucked down to Florida.

Since then, in fairly rapid order, we've moved to Albuquerque, NM and bought a 2005 from a dealer here. This time, there were no waiting lists (this particular dealer's choice) and there were cars coming in (just to this dealer, not to the region) and, while they didn't have every color and every package, we found one that was "26 days away" that we liked.

We put down $500 (refundable) and, 28 days later (hey, close enough!) the car was here.

What I'm saying is that, in our experience at least, things have improved drastically in the 15 months between these purchases...and if I were you and I was finding long waits and less-than-precise information, I wouldn't hesitate to hit the internet again.

Dave
'05 Tideland Pearl #6
Albuquerque, NM

[NCNyrk]

Dealers here in Raleigh/Durham NC told me they could probably get me an '07 model in 18 months or so. Smaller dealers in the rural part of the state said they might be able to trade one from their allocation within a few months, if I had a specific color or package in mind.

Based on posts here and from priusonline.com, I e.mailed most every dealer in Virginia (outside the lovely SE Toyota Distribution system) and found the exact package/color I wanted, coming in to port in 1 week. That, plus prices below MSRP, and none of the money-making add-ons that many of the dealers here in the SE region add.

I go pick up the car on Saturday, a mere 17 1/2 months before I could get one from my local dealer!

[Sufferin' Prius Envy]

Here in Sacramento, two months ago my dealer said “approximately 30 days for any model/color.” Last week the estimate went up to “two and a half to three months if we are lucky.”

The gas prices have made their wait time grow.

It never hurts to look around . . . unless you are prone to depression if it doesn’t go well.

[coloradospringsprius]

At the moment wait times are in, um, flux. I'm reading more and more posts from people who just went to the dealer and bought a Prius; I'm also still reading lots of stories of long waits. (FWIW, we waited eight months for the Prius we bought in Februrary - five from the first dealer, who then attempted to overcharge us, then three from the second dealer.) There's no question the waiting list WAS shrinking a couple of months ago, but it seems to be lengthening again as gas prices stay high, even with U.S. Prius allocation doubled from a year ago.

The situation may be different in Illinois, but in Colorado, the deposit is refundable regardless of what the dealer calls it. I.e., it's not a legally enforceable contract.

[seeh2o]

Here in Los Angeles my friend got hooked up with a dealership through the AAA new car purchasing program. They hooked her up with Norwalk Toyota. She ordered her car 3 weeks ago, Driftwood Pearl (and what in 2004 was a package 3) and she picked it up on Tues. of last week. She paid MSRP and they required no deposit.

I strongly recommend you call around to other dealerships.

[tarcoleo]

Talked to Newport RI Toyota end of last week and they are
now able to put Priuses on the lot. The only waiting list now is
reduced to about ten customers who absolutely must have
certain color/package combinations. Talk to Derek Zambarano
at 401-847-1144. Expect to pay list.

-Tom Arcoleo, happy owner of an '05 Millenium Silver

[TechGuy]

So any idea why some dealers can get them so much quicker than others, and why my current dealer can't even project a month of arrival? I'll start calling around as soon as the dealerships open tomorrow... thanks!

[hdrygas]

Last year at about this time (May) I was told that I could expect a car in February this year. My son found mine in Helena Montana in one month and I took delivery in August. They had a one month wait list. My nurse bought one from the same dealer that I placed an order from and walked in and got it off the lot. I would look around I don't think anyone is waiting more than a month except possibly for one of the less available packages or colors.

[rookie]

This web site might help you out too to get the estimate (plus the order tracking part of this site) - just found it the other day:

http://www.hybridcars.com/pricepulse/index.php