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Buying a prius in 2012

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by IowaGuy, Dec 15, 2011.

  1. IowaGuy

    IowaGuy Junior Member

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    Hello all, I am going to buy a Prius. I am in no rush, in the research phase right now.

    Demographics
    ----------------
    Job, RN
    Commute, 45-50 miles 3xweek hospital A, 2 miles 2xweek hospital B
    Traffic, slim, rural Iowa
    Hills, none on Commute A
    Current ride, 1996 Dodge Ram 1500, magnum V8
    Truck uses 6 gallons to run 1 Hospital A commute, 15 mpg
    Annual Fuel cost, 3500 to 4000 easily

    I doubt a prius will save me much money, but I do want to reduce the number of times I have to fuel each week. Plus I just want something different. I will keep the truck to tow my small fishing boat, 35hp. (all day on 3 gallons, great for a boat)

    My main issue is I hate haggling. I have never bought a car from a store.
    Do prius cars sell much below sticker? I really hate this part most of all and reason why I have avoided dealerships.

    I do have great ficos and my credit union, Pen Fed, will give me a loan at 2% (1.5% current offer in my preapproval box, but 2% is norm). My debt to income ratio is low, all cars, house, etc paid off, only student loan installments have a balance. 5 major CCs, low utilization.

    Also, the prius C looks like something I might wait for, so with a new model they just go at sticker right?
     
  2. smokiejoe

    smokiejoe Member

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    When the 2012's hit most dealers will probably sell for the first 3-4 months at MSRP, or maybe $500 off MSRP. You should do most of your correspondence off the Internet to save time and trouble from being held "captive" at the dealer. You certainly might want to drive one at your local dealer as a start.
    Keep an eye on this Forum to see what some of the selling prices would be to understand what the vehicles are selling for.
     
  3. quartzav

    quartzav Junior Member

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    Have you tried Costco auto buying program? Those types of services have a predetermined price sheet with minimal haggle. But I agree smokiejoe that you may want to start by test driving at local dealers and don’t let them hold you hostage ;)
     
  4. Gurple42

    Gurple42 New Member

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    Smokiejoe is right, but remember prices vary with regions, you'll want to look at posts from people in the midwest to get an accurate picture of what to pay, but I agree with you the c will probably go for sticker for quite a while. Whatever Prius you get you wiil find yourself smiling at the gas pump.:)
     
  5. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Not save much! You ought to cut that annual cost to a third. Perfect (well the 2 miles 2x a week to B is not ideal but you will make up for it in A) conditions for the Prius.
     
  6. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Are the miles for the commute round trip or one way? I'm assuming round trip in my calcs.

    Commute A - If you keep your speeds to 65 mph or less, you should easily be able to obtain 50+ mpg. If it is a rural road that you can drive 55 mph safe and comfortably with, you may see 60+, especially in the late spring - fall. Estimate 50 mpg

    Cummute B - Ugh. 2 miles. You'll see 30 - 35 mpg.

    PRIUS

    Total per week 3 x 50 miles + 2 x 2 miles = 154 miles.
    Gallons per week = 3.1 gallons

    A = (3 x 50 miles/50 miles/gallon) = 3.0 gallons
    B = (2 x 2 miles/30 miles/gallon) = 0.1 gallons

    3.1 gallons * 50 weeks per year = 155 gallons * $3.50 gallon (est.) = ~$550 for commuting (7700 miles of commuting).

    RAM
    Commute A = 6 gallons
    Commute B = 0.3 gallons

    6.3 gallons * 50 weeks per year = 315 gallons * $3.50 (est) = ~$1100 for commuting.

    Thus, you'd save around $550 dollars just on gasoline for commuting.

    I'm glad to see you have an actual use for the truck. It is a great second/supplementary vehicle.

    Regarding haggling. If you have dealerships with internet pricing, you can do all the dealing over the internet and not have to set foot into the showroom until you have an agreed price and are showing up to sign the paperwork. While we are spoiled in the Bay Area for the number of Toyota dealerships, I hate haggling too. I did my purchase over the internet and it was great. I highly recommend it.

    You may also check out Costco pricing, AAA pricing, etc to see if they have something set up with local dealerships.

    You may also consider purchasing a used 2010 from a private party. While this could require haggling, it would be a bit friendlier and the amounts would be less. Plus the original owner took the initial hit on depreciation.

    Maintenance is very inexpensive on the Prius (oil changes every 10k and tire rotations every 5k, and likely transaxle changes at 30k and every 30 - 60k after that (about $50 for a transaxle fluid change).

    Brake pads last a very long time.
     
  7. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

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    You may not need to keep it - I tow my 17' sailboat with my Prius and have not had any problems. Boat and trailer weigh about 750lbs. I have a scanguage so I can keep an eye on engine temp and when I just make sure to drive slow and easy and leave lots of room for braking. I also stay away from the closest boat ramp for launching as it is steep and narrow - but that is not a problem as an easy and shallow ramp is only a few miles away. I have even gotten great mileage towing it - mid-30's for a trip from the NY/CT line to Cape Cod.

     
  8. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

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    If you're talking Gen 3 then it's an 11.9 gallon tank and the car starts beeping a little before 10 gallons are used. So, if you only commuted in your Prius you'd be filling up once every three-and-a-bit weeks.
     
  9. IowaGuy

    IowaGuy Junior Member

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    Thanks for all the replies and advice! I'll lurk a bit and keep reading. Great group of people here.

    I wish that's all I spent, :) but I do commute A 3x week, so that alone is 18 gallons, and I think it comes closer to 20 in reality.
     
  10. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    Don't lurk too much....Participate! Ask questions. Lots of people will help.

    OK, it sounds like your commute miles are one way, thus you might expect to drive ~300 miles per week.

    If you drive 15,000 miles per year (just commuting) you would use 333 gallons of gas for the Prius (45 mpg) vs 1000 gallons for the truck (15 mpg). The difference would be 667 gallons at $3.50/gallon = ~$2335 saved just on gasoline alone. (essentially $200 per month).
     
  11. J5A

    J5A Active Member

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    Congrats and welcome!! I love when truck guys buy Priuses! :) Such hope.
     
  12. IowaGuy

    IowaGuy Junior Member

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    Update...

    Well I ended up buying a camaro v6 coup. Which I traded for a v8 camaro convertible. Little mid life crisising going on there.

    Then I traded for a 2013 Chevy Volt. It's not a Prius, but I like the car. I now take an alternate route that is 36 miles on 55 limit roads to work, and my boss lets me charge at work (12 hour shift so full charge) a few coworkers have priusesessss(sp for plural?) and really like them for what they do.

    One weird thing. When I got the car I changed all my light bulbs to efficient ones and stopped running my computer, ps3, audio receiver, etc 24/7. My electric actually went down a small amount. We are using the tax credit to put shingles on our roof.

    The car was a bit expensive but I did put it on a 0% loan from mfr. also got $3000 on the hood.

    By my calculations a used Prius would have saved a lot more money. I just wanted to try something electric. It's different and fun. We can't get the PiP here. Anyways, just checking in.
     
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