Hi everyone, this is my first post, total newbie. I want to get a Prius, but have never bought a new car before so I have a question about MSRP. The Toyota website says the base MSRP is $22,000. So, why does the web inventory at all the dealers I've checked around my state have their lowest Prius cost at several thousand more than that? Is it even possible to get a Prius at the MSRP? Thanks! inkybrown
Do a 'build your own' on Toyota's website with trim, options and accessories, destination charge to get the bottom line total price you'll find on a window (Monroney) sticker. This is the price listed on dealer web inventories.
I paid MSRP plus tax, title license (ttl) which is about 10% late August. But there were only 2 Pruis at that massive dealer at that time. Today there were 14 on the ground unspoken for, so they might loosen up a discount a bit.
inky, welcome to the board. a few months ago, gas was pushing $4, and there was a waiting list of weeks to months, to pay 2-5K OVER msrp. today things have changed. stock market crashed, folks aren't buying anything. so visit some of the local dealers, offer them something below MSRP and see what happens. there are plenty of dealers in the DFW area. take your time, shop around. i used to live in foat wuth - wonderful city
Previous comments are all correct about now being a better time to possibly negotiate a price less than MSRP. I think your question may have been more about the MSRP itself. This was a question that stumped me for a while. Why was there a $22,000 (before delivery charges) MSRP on Toyota's WEB site, but the lowest MSRP I could find was $1,500 to about $1,600 more? That's because Toyota has a price leader Prius, the Prius without packages. It is not a package 1 or A, but a package zero. The package zero is minus the cruise control, the heated mirrows, the pockets on the seat backs, the rear compartment retractable cover, and the trim rings on the wheels. This package zero is virtually unavailable in the Pacific Northwest where I live. I've only seen one 2005 package zero and I've seen on advertised on Ebay on the east coast. Most of my local dealers have not seen one and don't know of it's existence on the Web site. So, if you ever find a package zero, let me know. I belief them to be very rare. Thanks, Dan
You also might want to consider driving a few hundred miles acorss the border up into Oklahoma and buy one on in one of those small towns. Might even save a few bucks on the sales tax. If you're willing to dirve farther, head over to Arkansas and save more.
For car buying advice see the April issue of Consumer Reports magazine in almost any library, or on their website.
Thanks everyone. This is a lot more helpful than the first response that was emailed to me (which, thankfully, appears to have been deleted) which was about performing sexual favors for the dealer to get MSRP. I was put off because I thought Prius owners would be more tasteful and helpful than that!
Check out some of the stuff in the newbie forum. Especially, I recommend you read this one: http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/53057-options-presented-pick-up.html
So here's an update... I found a dealer that would sell under MSRP, but didn't have the color I want... and another dealer who can get the color I want and will sell at MSRP. Tomorrow I put in my deposit and the dealer says I could get this car as early as Friday. Spectra blue mica package 2. Am I lucky or what? I still have my fingers crossed. Wish me luck, I'm so excited! inkybrown
She's on her way! Dealer has rerouted the allocation to have my choice shipped there, and will give me daily updates.... So happy! Straight from the factory, to arrive in about 10 days.
Are you sure you want to forego the higher end JBL audio or bluetooth, etc? Don't mean to pick, but just asking. I would like to have saved a couple thousand bucks, but I'd be fairly depressed having skipped getting the better audio, the JBL sounds pretty rich with a good CD/source. Just curious that's all. You might be into stereo mods and what not. I didn't want to touch a thing.
