where to find Pkg AM/#7?

Hi, Sandpiper here. Brand new to the list and hoping someone can help...

I'm having trouble finding what areas of the country are getting pkg 7. I "spoke" with Dianne at Carson (CA) and she's only getting 3,6,8,9 in the foreseeable future for the pre-orders she has... I live in FL, but have family all up the east coast. I'm willing to travel. Can anyone recommend a great dealer who might have an AM coming in? I don't really care what color except no black.

The local dealer here doesn't know anything and wants a $1K deposit. He also tells me he can't control "what else might be on the car", which implies to me that he might try to get me to buy the #9. But I don't need and won't use that fancy audio and the nav stuff; I just want the VSC.

Any suggestions for me?

Thank you!!

Sandpiper

Chicago Region is getting 20-25% of their Prius in Package #7

Chicago Region is : Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, UP of Michigan

Thanks, Steve! I might have found one here on the east coast *happy dance*, but if it falls through I'll give you a call...

AM-7 Package: Rain/Snow/Rust Belt Markets Only?

My Driftwood Pearl AM-7 was delivered to my dealer near Tacoma, WA first week after release.

I'm wondering if the VSC option is targeted for those markets.

Not that it never rains, snows, frosts or ices up in Atlanta, Houston or Phoenix...

Just a theory about a theory.


Bob

Bellevue WA

I purchased a Driftwood AM from Bobby Rahal Toyota near Harrisburg, Pa. in November. I haven't seen any others on the road locally. My salesperson was Bob Lemanski and I paid MSRP but no additions.

Cool. Good to know reliable dealers all over, as DH is Navy and who knows where we go next. Might end up somewhere where VSC is much more important than here in FL... plus he may retire in 4 or 5 years, and I plan to still be driving whatever Prius I end up with!

Makes me think.... any opinions on having/driving/maintaining a Prius in Europe? IF, on the small chance we get sent overseas, the idea would be to take my car, rather than DH's pickup...

Cool. Good to know reliable dealers all over, as DH is Navy and who knows where we go next. Might end up somewhere where VSC is much more important than here in FL... plus he may retire in 4 or 5 years, and I plan to still be driving whatever Prius I end up with!

Makes me think.... any opinions on having/driving/maintaining a Prius in Europe? IF, on the small chance we get sent overseas, the idea would be to take my car, rather than DH's pickup...

Got my Millenium Silver AM (#7) at Palmiero Toyota in Meadville, PA. I was told that 30% of cars being made available to them will be AM package. I also think that Toyota is targeting snowy, wet areas, such as ours, for the VSC packages. Yes, it really does work! It has engaged several times when I hit icy spots, especially on the freeway off-ramp. It will stop the car from swerving sideways and sets it back on the trajectory you wanted - a really neat feature and will undoubtedly keep you out of the berm or ditch. I have never been so confident in driving a car here in our rotten, seemingly endless, snowy winter.

Here's how you can find out what packages are available where:

1. If you do not know a zip code for the area you're interested in, go to Toyota.com and click on "Dealer Locator" at the top of the page. Enter the city and state, and click on "Find Dealer." You now have zip codes. FYI to get all dealer in a certain state, do not enter a city name--just the state.

2. Go back to Toyota.com. There will either be a picture of the Prius or there is text below the picture of another car that says "The next generation Prius." Click on either the picture or the link.

3. At the left side of the page, enter the zip code of the area you're interested in and click "Go." The page that comes up will show a picture of the Prius, and a box to the right shows the MSRP. Just under that, it will give you the inventory status of that region--so you now know what region the dealer is in.

4. Toward the bottom of the page, there is a section that says "Select your Prius Model." Click on either of the "Next" boxes there.

5. The page that comes up will have all the option packages that are shipped to that region.

6. Repeat as desired.

This is how I found out that Northern California has package 7 available while Southern California does not. I'm sure RobertO is correct that 7 (with stability control) is targeted for markets that get lots of rain and/or snow. I think it's an important safety feature and I don't want a package 9, so I'll have to travel up north to get one.

Sandpiper, it looks like you don't need my help since you seem to have found one, but perhaps someone else can use the information. I hope your deal goes through!

Pacakage # 7

I got my pacakage # 7 from Motorworld in PA. Salesman Shannon 1 800 437-8539. Apparently in this region PA an Deleware can get #7's. MA, NY and NJ and CT can't. I was originally told 8 weeks, but got in 4 because they had one coming in that matched what I wanted. Maybe you can buy one I originally ordered ( a silver package #7)

John
Nanuet, NY

#7 is not available north/east of PA! Not in NY or any of the NE states. And we get snow, 50+ inches in South Burlington VT this past Dec. Missed the 1970 record by 3". So why doesn't Toyota give us the option of VSC ( other than the $5000 BC add on)

Wow, I am really surprised that #7 isn't available in the NE! My sister in Virginia can get it, and she certainly doesn't get the cold and snow that the NE gets. I guess everyone had better go to PA to get their cars...

You guys (and Toyota) are killing me. I really want package 7 for all the safety (HID lights considered safety also) equipment. I live in NY and really can't afford, nor would I even want navigation (this is really my station car, don't need to navigate anywhere ). I guess they're going to be calling me Prius Dreamer for a long long time. Odered in Mid Nov. , no end in sight. No update either.

According to an email I got from the dealer I have a Silver BC on order from there was a driftwood Pearl, pkg. # 7 avaible as 5:15Pm EST today at Fitzgerald Auto Mall - 905 North Frederick Ave. Gaithersburg, MD 20879

Contact:
Brian Wallace
Internet Sales Dept.
www.fitzmall.com
301.670.4800 or 1.800.670.4801
extension 11211
Mobile 301.748.8543

I recently purchased a package #7 in Fredericksburg Virginia. This is one of the more common packages they receive.

-Laura

Just got a #7 in MD

Just took delivery of a White #7 from Beltway Toyota in MD. It came in unattached to a buyer so took it instead of a Silver #9 ordered in mid November and not on the horizon yet.

I got my seaside pearl #7 at Darcar Toyota in Silver Spring, MD. i walked in to test drive, but was thinking of getting a Corolla since I heard you couldn't get the Prius and I needed a car (my old car had 187,000 miles, RIP).
Dealer said he had my color choice #7 on lot, with 7 miles on it...I bought it! Salesman said #4 and 7 are being delivered to our (suburban Washington,DC) area.

BG: I just ordered a package #9 1/24/04 in NJ (no dealer in Rockland County NY had one to test drive)

I was looking for package #7, but was told that only 1,6 and 9 were available, using the toyota.com page as a reference.

It's pretty sneaky, but I'm not terribly surprised. Yes, many of us want the VSC up here in NY. I see it as a good way to upsell the customer into package #9 and increase profit margins for dealers & Toyota.

The method for checking available option packages is not entirely accurate, at least in my case. The web site only lists options 4, 7, and 9 available in the Kansas City region, and I picked up my #6 about a month ago here in St. Louis. I wish there was a better way to tell what would be available. Actually, I would have thought the dealers would know more about what was available, but these boards seem to have much better info than they do,

Also looking for a AM 7 in St. Louis

Fredo,

Which dealer did you get your #6 from? I am in the St. Louis area as well. I have a #7 on order, but now I am hearing 4-6 months. Would like a Salsa, but may settle for any color - just want the option package!