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Prices are Falling

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by GrGramps, Dec 21, 2009.

  1. GrGramps

    GrGramps Active Member

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    I don't follow prices nationwide, so my comments are only for Western North Carolina. Toyota dealers in Asheville and Hendersonville have dropped prices on the 2010 Prius as much as several thousand dollars. I notice this for the first time yesterday. This is probably due to the growing inventory.

    The only reason I have been watching prices is because my wife says her next car will be a hybrid. Prius or another - I don't know.

    I think I saw a Red with solar roof that someone said wasn't available in their part of the country.
     
  2. codybigdog123

    codybigdog123 Got Mad and Left in a Tizzy

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    Not sure they are "falling"?

    I don't live in your area, but did want to check prices, so I went on line and looked at the price for the same car I have - a Prius IV, blizzard white with solar roof option. Jim Barkley Toyota of Ashville, NC has a sale price (NOT the MSRP) for the same car I have of: $29,374. That is VERY close to what i paid for my car, pre-taxes, floor matts, etc back in August. Further, the base Prius II, without any options is being sold for $22,700...that's (also) pretty close to what they were being sold for when I bought my car back in August. So, unless you are getting a much better deal than what's listed on their web site, the prices are pretty similar to the prices I remember back in August.
     
  3. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    Don't forget that in Sept/Oct the cars with higher level packages started coming with the "extras" added on such as safety connect and the USB port and these added several hundred dollars to the pricetag. Dianne's posts in the dealer section have shown that she is selling cars below MSRP.
     
  4. codybigdog123

    codybigdog123 Got Mad and Left in a Tizzy

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    The safety connect was not available/hardwired on any of the cars delivered in August, or Sept....I took delivery in mid-Agust, and I know for fact is was not on ANY of the cars back then. I think it only became available from about ~ Nov on (at least in the US market).

    In August, I bought my car for below MSRP. As I said, I paid about $29.4K in August for my Prius IV, with solar roof package and blizzard white (extra $$ for the Blizzard white). Based on what I see from this one dealer's on-line sale price, I do not see where prices are "falling" thousands of dollars compared to what I paid in Chicago some 6 months ago.
     
  5. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    Everything is relative. Perhaps the NC dealers were charging over MSRP previously, thus by dropping the "added dealer markup", the car now cost "thousands" less.
     
  6. codybigdog123

    codybigdog123 Got Mad and Left in a Tizzy

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    Yes, the sales practice used since the dawn of man...jack up the prices, then run a sale declaring you will save thousands...:eek:

    My favorite is the "going out of business sale". Some are legit, while others just use it as a marketing tool to make you think you are getting a good deal.
     
  7. kgall

    kgall Active Member

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    I put up a thread a little while ago indicating that I think that the market for Gen III Prius (all levels except maybe I) has now become "normal" in the US--that is, you negotiate for a price somewhere between dealer cost (which may be different from invoice) and MSRP. The Gen III is no longer so much the latest and greatest that it commands MSRP or above.

    Didn't get much comment, except a couple of dealers suggesting that folks might still have to pay MSRP for special orders.

    In my post there, I indicated that I could not tell when it began. Codybigdog's post indicates the transition was underway in Chicago in August.

    I said in that post that I thought the process was complete by mid-November, when GST dealers--at least the ones I was talking to--began to discount even the less-profitable Prius II, and I finally got one.

    Now, I'm not so sure. I mean, I still think that was the date at which you could negotiate for any level of Prius anywhere in the country. However,
    I have noticed from postings on PC that prices paid today generally seem lower than October-November (despite the MSRP increase and smaller invoice price increase in October).
    That suggests to me that we still haven't found the "equilibrium" price level at which there is no premium on the newness of the Prius.
     
  8. GrGramps

    GrGramps Active Member

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    I didn't mean to start controversy over the price of cars or what MSRP means. And I would never suggest that you couldn't buy a Prius for less than posted prices on these sites.

    Barkley's prices on their website got my attention because for months they have listed each car with the MSRP and their sale price was consistently $300 below that. Until yesterday I had never noticed any variation. Now all of their prices are more than $300 below MSRP, and I assumed it might have something to do with their inventory greater than I have seen before.

    Please, it wasn't my intention to suggest that this was the best price to be had or that, heaven forbid, you may have paid too much for your car. On the contrary, it might be an aid to someone facing a dealer who wants your first born.

    Kgall, thanks for some interesting observations.
     
    1 person likes this.
  9. PaJa

    PaJa Senior member

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    Somebody mentioned earlier in other post. The fantastic advertized prices are usually linked to one, specific car. It can be a marketing tool how they attract the audience to open their doors.
     
  10. snead_c

    snead_c Jam Ma's Car

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    FWIW I"ve seen the same practice at some dealers in my life.:mad: In fact my second new car purchase 40 years ago was to buy the loss leader, a 69 Ford LTD. :)
    However, I live in the western NC sales area mentioned and I've not seen that bait and switch/loss leader practice used by them on Prius. I bought my 2009 Prius from Barkley just over a year ago and note that Danny purchased his 2010 there also. Both of us have reported satisfaction with our "deals" on this site.:D I believe the other mentioned local dealer would have sold me my car just as cheaply except his used car manager significantly under appraised my trade. His loss. :rolleyes:
     
  11. deltron3030

    deltron3030 New Member

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    The bait and switch is pretty common...my previous 2 cars were both "bait" cars at bait prices. Every printed ad will say (x at this price)...I know it's misleading, but i just figured it was pretty common
     
  12. GrGramps

    GrGramps Active Member

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    The original post on the subject of falling prices deteriorated into a discussion on "bait and switch", or "one only at this price." Some suggested inflated MSRP, which raises the question of whether that is legal.

    For those who are still shopping, here are some examples of what one dealer has posted at his site (and yes, it's possible that one or more of these cars may be sold) First price is MSRP

    2010 View Image 1225 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius III BLIZZARD PEARL MISTY GRAY Immediately $24,794 $23,430
    2010 View Image 1225 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius III BLUE RIBBON MET Bisque Immediately $28,404 $26,420
    2010 View Image 1229 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius V BLIZZARD PEARL Bisque Leather Immediately $34,244 $31,781
    2010 View Image 1225 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius III BLUE RIBBON MET Bisque Immediately $28,404 $26,420
    2010 View Image 1225 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius III SANDY BEACH METALLIC Bisque Immediately $24,574 $23,254
    2010 View Image 1225 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius III BLACK MISTY GRAY Immediately $28,304 $26,370
    2010 View Image 1229 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius V BLIZZARD PEARL Bisque Leather Immediately $31,444 $29,478
    2010 View Image 1225 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius III BLIZZARD PEARL Bisque Immediately $24,694 $23,380
    2010 View Image 1225 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius III BLIZZARD PEARL MISTY GRAY Immediately $26,824 $25,156
    2010 View Image 1223 - Base Gas/Electric Prius II BLACK Dark Gray Cloth Immediately $23,574 $22,526
    2010 View Image 1223 - Base Gas/Electric Prius II BLIZZARD PEARL Bisque Immediately $23,794 $22,702
    2010 View Image 1223 - Base Gas/Electric Prius II BLIZZARD PEARL Bisque Immediately $23,794 $22,702
    2010 View Image 1229 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius V BLIZZARD PEARL Dark Gray LeatheImmediately $31,444 $29,478
    2010 View Image 1229 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius V BLIZZARD PEARL Misty Gray LeathImmediately $31,444 $29,478
    2010 View Image 1225 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius III CLASSIC SILVER MET Dark Gray LeatheImmediately $29,653 $27,359
    2010 View Image 1223 - Base Gas/Electric Prius II WINTER GRAY METALLIC Dark GrayImmediately $23,574 $22,526
    2010 View Image 1229 - Base Gas/Electric - Prius V BLIZZARD PEARL Dark Gray Leather Immediately $31,444 $29,478
     
  13. Jim Clark

    Jim Clark Member

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    Cash for clunkers decimated inventories in August. Then the allocations were being taken on a special order basis for MSRP. It's taken a while but inventories are back up and discounts are available.
     
  14. Bobsprius

    Bobsprius BobPrius

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    No matter what price is "Advertised" you have to remember that when your ready to sign then you will know the prices....

    I once was mislead somewhat about the Ad Price only to find that was not available, but there was another close in price...close yes, but not as advertised.

    If your ready to deal, cash in hand or paperwork to sign, then you will find your bottom line. :)