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Why Prius built 10/09 arriving in US from Japan in March 2010?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by marblue, Mar 10, 2010.

  1. marblue

    marblue New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2010
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    Location:
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I posted before about my Prius V on order at Manhattan Toyota since December. Since dealer wasn't coming up with a car for me, I went searching on internet inventories. My question then was my concern about a car I found at an Ma. dealership and it being out all winter on a dealer's lot. I was satisfied with the good advice and information I got from you and decided to go forward with the purchase in Ma.

    It was about 3 weeks ago then when I told the dealership in NYC I wanted out of the deal and I wanted my deposit back. That's when they suddenly scrambled and got me an allocation on a car to arrive 3/9 on the New Century 2. Sales manager told me that I would not be able to get my first choice of SBM. I told him I could live happily with Blizzard Pearl/Bisque interior. He was able to make a swap with a dealership in Va. for a Prius V with Nav in BP/Bisque interior. He faxed me the VIR with partial VIN. I told dealer in Ma. I was going ahead with what NYC dealership was offering.

    Now, this brings me to my question. The Prius V that was allocated to Manhattan Toyota for me was manufactured in
    October 2009. This was confirmed by the inventory manager, sales manager and the partial serial #069XXX. Not that the October build date bothers me too much. However, I am wondering why a car that was built on October 5, 2009,
    according to the inventory manager, is first coming to the US from Japan in March 2010. As I look through inventories of Prius's these days, most cars come up with serial #'s over 100000 and with build dates of December and January.

    So I'm curious what this Prius was doing in Japan all these months. Are there cars held back for some reason? And where?
    I asked the sales manager, the inventory manager, I called Toyota in Torrance. They all didn't have an answer for me. So I wonder would any of you have an answer to this question or be able to shed light on this Pruis's possible history?

    Thanks again for listening.
     
    #1 marblue, Mar 10, 2010
  2. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
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    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    First thing I'd check is whether the brakes software update has been done! New cars from January 2010 had it as standard but this was built in Ocotober.
     
    #2 GrumpyCabbie, Mar 10, 2010
  3. LeeB

    LeeB Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2009
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    Location:
    Henrico, VA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Last July, I asked a Toyota salesman how long it took from build to arrival at the dealership. He said about 4 months, which he confirmed with someone else. The Prius I eventually purchased is a September build that arrived at the dealership in early October. Not sure if the 4 month was a valid estimate, but there's probably some variability in getting products from Japan to the U.S. If the car is what you want and only has a couple of miles on the odometer, I probably wouldn't worry about the unexplained transit time.
     
    #3 LeeB, Mar 10, 2010
  4. Boolie0412

    Boolie0412 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2010
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    Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV

    I just purchased a WG/DG Prius IV with sunroof last week. It was built 10/09 like the Prius you mentioned and arrived at the dealer's lot on March 30th -- so in my case, more than 4 months since build. Not sure why - will be sure to ask and inquire about the brake software. These cars are moving off dealer lots pretty quickly now- especially w/the new 0% financing so perhaps the delay was caused by the lack of demand in winter (?)

    Can't possibly be happier with this vehicle -- I was only about Audi, Mercedes and BMW for years and I am totally digging the mpg, gas savings and feel of this car. Long live Prius!
     
    #4 Boolie0412, Apr 21, 2010
  5. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    ----USA----
    We got ours at the end of December, with manufacture date of 10/09.
     
    #5 mad-dog-one, Apr 21, 2010
  6. Thai

    Thai Prius Neophyte

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2009
    1,197
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    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Bought mine yesterday (4/20/10). Built date on door jam: 3/10. I have seen another Prius V in my area...also, build date 3/10.
     
    #6 Thai, Apr 22, 2010
  7. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
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    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Man! Is the paint still wet? :D
     
    #7 spiderman, Apr 22, 2010
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