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Looking to Buy New Prius III w Solar Roof

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by buckaroo, Aug 28, 2011.

  1. buckaroo

    buckaroo Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Austin TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Almost pulled the trigger on a white Prius II with Solar Roof in Austin TX (aka Hell). Called dealers all over Central TX looking for this with cloth seating. Found one in town and called salesman to pull it out to look at. We got there and someone else got into car just before us and bought it out from under us. Not happy. Thought we had right of first refusal.

    Just about over it bc this has happened to us before and we found an even better car so I suspect we shall get a Prius even better. I know I will not be buying from that dealer. Called another dealer in AUstin and asked for same type of car. Dealer said he had one on his lot. Got there and he, of course, lied. They glossed over that fact and did the usual tactic of trying to keep us there to get us to buy. My wife fell for it, not me. We did not buy and I told my wife I would not buy from them for lying.

    Told Prius does not sell for below MSRP. I do not want to pay that. However, my research on Edmunds seems to confirm that fact in Central TX. Thoughts from anyone?
     
  2. car compulsive

    car compulsive Active Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
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    Two
    Welcome! Price seems to depend on availability. From reading here, it sounds like southern CA has lots of cars and some discounts. Other places, it's MSRP (or maybe above) and you have to wait. My dealer received a couple new units (both Twos) that were not pre-sold. The traded off one and the other was available at MSRP. (I'm holding out for our red one in the next couple weeks.)
     
  3. buckaroo

    buckaroo Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Austin TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    So I am basically going to be held to MSRP and that is it.:(
     
  4. Minion

    Minion New Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Greetings! I'm also looking to purchase a Prius. Been drooling over one for years and after two hand-me-down vehicles, it's time for me to splurge on a new one!

    I've been finding that in NJ (Central) prices are all at MSRP, too.
     
  5. seether166

    seether166 New Member

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    Location:
    Syracuse, NY (USA)
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I definitely had to pay MSRP for my 2011 just two weeks ago. I was lucky to even find one, really. You're probably not going to negotiate much on this car right now.
     
  6. StuffOnARock

    StuffOnARock Member

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  7. buckaroo

    buckaroo Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Austin TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I have come to the conclusion that I will most likely be paying sticker. Not happy about that fact but it is what it is.:rant:
     
  8. buckaroo

    buckaroo Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
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    Five
    I figure that after you factor in shipping and any other costs they tack in, it probably would not be worth it. The other dealer found one that he said he could have in town in about 2 weeks or sooner. i am going to check with a nearby dealer and give him the VIN and see if he can pull it in.

    I saw that Toyota has a 0% offer. Does that apply on all cars including Prius?:confused:
     
  9. StuffOnARock

    StuffOnARock Member

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    It could save you 500-1000 I'd guess... she isn't going to tack on crap, she's a trustworthy dealer... I'd just send her an e-mail, it doesn't hurt.

    As for specific incentives, you should check a site like edmunds.com or toyota.com with your zip code, different areas have different incentives...
     
  10. buckaroo

    buckaroo Junior Member

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    Location:
    Austin TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
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    Five
    Checked edmunds already. Saw an ad on some of the Texas dealers advertising 0% deal from Toyota's Nationwide Clearance sale.
     
  11. carpedal

    carpedal Member

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    Location:
    Centreville, VA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Go to buyatoyota.com, click on search inventory, enter your zipcode, click on Prius, use model dropdown to select 2 through 5, and inventory for region is displayed.

    Buyatoyota.com

    Then go to Truecar.com, select make, pick Prius, pulldown style for model number, and don't forget to edit options. The resultant graph displays Prius sales for the prior 90 days, and a price paid from low to high. Click on the recent sales tab to see numbers of sales in each price range. The site even tells you the dealer that gave the best price.

    New Cars Pricing and Comparisons Local, Regional and National Car Price Reports at TrueCar
     
  12. Zanrok

    Zanrok Casual Prius Lover

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    Location:
    Reno, NV
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I have been looking at getting a Prius as well and to answer your question.

    No the 0% does not apply to the Prius. They do however, offer 2.9%.

    I was disappointed as well. After seeing some of the additions the 2012 brings... I think i may try and wait until that comes out, especially if I have to pay MSRP.
     
  13. buckaroo

    buckaroo Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Austin TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I noticed some of the tech additions to the 2012 and they are not "must-haves" for me. I can go with a 2011 if the price is right. If I like the 2011, I can see getting a 2012 as well.
     
  14. buckaroo

    buckaroo Junior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
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    Five
    Good info but I am having problems getting either tool to work right for me.
     
  15. mcshade311

    mcshade311 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2011
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    Location:
    Augusta, GA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I bought a Prius III with Solar package about 3 weeks ago and i was able to get about $2K under MSRP in Atlanta. It took over an hour of negotiating and playing those games that dealers love to play ("let me take this offer to my manager")

    Just do your research ahead of time, and let them know that you are willing to buy that day. I was a cash buyer so it wasn't that bad, but i bet i could have gotten a better deal if i had financed though them.

    For me there is nothing worse than buying a car, for some reason you feel like you are getting ripped off no matter what.
     
  16. Minion

    Minion New Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
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    I think I had a pit in my stomach for at least three hours of being at the dealership. It was my first car purchase ever since I've driven two hand-me-downs since I got my license so I was super nervous!
     
  17. scoobagirl

    scoobagirl New Member

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    Location:
    Amarillo Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    hey I have/had a white Prius III with the Solar/Nav package on it coming in to my local dealer - he got it diverted to their dealership last week for me, and it should be arriving at the Houston Port today or tomorrow. They were going to install the Texas window tinting and the leather seats at the port and then ship it to Amarillo for me. Since then (yesterday) my dealer called with a Sand colored Prius IV that I had really wanted (a previous deal-in-progress fell through and it became available) and so I'm not getting the white III after all. You should check with David Saied at Street Toyota in Amarillo if you want to get that white III with the solar/nav diverted to a Central Texas dealer. If you want more info you can message me. My name is Jeri.

    By the way regarding price, they aren't coming off MSRP very much at all in this area.
     
  18. Zanrok

    Zanrok Casual Prius Lover

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Reno, NV
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hey scooba,

    general question is the solar roof really a good thing to get? Or is it just purely cosmetic? I would like one cause its "cool" but besides for it turning on a little fan in the car does it do anything to warrant the extra cost?
     
  19. seether166

    seether166 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2011
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    Location:
    Syracuse, NY (USA)
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    So the models available vary by zip code. I'd be really surprised (and jealous) if the Prius was one of those models (it's not in my zip code, for example).
     
  20. scoobagirl

    scoobagirl New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2011
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    Location:
    Amarillo Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    well my son has a III with the solar/nav package, bought in Anchorage AK and now lives in Midland TX. The deal with the solar roof is that it circulates air through your car while its parked, and that is powered by photo-eye technology so it doesn't drain your battery. So, in Texas heat, if its 102 outside, it will be 102 inside your car, but not the 140 that it would be if it was sealed up tight and parked for hours.

    I personally think it sounds like a great feature, and I know I'll use it. I will enjoy the moonroof in the spring and fall for sure. I wanted it enough that I sought out a car with it. There were 3 others in the whole panhandle that had the solar/nav option, model III, but all were red, just not my color.

    My other question is whether to have the dealer add the remote starter to the car - its a $500 option. We get lots of ice and some snow in the winter where we live, and my car will live outside.