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How to know a good deal on purchase price?

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Cali~Kiki, Mar 12, 2013.

  1. Cali~Kiki

    Cali~Kiki New Member

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    Hello,

    I live in Sacramento, California and I have a quote from a dealer on a prius III. How can I know if it is a good purchase price? I hesitate to post the quote details, not wanting to break any unknown rules but I am happy to if someone asks. I just want to make the best deal I can on this purchase because I keep cars for years, I don't trade them in. And I don't want to feel ripped off by a dealer.

    Also, I have a short commute (sometimes I walk to work in spring and fall but not summer or winter, usually) but drive ~12,000 miles a year, still a good idea to purcase a Prius? (Yes, I want to for environmental concerns, too!)
     
    #1 Cali~Kiki, Mar 12, 2013
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Don't park it too long. More than a couple weeks of not driving it is a potential risk... And really short trips on a cold engine means really bad gas mileage unless of course it's a Prius plugin, in which case that first 15 miles is nearly free.
     
    #2 PriusCamper, Mar 12, 2013
  3. Clay2013

    Clay2013 Junior Member

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    #3 Clay2013, Mar 12, 2013
  4. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

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    Yeah, Priuscamper makes good points. Short commutes arent good for optimal Prius happiness & mpgs. It doesnt give the ICE enough time to hit operating temperature, so the whole (short) commute, the car is fighting to warm up. But, when you say "short commute", how many miles/minutes are we talking here? I drive 12 miles/ 20 minutes each way to work every day and I still am averaging 52mpg right now!

    I used to drive 12,000 miles a year when I had a gas guzzling SUV, but since Ive got the Prius, in 6 months Ive driven 10,000 miles!! Im set for a 20,000+ miles year. The car is so cheap to drive/operate, we now drive it every where. I think you'll find the same thing. 12,000 miles pre-Prius might increase to 17,500+ miles! :D
     
    #4 PriusGuy32, Mar 12, 2013
  5. boppo

    boppo Active Member

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    So how much do they want for it.
     
    #5 boppo, Mar 12, 2013
  6. Cali~Kiki

    Cali~Kiki New Member

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    My commute to my home office site is 2 miles but my project sites are 15-20+ miles one way.

    The dealer offered $23888 for a prius iii in dark gray. I am adding no options beyond the standard nav and back up camera. I really want the solar roof but think it is a bit expensive. This was the internet price. Their sales person tried to sell me the exact same car for $25200.

    Good deal or not?
     
    #6 Cali~Kiki, Mar 12, 2013
  7. Texida

    Texida Junior Member

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    I consider that a pretty good deal. I paid $25,500 for the same car - silver 2013 Toyota Prius 3.
     
    #7 Texida, Mar 12, 2013
  8. massparanoia

    massparanoia Active Member

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    A good deal is in the eye of the beholder. If the price works for you and you feel good about it then go for it. Have fun and don't over think it so much. If someone gets the same car for a hundred bucks less than you, who cares?
     
    #8 massparanoia, Mar 13, 2013
  9. Cali~Kiki

    Cali~Kiki New Member

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    It is not important to me what others pay but it is important to me when I write my check what I am paying.

    Thanks,
     
    #9 Cali~Kiki, Mar 13, 2013
  10. massparanoia

    massparanoia Active Member

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    If you don't like the price, don't pay. All of the necessary information such as invoice price can be found online. But by the time you go to multiple dealers to grind out the last hundred bucks or so, you will have wasted more than that in time and aggravation.
     
    #10 massparanoia, Mar 13, 2013
  11. Ratoncita

    Ratoncita New Member

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    I would check the factory invoice on Truecar and then try to go as close as (a bit lower, if possible) the factory invoice. That's what my negotiator friend did...
     
    #11 Ratoncita, Mar 13, 2013
  12. My Precious

    My Precious New Member

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    That quote sounds pretty good. We're in Sacramento too and just bought a Persona Series Prius for my wife, and I got her 2012 Prius 2 as a hand-me-down. We went to Roseville because we've had two good purchases there before, but asked them to match a Maita price of $24,988 on the Persona. My wife loves it. I think I've seen the internet price on the Prius 3 for around $23,800.
     
    #12 My Precious, Mar 13, 2013
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