Can we afford to wait?

1.) How much can you afford to spend on gas between now and then? Related questions are:
Do you have driving habits that will make the Prius an advantage?
What happens if gas prices get more out of control (oil closed at $122/barrel today)?
Can you stomach the loss of ending your Tundra lease early? (I.e., what penalties do you have to pay?)

Sorry if that's not so environmentally sensitive, but it's not reasonable to expect people to take financially irresponsible actions just to be "green".

2.) I don't know, someone who has a better idea will have to address the when question. However, are you buying this car as an investment or as a good choice and something that you want?

3.) Dealers sell cars to make money. Therefore, if there's a perception that these cars will command a premium, then the answer is "yes, there will be a markup."

 

The main question is: can you afford the purchase of a new car?

I'd make extra sure that the prius is the car FOR YOU. There are many other options that get decent milage. For example, the Honda Fit, which - with a little hypermiling - can probably get up to the 45's that the prius gets... and it costs around 15-16k or so.


I'm not trying to be a downer, but I just want to make sure that your 100% informed and not going to break the bank purchasing a car that may be out of economic reach.

Whatever choice you make, do your research and run the numbers to make
sure you don't regret it.

 

there was a lull in 2007 on demand..but with the recent spikes in energy prices and speculation from good old wall street...I would expect at least 130 by end of june...and could hold near 120 area through the summer per barrel..which translate's to about 4 bucks a gallon once production catchs up, and even with the tax relief at the pump they may get passed..this wont get passed on down to us las vegans because our state has it's own fuel tax on top of the nation wide tax(or something to that effect?)

anyway i would try to sell right away, and either get a prius, honda hybrid, or even just a good old civic or corrola, and drive it very wisely..it can be fun actually..just be safe in the hypermiling.

and yes SUV/Trucks are collecting dust on alot of lot's now, dealers are pulling at toothpicks with all sorts of incentives to buy, chysler being the most recent with the announced $2.99 per gallon for the life of the car. Many others...they want these hulks off the lot, hopefully to let in the new more FE cars in the next couple of years.

 

Not nitpicking but, I believe it's only or 3 years. Oops! Gas will be over $5/gallon by then !?... Wouldn't that be a shock. Making a car payment and then your gasoline bill almost doubles.

 

i think the sooner you do it, the sooner you will be happy with what you have accomplished. as far as saving money on gas, i wouldnt consider that. i would simply determine if i could buy now and either get favorable financing or be able to pay cash, and if its yes, i would start the process immediately. the 2009 MY only has incremental improvements, not really sure its worth the wait.