$500 off MSRP attainable?

If you are in a hurry its probably MSRP. Wait just two or three months and the situation will be different.

 

You also have to remember people reading and contributing to these forums are really into their Prii.

We don't represent the general population of Prius buyers. Everybody here thinks the Prius is the hottest thing since...the Generation 2 Prius. So you should expect people have high expectations, and hence expect everybody else to feel the same way leading to a higher perceived demand.

Salespeople can probably also tell when somebody really really wants their 2010 Prius, as evidenced by getting on a WAIT-LIST and coming in knowing the specs. That's what you call a motived buyer - and a smart salesperson knows they'll pay MSRP, and will quote them that.

 

Yeah, as painful as it will be, I'll be waiting until they have a decent stock. That way a) I can get the colors and features I want
b) I could *maybe* get a 2009 on the cheap
c) I can get it for less than MSRP

Toyota are making a lot of these cars, so I don't expect any "wait list" to take more then a week or two to get taken care of. At least looking at the Insight, they have about a dozen on the lots now...

 

Just bought my Prius (2009 Touring, pkg #6) on Saturday through the Costco buyers program. Paid $250 over invoice, plus $750 cash back, plus $250 for returning customer. All of that in addition to a very generous trade in on my 2005 Lexus Rx 330.

There, my very first post!

 

Agreed. People who pay MSRP (or above!) for a new car simply because it's "hot" suffer even worse depreciation. If there is any hysteria for this car outside of these message boards, I will wait it out.

The wait-listers seem to be of two minds. Some believe it is worth paying a $1000+ premium to be among the very first to own. Others believe the 2010 will sell at or above MSRP for quite some time (sluggish economy, increased production, diminishing hybrid demand, low gas prices, and Honda Insight notwithstanding). But I'm not biased or anything...

Some salesman will undoubtedly try to convince me he can't run a business on the profit margin I'm offering, despite the killing he just made off the wait list.

 

I was able to get $500 off MSRP on my 2006 back when the waiting list was months long and the economy was charging forward. I would expect less demand and more supply in the current market, except for the initial ramp-up phase.

Tom

 

Add a third mind: In Washington State, there was a very real possibility that the high-mileage sales tax exemption would disappear by June or July 1 as part of the legislature's response to the budget crisis. For most areas, this is more than a $2000 price hike for Prius and Insight.

I don't see any evidence that this proposed change actually happened, but the final budget is only 36 hours old, so we haven't yet had time to sift through it for a definitive answer.

 

$500 off MSRP is what I have been offered by one of my local dealers, Koons Toyota in Tyson's Corner, VA. Priuschatter scooper428 is a salesman there, and he has been very good about keeping in touch with me concerning new developments (pricing released, etc.).

But then, I notice the OP is in Oregon, and I'm in VA, so it probably doesn't help much. Just know that, well, it is possible.

 

Any educated guesses on the invoice for the 2010's. Am I wrong to assume that the pricing is aggressive by Toyota, so that the invoice may only be $1,000.00 or $1,500.00 below MSRP....? If so, I don't feel so bad paying MSRP.
If the invoice is more like $2,000.00 or more below MSRP, then those that wait until late summer will probably be getting $1,000+ off the MSRP...
Any educated guesses on invoice on the Prius II or Prius III?

 

Yup. Unless you live in a bubble, you already know the economy is in the tank and Toyota sales, like everybody else's is way down. So of course there will be deals after the initial intro. Just wait a couple of months.

 

No body mentioned the hold back either. There is more profit for the dealer than the difference between MSRP and the price the customer pays. I'm not sure what hold back is between Toyota and their dealers but for other cars I think it is 3 or 4 %.

 

Yes, I understand that the economy is not great, etc... my point was just about what the invoice pricing will be, as realistically, the 2010's won't be going for less than invoice, even this fall... if the MSRP is only $1,250 above the invoice (aggressive MSRP pricing), then waiting until the fall may only mean $500 to $1,000 savings over paying MSRP now. If the MSRP is $2,500 over invoice, then it could mean $1,500 plus savings by waiting, which would be worth it to me... therefore, just trying to get an idea of what invoice pricing is on the 2010's. I don't mind paying MSRP now, if I am only going to realistically save $500 to $1,000 by waiting. Knowing the invoice pricing now would help me make the decision between waiting and buying now.

 

tell me about it which makes my decision even tougher since i am part of the Priority Buyers program...

 

Don't know what MSRP is on that but if you only got $500 off...I'm not sure that was such a great deal. Unless they REALLY gave you a lot on your trade in. I think at dealership I was at it was listed at $1500 in rebates last weekend, and I think you could easily have talked them down $1500 more since new 2010 will offer ALOT more for your money than the 09 when you get the highest package. But maybe not?
Hey, either way, you are getting an AWESOME car with great MPG and a great track record.

 

I AM TRYING TO LOOK INTO THIS RIGHT NOW!! Hoping someone has an answer soon so I can make my decision too!

 

Regarding the Washington State Sales Tax exemption for hybrids and other high-mileage cars:

I am increasingly confident that the legislature did not mess with this exemption:
* The local press has not mentioned it weeks;
* a salesman who reminded me of this possibility a few weeks ago, to induce me to get on the waiting list with a deposit, has not replied to my followup request;
* my search on additional keywords in the budget bill has turned up nothing (follow legislative links in my other post);
* a search for 'hybrid' in other possible legislation (use Bill Information at above link) finds nothing relevant.

[clipped]

 

This was a group of participants on this chat site that got letters from Toyota offering them the ability to purchase a 2010 (Silver, Gold or Platinum packages) at *a price below MSRP. It was their way of acknowledging and thanking people who supported Toyota, the Prius and participation on this board.

 

2% of Base MSRP. That is before options and destination. May differ from your region.

Nobody knows what that is yet. Well, maybe owners. But no sales managers know what it is until we see the car on the toyota intranet.

I'm not giving you a crack, but what difference does it make? Really, if you like the pricing on the model you have chosen, just buy it. You are focusing on how much the dealer is going to make rather than how much you like and want the car.