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To jump or not to jump....

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by David Beale, Jun 28, 2010.

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  1. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Well it finally happened. The local Toyota dealer has a salesman with a little drive to sell. He called me (along with all the other Prius sales made from that dealership), and after asking if I was happy, was going to ask if I might be interested in a "tradeup" to a 2010 (except I cut him off and said I was tempted to do so).

    So, bottom line, he thinks he can get me into a 2010, similarly equipped to Pearl, for the same monthly payment (except of course, instead of just two years of payment to go there would be five years).

    I don't think I will, but it's tempting. Better fuel economy, new car instead of three year old car (bumper to bumper warranty just expired but it's a Toyota so I really don't need that).
    Downside is fewer storage places, smaller rear underfloor storage, and the hassle of preping the new car to my liking.

    Choice is good except when you have to make one. ;)
     
    #1 David Beale, Jun 28, 2010
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  2. Smirv

    Smirv AkA: Ryan

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    very tempting.
     
    #2 Smirv, Jun 28, 2010
  3. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Do it!
     
    #3 spiderman, Jun 28, 2010
  4. halpos4

    halpos4 "Taxi"!

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    I suppose if you're goin to do it you just will regardless of input from your fellow PCer's.....BUT.....i wouldn't...don't do it,don't do it!!
     
    #4 halpos4, Jun 28, 2010
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  5. exbauer

    exbauer Active Member

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    Ah, the call...now he has your head spinning on trading up. If he didn't call, it would just be a thought in the back of your head. But, now it is your every thought of the day. I hate the call!
     
    #5 exbauer, Jun 28, 2010
  6. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    I don't like to owe money. Since you can't pay cash, and your current Prius is still running just fine, make the extra three years of payments to yourself and put more down when you finally do buy a new car.

    Tom
     
    #6 qbee42, Jun 28, 2010
  7. Thai

    Thai Prius Neophyte

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    Tom is right........but the call has made you think......and the fact that you're thinking about it is pretty much a done deal. Good luck with the new car. :)
     
    #7 Thai, Jun 28, 2010
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i feel exactly the same way, but i havn't gotten a call. what prompted it, were you browsing?
     
    #8 bisco, Jun 28, 2010
  9. Prius42

    Prius42 New Member

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    In my opinion, negotiating based on monthly payments is a complete scam. If you are tempted, then I would negotiate the selling price, the trade-in, and the financing separately and in a no pressure situation, like through email. If you start mixing these, and you are negotiating in person, make sure you have worked out the whole three-dimensional trade space in advance. Personally, I would just negotiate the selling price. Then discuss the trade-in. Finally, if you want to finance, then work this out with a credit union or bank, and have that result in your pocket before bringing it up with the dealer. This also gives you a chance to work out your own budget and decide for yourself what down payment and monthly payment (if any) you can afford. Just my opinion...
     
    #9 Prius42, Jun 28, 2010
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  10. exbauer

    exbauer Active Member

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    The above is correct. Never negotiate based on payments. Agree on price, trade in, and the financing if you need.

    I agree with Tom that I would not upgrade. As nice as it seems, your car is fine and it will be paid off in 2 years. Living car payment free is wonderful and you can save the money for more important things.

    Sure it is nice to have a new car, but the car payment isn't.
     
    #10 exbauer, Jun 28, 2010
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  11. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    You don't understand. I never said I couldn't pay out the car whenever I wanted. In fact, I can. I'm using Toyota's money for 3.9%, and making about 6% on the money I would have paid.

    The call was "out of the blue". In fact, I was driving Pearl with a friend when I got it (handsfree of course). He wants to accompany me to the dealer to see what's what as he's interested in lowering his fuel use (mini-van is his only vehicle right now).
    I told the salesman I didn't want to increase my payments, or make a down payment, to "trade up". I'm not really in the market for the 2010. It's too early. I didn't mention to you that I have a $500 certificate from Toyota that can only be used on the purchase of a new car, and the salesman told me the dealership also offers an additional $500. So $1000 off list.

    What they never tell you is that the 2010, while listed at less than the GII, is actually more expensive. The packages just start lower. Similarly equipped the 2010 is about $3000 more than the GII was.

    Finally, I was in the showroom a few weeks ago (not related to above phone call, getting coolant) and they had two "new" demos on the floor for sale. Along with one 2010. I think they were base models and were stickered at $25,500. I didn't think that was a very good deal at the time, but this is Canada. Toyotas are overpriced here!
     
    #11 David Beale, Jun 28, 2010
  12. Thai

    Thai Prius Neophyte

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    You do realize that you can EASILY get way more than $1000 off list these days, esp. if you get II to IV models...at least, here in US.
     
    #12 Thai, Jun 28, 2010
  13. Fstr911

    Fstr911 Member

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    I say give it a shot. Go drive a new 2010 and make sure you like it (you will). Wait till the end of the month (like right now). Carefully negotiate a good deal... and if the numbers look good… keeping in mind that interest is at an all time low… then, if it feels good….Jump.

    You'll love your new 2010 Prius. A nice warranty, no repair costs and another thing…you deserve it.

    Let us know what color you get.
     
    #13 Fstr911, Jun 28, 2010
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i still don't understand, who gets a call from an unknown car salesman out of the blue?:confused:
     
    #14 bisco, Jun 28, 2010
  15. Prius42

    Prius42 New Member

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    Not to speak for Mr. Beale, but he did say "(along with all the other Prius sales made from that dealership)", which means he was already on their contact list. Thus I'm not surprised. Also I'm not sure that the current sub-invoice prices in the US also extends to Canada. Mr. Beale did say that they were overpriced there. Anyone from up north care to comment?
     
    #15 Prius42, Jun 28, 2010
  16. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    So take the money you would pay on the new car and invest it at 6%. That way you will be 3.9% ahead of the game.

    On the other hand, since you have the money, this all comes down to your personal whim.

    Tom
     
    #16 qbee42, Jun 28, 2010
  17. patee987

    patee987 New Member

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    I jumped. Yikes, just today traded a Barcelona Red '07 for a Blizzard Pearl '10. It was the solar roof package that did me in, I have missed a moonroof SOOOOOO much, and I spend a great deal of time in the car. So I got a III w/the solar roof package. Don't know if I should have, but it had sixty thousand miles (yes, I am aware it can go well into the hundredthousand range), and I drive alone all the time. Sooooo, I have to say I adore the new one even more than I loved my old one!
     
    #17 patee987, Jun 29, 2010
  18. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    You can check the Canadian prices on Toyota.ca. It's probably easier than in the US as we have fewer packages, but the packages probably don't match up (I haven't checked). I doubt I will purchase, but I haven't had a test drive yet, and my friend wants to go look, so we're going this morning.

    If this was two years from now I would be very tempted. I'm still waiting for the "other shoe" to drop, as in what will fail in the 2010 after a few years (like the MFD did in the GII).

    There are always pros and cons (sometimes both, as in the salesman is a pro at being a con). It would be neat to have a new car again, but Pearl is working very well and I'm happy with her. It's hard to wrap my head around the "trade now before the value drops" idea, but it's happened to me before (with the anti-Prius a few years into ownership). I declined then and wondered if I should have accepted later when the value dropped dramatically.

    Should be interesting anyway to take the test drive. I could have taken one a year ago but declined (that may have been the car Tideland got). I don't feel right test driving a car I have no intention of buying.
     
    #18 David Beale, Jun 29, 2010
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I would say no. Why? Wait for the PHV esp. if Pearl's still running fine. This will get Pearl up to about 8-9 years which will make it easier to trade up.

    How can the 2010 be $3000k more? Our 2005 Premium Package was $34.5k. A Tech Pack 2010 is $37k. Every other package is below $32k. (An equivalent 2010 Premium Package is $29k, isn't it?)... SKS, JBL, VSC, side airbags, auto-dimming/Homelink... did I miss anything from the 04/05 Premium Package? A 2010 would add BT, footwell lighting, touch sensors and a backup camera (in addition to all the new standard additions).

    I got mine from Gateway...
     
    #19 Tideland Prius, Jun 29, 2010
  20. 13Plug

    13Plug Active Member

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    Why don't you do what I'm doing? Waiting to trade it on a PHEV. Tell the salesman you'll be the first in line for one of those and see what he says ;-)

    Mine is an 08 and although I like the '10 there's just not enough new for me to take the huge depreciation hit right now (my 08 was $37K tax in when I bought it, and now black book is somewhere around 18K). I figure my 08 won't depreciate so rapidly between now and '11/'12 when the PHEV comes out so the cost for me driving my 08 is very little for the next year or two. Your car would be the same, have you checked the Canadian Black Book value on your current car? Yuck!
     
    #20 13Plug, Jun 30, 2010
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