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New Prius and Buying Report

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Zorba, May 8, 2011.

  1. Zorba

    Zorba New Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2011
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    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I just got back from picking up my new Prius. It’s a Winter Gray, 2011 Trim Level IV with Dark Gray interior.


    I thought some might be interested in how I came to buy this particular car. First, as you all know, it’s very difficult to find a car these days, especially if, like me, you are being particular about trim level and color. There were none in Michigan, so, I did an internet search and found 5 within 800 mi. I was all sent to buy one in Boston. I had my credit card out to put a deposit down. The salesman had checked with the sales manager and everything was in order. At the last minute, the salesman told me he had to check on something. Apparently the owner came in a said they were not to sell any Prii except to locals. Of course I argued, but to no avail.


    There was another one in the Philadelphia area. I called and within 10 minutes I had the car. It took me 3 days to line up my work schedule and find a flight to Philadelphia. I hopped on a plane in Grand Rapids, MI at 8:00 A.M., made a connection in Chicago and landed in Philadelphia around 11:15 A.M. The dealer was there at 11:25 to pick me up. We drove the 15 min. to the dealership and by 12:45 P.M. I was on my way back to Michigan with a beautiful new Prius – and it was exactly the model and color combination I wanted.


    So, for a $254 flight, a $71 motel room and $35 of gas (the dealer filled it up at no charge before I left the dealership), I was home with the car of my choice. This was a very nice, if a bit adventurous, way of buying a car.


    I found it to be much more comfortable to drive than I was led to believe from reading the reviews. It was very quiet and smooth. Of course I have been driving a Tacoma for the last 8 years and 261,000 miles, so I suppose any car would feel nice. I especially like the sound system. I know some have complained about the lack of bass. However, I’m an audiophile and I know that most, if not all, bass systems in cars are over kill for my listening style because of the small space. What is nice about the JBL system is the ability to control the mid-range along with the treble and bass. Because I listen, mostly, to classical music, a booming bass is not important to me. I was able to put the settings so it was very good for me.


    In addition to driving the Prius to Northern Michigan from Philadelphia, I drove to Southern Michigan and back for a family event. At this point, I’ve used 3 tanks of gas and MPG have been better than I thought.
    First, I should tell you that I didn’t try anything extreme to get better mileage. However, I’m an easy driver – some would say slow. The first tank took me through the Allegheny Mountains. I averaged 52.6/51.7 MPG(Indicator/calculated). The dealer told me I should drive 500 mi. before I used the cruise control. I tried to keep it at 65 MPH (my usual driving speed on an interstate). I tended to go closer to 70 MPH because it was such a smooth ride. The second tank was mostly through the flatlands of Ohio and Southern Michigan. I had an average of 55 MPG until I hit Midland, MI. At this point it is a long steady uphill drive. By the time I got home my average for the 2nd tank was an even 53/52.2 MPG. This was using the cruise all the way. The next day I was going to drive to Southern Michigan for a family event. I decided to drive fast, for me, to see what the mileage would be. I put the cruise control on 75 and left it there all the way. At the end of the 230 mi. drive I had an average of 50.3/49.4 MPG average. I turned around and went home at the end of the day and went my normal 65 MPH on the way back home. The 3rd tank averaged 53.5/52.5 MPG. My average since I pick the car up is 53.6/52.8 MPG.


    I’m a very happy camper. I have a very comfortable and quiet car that gets awesome gas mileage.


    Z
     
    1 person likes this.
  2. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Welcome aboard officially. Glad you were able to get exactly what you wanted.
     
  3. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Congratulations! You'll lose mileage in winter* but you'll still be getting better than you could in a conventional car .

    * A grille block is recommended to help warm-up and installing an engine block heater helps too, especially if your car is garaged.
     
  4. donee

    donee New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Hi Zorba,

    Way to Go! I did a similar thing to get my 2006. There was a 6 month delay locally, and I was affraid I would miss out on the Katrina tax credit ($3150!). I ended up in La Crosse, WI , by train and foot. It was 384 miles back home here. My mileage was not nearly as good, as it was 10 degree F heavy side-winds all the way home -43 mpg. The 2006 does not have as good as mileage above 64 mph as the 3rd Gen Prius.

    I had considered getting my 2006 in Escanaba, but La Crosse had the car on-the-boat headed in, exactly what I wanted.

    I went through 3rd through 7th grades in the UP. My mom was Copper-Miner's daughter from Calumet.
     
  5. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
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    Excellent story. It's sad that dealers don't understand the power of "word-of-mouth" advertising. "Locals only" will limit one's revenues if there are no locals to buy.
     
  6. Zorba

    Zorba New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    That is the case. I know they'll sell all the Prii this time, but that won't always be the case and the bad word of mouth won't help them then.

    Z
     
  7. stream

    stream Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2008
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    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Congrats--enjoy.
     
  8. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
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    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Great story and right about where my mileage is as well. On a trip where I really take it easy I'm getting 57 calculated ... around 52 calculated around town and rural.

    Congrats on your new Prius.

    REV
     
  9. jayselle

    jayselle Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Oklahoma
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Good find!

    The only way I can average 50mpg is to stay off the highway and drive like an 80 year old woman on city streets coasting around 35 mph.

    I did a 250 mile road trip recently at 75mph and didn't even break 40 mpg.
     
  10. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Welcome and congratulations. I am impressed with your determination to find the exact car that you wanted. I had a similar experience during C4C in 2009 with the local dealership. They were only interested in selling me something they had in their pipeline and did not think I would go elsewhere. I ended up finding mine but it was only 100 miles away.

    Enjoy your new car !
     
  11. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
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    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    WOW that's hard to believe. Part of your problem is your speed. I keep my tires at 42/40 and stay at 65 or less, use cruise control and ECO on the highway, and have never gotten less than 55 and usually 57 ... calculated numbers not computer in the car.

    Slow down, and pump up your tires and watch you MPG skyrocket

    REV
     
  12. ben12345

    ben12345 Junior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
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    Did you pay sticker price?
     
  13. shagaman

    shagaman New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2011
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    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I bought my Blizzard Pearl IV w/Sunroof three weeks ago today. A local dealer held my $500 down payment for over a month, quietly hoping I would get tired of waiting (while he did nothing) and just accept something off his lot. No dealer in my state would tell me where I could find the car i wanted, so i phoned into neighboring states... where a salesman finally told me where I could locate the car I wanted. I drove it home the next day, $1200 under MSRP. When I phoned the friendly salesman back to ask him how i could show him my thanks, he asked me NOT to send a letter to his boss, fearing he might actually get in trouble. Imagine that. I wrote to Toyota about this customer-last attitude, and they were neither surprised nor interested.