Toyota facing the scale down of 06 Prius

Yeah... I don't think we'll even bother showing him the secret handshake at this rate.

As far as I can tell, Hanlees doesn't know what the hell is going on. I hear people say that the dealership is calling *them*? Hell, I can't even talk to my guy when I call *him*. Always too busy for customers. But just try to walk around the place, and you'r accosted by five different guys wanting to know if they can help...

 

Yeah that was happening with me too. I told my young sales guy to keep the big guys away from me. One of them kept trying to tell him to have me sign a contract asap or I would get No Prius

 

Well, yes. I DO want a car! I sold the car this will replace (still have it, but it is promised with a deposit, and will go away early next month!) You'll have to let me in on your secret. 3-4 days?! Bring it on!

 

I will find you a Prius for your Ranger (JK of course)

Can I try to hunt you down a Prius though? (You've been SO helpful to me!)

 

:lol: Yep, Prius owner & sales person. Can you imagine that. It used to be that I knew more about the Prius' than anyone that came into the store. But then Gen2 owners started coming back and I was at a knowledge deficit. So I had to get up to speed myself.

But fact of the matter is MSRP is MSRP and I've had customers come from Pensacola, Atlanta, Colo, San Diego, NYC and Niagara Falls (2) to get Prius' from me. We do it right here. And it's very easy.

 

Well with your Toyota connections can you PLEASE turn my Prius into a PlugIn Prius?

 

Ah. I didn't realize that the $50 bounty thread was Jacks! I'm all up to speed now. Jeez, ya can't walk away from the boards for a MINUTE or you miss a lot!

Thanks for the offer, Tracy. For now I want to see how Jack does, then I'll copy all his notes. Actually, my first step is to get some real answers out of my dealer! I'm offered a great deal there, and would hate to lose it... but then I also want a car sometime in my lifetime!

 

Ok just let me know. I don't want anything at all for doing the searching. I just like to search things down so I'm willing to do it for anybody for FREE!

I hope your local dealers gets you something!

 

What packages does your region sell? (You're just north of the fabled SE, right?) There's a guy here (andyman) looking for a #4. If I were closer, I'd buy from you. Used to live in Lynchburg.

 

If there's anything going on about "changing ports", I'll take both of you out to lunch. All that could possibly be would be getting cars from Portland rather than Long Beach, and has nothing to do with cutbacks in production, even if true.

I no longer trust the guy I dealt with at Hanlee's. He should have called me rather than make me wait until 2/5, then call to say "no car", knowing what the odds are.

 

Yeah, re-reading it, I just wrote a bunch of hokey BS to justify making my "leap"! To whom do I need to justify anything? Truth is, I'm just tired of waiting, after listening to all this gabble from those who've taken home cars the last 23 days! Also, turns out Hanlee's is just too small a dealer, at least in terms of what happened to me.

 

I am familiar with Package #4. I had to turn down an order from BertinNC who just posted his WV mtn trip because in CAT they aren't offering #4. In CAT it's only 2-6-7-8. ( sigh ) .

Actually I myself was going to get a #4 if possible but was also turned down so I took the last '05 AM we had on the lot in order to help them earn more '06's.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, Dead Phish, but there IS NO "build by" date, is there? I've heard here where a few other dealers have said that to customers, but that sounds like throwback-to-another-era, excitement-building stuff to me. Mostly what we read about is take-what-we-give-you allocations. Clarify?

 

I've never heard of a 'build by' date. We do offer our customers who do place advance order a back out date if they want it. If we can't deliver say w/in 90 days or 120 days then they can opt out if they wish. Actually I/we have never failed to meet the commited date. Kudo's to 'Yota on that point.

As I posted on another thread the only way I know that orders are placed in the new Dealer Daily system is by 'preferencing' a specific color/package. The preferenced orders are filled first in the next allocation if possible. If it's not possible then the next closest combo is offered to that store/client. I have just that situation now.

 

Are you willing only to deal with a few local dealers? I called 17 today, mostly in CA, and looked on online dealer inventories out-of state. About 2/3 of dealers had none, but the other 1/3 had SEVERAL---just not in the color/package combo I want. Can you go to W Va or VA?

 

Toyota likely planned their June HyCam roll-out long ago, probably even before the energy bill passed last summer. But now that it's reality, I'm sure Toyota would like Camry buyers to cash in. And, even if it's 50%, they will.

 

Hey all!

TracyBeans and I live in an area that seems to be getting these cars in (Chicagoland/Midwest). I've got 2 Package #4s on order, both of which are said to come in within 4-8 weeks, and I've called about 8 Chicagoland dealers giving me similar delivery dates. Has anyone called Toyota yet (reliable folks from this board) to confirm the story of a shortage? I think Tracy (or I) can find the vehicle if people want. In fact, I was waiting to post on another matter, and that is my getting the 2006 Prius at well below MSRP (actually 3% above invoice!), but did not want to give specifics yet to make sure I had a smooth transaction and completed deal with the dealer (I would hate to send ya'll to a dealer promising one thing and not holding true to their word). Re: below MSRP, I will provide that info later if it really holds true. Re: a hold on Prius production, that might be area-specific, total BS, or some combination thereof. Let's just contact Toyota directly and see what they say. I've been shocked with the wait-time given many of you, but also know these cars are coming in to my area, as I am given calls from dealers stating they are available (unclaimed) to purchase. Because I want a specific order (Seaside Pearl #4), it was custom ordered, so I am waiting too (2 weeks at this point).

Hope those who are waiting hang in there, at least until we determine the truth.

-Steve

 

Of course, the shortage may be due to everyone buying them now. It was pretty easy to get one in 2005 but now that you get over $3000 worth of tax credit, what a surprise, now it's difficult. Whether the Rickey Hirose guy's post is true or not, the sudden shortage would be happening anyway. You can't corroborate what he says. His really bad spelling and grammar is in sharp contrast to the alleged letter from some Region Vehicle Supply Manager so that could be some kind of ruse. Maybe he's trying to raise the temperature a bit to get people with orders to get desperate enough to offer to pay above sticker. Ask him for the actual name and telephone number of this supply manager. If he can't or won't I wouldn't pay any attention to it and I wouldn't buy a car from him. Find a reputable dealer (or dealers) out of state and ask them. I'll call the dealer that I got mine from and ask them. Call Toyota. But some posting on a website from some salesperson with an alleged letter from an alleged supply manager (can you even verify that such a title exists?) that can't be verified is worthless. Just because you can't get a Prius these days doesn't mean that what Rickey says is true. Calm down.

 

Okay. I just talked with Toyota (800-331-4331, reference #200601250004) and the information about a lowered production of the 2006 Prius is NOT true. In fact, Toyota management is INCREASING production. So, hang in there, and let's get on with our day!

-Steve

 

TracyBeans and DeadPhish....thank you both for your offers to help! I've decided to hang in there and keep looking. The vehicle I'm driving will need some work but I think it can get me through the winter until the Prius arrives. My order is for a Silver Pine Mica in either package #7 or #8. The dealer told me they might be able to get an 8 if I can wait till summer but I'll be happy with a 7. I had also told the dealer that I'd take any other color in a package 7 if it comes in before mine. I'm number nine of their waiting list.

Again, thanks for the offers of help! It was just what I needed at the moment.

Catherine.