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About to get my Prius after years of waiting....

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by priusprints, Jun 13, 2006.

  1. priusprints

    priusprints New Member

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    On June 4th, I officially put $500 down on a Silver or Blue Package 3 2006 at South Bay Toyota in Gardenia, and I'm told I'll hear back from them in 3-4 weeks, so 2-3 as of now. They've quoted me a price at MSRP, and I don't feel like I'll be yanked around at all, because I had a good connection that should ensure that I'm treated well. I tried to search on PC for other mentions of South Bay Toyota, but didn't find any, so I'll try to keep a little report going here about my experience there.

    Before going there, I also visited Hollywood Toyota, Miller Toyota in Culver City, and Glendale Toyota. Of those 3, we talked with Joe White at Glendale and he was very knowledgeable about the Prius. At Hollywood Toyota, I got stuck talking with a guy who knew nothing about the Prius and was simply interested in his commission. At Miller Toyota, we started out with a clueless guy, then ended up talking with Manny, a sales manager, who was much better, and Chi, who was a younger guy with Prius enthusiasm but not a ton of knowledge yet. In the end, with the connection I had at South Bay, I felt the most comfortable going there.

    Anybody have some new owner tips? I did a search for that sort of thing too without much luck. Maybe I'm just bad at searching on the site.

    For anybody who has seen my short film "Prius Envy" (www.priusenvyfilm.com), my own Prius Envy is about to end!
     
  2. Pollenfax

    Pollenfax New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusprints @ Jun 13 2006, 12:06 AM) [snapback]270398[/snapback]</div>
    Just enjoy the car and take your time to become familar with it, which really won't take all that much time. Don't worry about trying to get max MPG either. Just drive it like a regular car.

    Oh, and keep reading posts on here. Tons of great info. :)

    Congratulations. You're going to love the car.
     
  3. Rancid13

    Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius

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    I've heard good things about South Bay Toyota~they're one of the few (along with Longo, Penske and a few others) who do straight-MSRP dealings w/no add-ons with the Prius. Glad to hear you had a good connection there, I had a good connection with someone at Longo and was nothing but thoroughly satisfied with the entire order/purchase proceedings.

    Don't be too fixated on the mfd screen and mpgs when you first get the car. Just drive it like a normal car and gradually start to incorporate some of the driving tips you find here and see your mileage increase.

    And above all else have fun with the car! It's a very fun car to drive. You're gonna love it!
     
  4. Jeannie

    Jeannie Proud Prius Granny

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    Congrats! I got my 2006 white pkg 5 April 19, and just added leather seats a couple of weeks ago. DEFINITELY read the 'sticky' for 'new owners' HERE

    If you're interested in accessories, I highly recommend the door mouldings and the rear-bumper protector.
     
  5. priusprints

    priusprints New Member

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    Jennifer and Jeannie, thanks for the links. Evan's article was great, and Tony has inspired me to track my mileage in detail if I can. My wife calls me Mr. Excel on occasion. I didn't realize temperature had such an effect on mileage. Can't wait to see how we do.

    Thanks,
    Joel
     
  6. Tadashi

    Tadashi Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rancid13 @ Jun 13 2006, 03:37 PM) [snapback]270749[/snapback]</div>

    hehehe right. :D That is like saying don't breathe. I would have to hide this screen with my navigation map.

    Here is an excel sheet I use. It is a compilation of several I found on this board. You will have to alter it a bit since it was designed for tracking 2 Prius/Prii :p If you find a way to make it more automated let me know. I have been too lazy to incorporate any macro in it.
     
  7. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE Premium
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tadashi @ Jun 14 2006, 03:14 PM) [snapback]271272[/snapback]</div>
    Wow! Tadashi, that's quite the elaborate spreadsheet - I like it! :)

    I was previously just tracking fuel/mileage/date/expenses and business mileage in Excel on my PocketPC, but now you have given me all kinds of ideas to enhance my own! I'm an Excel geek myself, as well. ;)

    Thanks!

    - Kevin
     
  8. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
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    I'm going to say the opposite that others have, I say get interested in fuel mileage, watch the energy screen, try to get rid of your old bad habits (we all have them). Read the owners manual and the maintenance schedule. If you are out driving the car and something comes up you don't understand stop and read the book, figure it out. The quickest thing you can do to increase fuel mileage right away, other than improved driving habits, is increasing the tire pressure. Many people here use 42 front and 40 rear.

    Your dealer will almost certainly try to sell you an extended warranty and maybe a maintenance plan, just say no. People on this site can tell you why.

    Oh and one other thing I still do after 9 months, I park way across the parking lot away from other cars. I don't let car wash attendants and parking lot attendants drive my car either.
     
  9. Tadashi

    Tadashi Member

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    Thanks. If you come up with some new ideas please post it. Like I said I got a lot of it from here and there. BTW, the main page shows lifetime MPG and MPG per year. The chart of the prices on the individual years I just grab from www.gasbuddy.com (specifically www.elpasogasprices.com) but there is a site for most of the major cities in the US and Canada.
     
  10. priusprints

    priusprints New Member

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    tumbleweed, you bring up a good point, but one i'm not going to be able to avoid. my wife and i will both be driving the Prius, and she parks in a lot where tandem parking is the norm. the attendants have to move cars all the time. we live in LA, so it will be hard to avoid it in other cases too on occasion. we rarely use valet parking but sometimes you end up without a choice. she asked the parking attendant if he knows how to drive a Prius, and he said yes, but it still worries us a bit.

    i'm going to have to do a little research on the maintenence plan I guess...
     
  11. meezercat

    meezercat New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rancid13 @ Jun 13 2006, 04:37 PM) [snapback]270749[/snapback]</div>
    I haven't been posting (or even lurking) here for awhile...I assume this means MSRP is still standard, and some places are trying to get you to pay more than that in sneaky ways?

    I'm OK paying MSRP if that doesn't mean I'm being taken in.

    (edit: almost forgot to say, planning to finally order - or buy if I find something in stock - within the next week.)
     
  12. Tadashi

    Tadashi Member

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    Well I guess you will get some use out of those valet instrucitno cards. I think I have them in my car somewhere. I was considering using them as a note pad. I have yet to use one. :p
     
  13. priusprints

    priusprints New Member

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    WE GOT OUR PRIUS!!!!!!!!!

    found out this morning it had arrived, we just got home with it less than 12 hours later!
     
  14. Rancid13

    Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius

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    Well, congratulations!!! :D
     
  15. Tadashi

    Tadashi Member

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    congrats. :D
     
  16. actorguy1

    actorguy1 New Member

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    First time poster here. My wife and I just ordered a red 2006 Prius. Expected arival time: 4 to 6 weeks. Package #4. My in-laws also have a Prius
     
  17. Jeannie

    Jeannie Proud Prius Granny

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Actorguy1 @ Jun 28 2006, 08:25 PM) [snapback]278327[/snapback]</div>
    Congrats on your 'arrival' Priusprints, and it's great that you're 'expecting', Actorguy!
     
  18. nexrec

    nexrec New Member

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    I'm a first time poster too and I am also ready for my Prius after years of waiting. My wife and I put down our $500 on an order for a black package #8 2006 on June 26th. The dealer told us that they expected a 6 to 8 week wait. I occasionally entertain the idea that I'll get a call any day telling us that it has come in, but in reality I just hope that we are able to purchase it before the end of September to get the most out of the tax credit.

    The dealerships in the area don't seem to get too many black Prii or #8 packages in, so I think we may have picked the combination with the longest wait time. I've been informing myself as much as possible while I wait though, and this site has been a great resource.