Is MSRP still a good deal ?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(femski @ Jun 29 2006, 06:35 AM) [snapback]278511[/snapback]</div>

I haven't seen any dealers who would take less than MSRP, but there are several places in the county that have some in stock and are getting deliveries several times a month. I found mine here in Florida by going to toyota.com and building my toyota. the screen promps you to "find my toyota" and lets you know what is at dealers near your zip code. If you go to "build mine to order" it takes you through the options again and then it shows you the delivery dates for dealers near you. I wanted red and I love it, keep trying and you will find one. Good Luck

 

Hi Sanjay --

I live in the mid-west (Kansas to be specific) and having just gone through the process over the last month and a half, here is what I've found for this part of the country. In most of your smaller towns, and some of the dealerships in the larger cities, you will pay MSRP. But in some of the larger cities (Dallas, Houston, and parts of Oklahoma City) they want $1,500 to $3,000 over MSRP. That was of a few weeks ago, but things seem to be changing. In the last 2 weeks, the in-stock Prius inventory has been growing. Some dealerships now have a few on-hand, and a few dealerships even have 6 or 7. And for this week only, there's a dealership in Tulsa w/ 7 in-stock and they are offering $500 off MSRP. I'm not sure if it's a trend or not, but there seem to be a few available in this part of the country. Your mileage on the East Coast may vary. Hot tip: look for rural dealerships -- the demand for Prius's tends to be lower in rural areas.

As for the tax credit, if you take delivery of the vehicle on Sept 30 or earlier, you will receive the full tax credit. When I was hunting for a Prius, I was amazed at the misinformation/lack of knowledge some sales people had. Oh well, I guess everyone is not as savvy as us enthusiasts here on PC.

Now, if 12:00 today could come a little sooner. I'm driving to Tulsa to pick up my new Magnetic Gray Package #6!

I hope this helps,

Bryan

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(femski @ Jun 29 2006, 07:35 AM) [snapback]278511[/snapback]</div>

IMO, it depends on:

How much work you want to do.
How much money you have.
How long you will wait.
How far you will drive for pickup.
How flexible you are (color and options etc.)
And probably more things that I don’t need to list.

Get on the phone or e-mail every dealer within the range you will go to pick up your car.
Remind them that you are an instant buyer and I find it hard to believe that you can’t find one for $1000.00 above invoice or less. Don’t deal with SET (south east Toyota) that’s North Carolina and down. Stick with Virginia and up and Midwest.

Now go get em!!
!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(femski @ Jun 29 2006, 07:35 AM) [snapback]278511[/snapback]</div>

In the NY Metro area, you will most likely pay MSRP. Wait time is about 4 weeks. The further you get away from NYC the smaller the allotments in general, but you might find one not claimed on a lot, if you hit it just right. If you are willing to travel, there are cars sitting in the lots in northern VA.

 

Three questions?

How much is it?
How bad do you want it?
How much money do you have?

Just do it.

 

When I bought mine in January, three things helped me get a deal worth somewhere between $500 and $1000 below MSRP.

1. The dealer had just received a shipment of two or three Priuses that they didn't have immediate buyers for (not what the people on the list were waiting for) and I was willing to take one of the cars they had received that day.

2. I knew that there were five or six Priuses on the lot of a dealer in the next town and I brought up this fact during negotiations (by telling them that I was sure it was worth my time to go see the other dealer) to get the price I wanted.

3. I had a trade-in so the dealer was able to hide the fact that I got a better-than-MSRP deal by inflating what they valued my trade-in as. (I knew the true value of the trade-in.) If anyone else asked for the better-than-MSRP deal that I got, the dealer would be able to claim that I paid MSRP because the deal was with the trade-in, not the new Prius.

Any time you're working a deal with a car dealer, you've got to threaten to walk at least once or twice (and mean it) and you've got to sit there while the sales guy pretends to talk to the sales manager and then complains about how you're "bustin' his balls" so to speak.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(harrv @ Jun 29 2006, 04:20 PM) [snapback]278762[/snapback]</div>

I pulled out my checkbook, held it high in the air and said, me and my money are leaving for the other dealer. Within ten minutes my cell phone was ringing.

 

I bought my car in mid-April and did a lot of shopping by phone and email. I live in New Jersey, and one of the best places I talked with was the Internet Sales Department at www.teamtoyota.net/en_US/
I spoke with Elaine Weiss.

They're right off route 95 where you cross from New Jersey into Pennsylvania. They're a very big dealer and sell a lot to people who travel hundreds of miles to get cars there. At that time, they were will to negotiate a very good price. I ALMOST bought a package 6 from them, but got a package 5 'on the spot' at another dealer.

Now, I may have been pretty lucky in the timing of the accident that totalled my old car - it was only a few days after the IRS announced the rebate, so it wasn't 'common knowledge' yet, and the car I got is white, which is considered the least-popular color. I paid less than MSRP, and I actually paid less than I was quoted for a package 3 from another dealer. I expect that now, 10 weeks later, you can expect to pay above MSRP, since Edmunds.com said 'typical' price in my area was above MSRP even then.

Also look around the different forums here in PC - I know there's a thread where people discuss the good experiences they've had with some dealers.

If you DO buy a car a hundred or so miles from 'home', consider renting a car from Enterprise - they have a huge number of offices and reasonable rental rates for dropping off a car at a different location than the rental location, and they'd probably arrange to take you to the dealer from their drop-off.

 

Fact : it shoudlnt take more than 90 days MAX to get the EXACT color and package you want. period. and MSRP is what you are going to pay IF you have an honest dealer. very much doubt you will find one anywhere for less than MSRP.

 

i recall seeing offers below MSRP in northern va/dc metro area posted here previously... maybe you can call up dealers in that area.

i agree, avoid southeast toyota. they're pretty much in their own little world.

 

being from CT, my first thought is check out dealers further north in the state!! msrp is what I'm paying in NH for the exact model I want and its coming soon but I was able to negotiate my trade in. there is so much money in fairfield try like around wallingford, bristol, other areas, internet and if you are not picky about color you may be able to pay less. Good luck!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Jun 29 2006, 07:41 PM) [snapback]278865[/snapback]</div>

Fitzgerald in Maryland has several Prius in stock below MSRP and they really do sell at their advertised internet price with no games. I got mine there recently. Here's the list of the Prius they have for sale. Fitzgerald

 

Are you a Costco member?
While I found out too late for my purchase, Costco has an auto buying program, that could save you a couple hundred dollars off MSRP through a local dealer, for the package/color you want.
Good luck!

 

In Orange County, CA - about 1/2 of the dealers wanted more then MSRP. :angry: The other 1/2 would go for MSRP. That still seemed like too much, but I pretty much had no option to try for below MSRP. The little Prii just don't stay on the lot long enough. Congrats to those who are able to get it lower!

 

Do NOT pay over MSRP. The last thing those greedy people need is someone giving them even more money for NO work. As others said, check dealers as far out as you are willing to drive or fly. It is not uncommon for a dealer to ask for a deposit (make sure it is refundable) to get on their list. You have already made the right decision to skip the dealer requiring you to buy things you don't want. Rustproofing is especially bad, not only does it only pay back the amount you paid for it, if it gets nicked and lets in salty water, it will trap it there until the damage is MUCH worse than if the rust proofing was never done. All the rust proofers up here went out of business years ago.

 

You shouldn't pay over MSRP.

You should be able to find a car before your lease expires in a few weeks.

You'll probably need to widen your search and be willing to go a longer distance to get your car. Others have done this with positive results. Get on the internet and e-mail the internet managers (NOT the sales people). You may even find both the package and the color you want.

You should not have to pay for any added port options you don't want. And I'd recommend against the extended warranty unless they can match Troy. (Don't mention Priuschat)

I did get the mats when I bought mine, but nothing else.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(haceaton @ Jun 29 2006, 08:23 PM) [snapback]278939[/snapback]</div>

The Prius is a car on the excluded list for the Costco discount for many dealers.

 

I have to agree with the statement about northern Virginia having the largest allotments. Back in late March, I was able to snag mine from Alexandria Toyota right off the lot, with choice of package and color, and for about $1700 under MSRP. I'm from the Baltimore area, and I checked every single dealer around Maryland and they were all charging at least MSRP and had a waitlist, but several dealerships in northern Virginia had vehicles on the lot.

Regardless, though, even the ones in Maryland are all at MSRP; I haven't seen any dealership charging a premium, so you really shouldn't pay one.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(snowman83 @ Jun 30 2006, 10:55 PM) [snapback]279475[/snapback]</div>

One thing you have to watch out for is the "Processing Fee". In Maryland, at least in Montgomery Co., it is capped at $100. In Virginia, they can charge $299 (or is it $399?!

So, even though you could get a price for under MSRP, you might end up paying more.

At Fitgerald in Gaithersburg MD I could have bought a car for about $450 under MSRP and with only a $99 processing fee. I didn't buy that car because I didn't like the color and ended up paying exactly MSRP (discounted $100 + $100 processing) at another place. I had canceled an earlier order because I found out they had charged me about $200 over.