Just got my Prius - good deal, I think

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(loopyloops @ Aug 19 2006, 04:52 PM) [snapback]305956[/snapback]</div>

First, congratulations!

Second, maybe *they* don't sell for MSRP (like many/most dealers) so they'd rather you believe you somehow got "taken" rather than the fact that they routinely try to overprice their cars. Who wants to admit they're a crook?

I'd take their comments with a grain of salt & enjoy your new Prius.

 

Welcome Loops and congrats on the car. I've had mine for just over a month and love it. MSRP is a good deal considering the waiting lists for a Prius. To compare, just go to the Toyota web site and price one with the package and add ons (first aid kit and mats. I priced on the Toyota site before calling the dealer and he quoted the price that I had spec'ed out to the penny.

 

First, congratulations, and I'm glad you're happy.

Regarding the price -- it seems to vary greatly according to area. In the DC metro area, you routinely get Prii at or below MSRP. I found a place that was offering them at around $450 BELOW MSRP -- he even had one in stock but I didn't like the color so I know it wasn't a trick.

It sounds like where you are there are just more people willing to pay the extra!

 

Yes, you did well. The added mats etc. aren't that big a deal. I had the mats and cargo cover on mine but I would have bought them anyway. I made my own first aid kit out of an extra Toyota zippered manual case.

As for those other dealers, nothing is going to change their business practices. They'll tell you those other dealers are scamming you in an attempt to scare you in to paying them over MSRP. And if you told them the car was sitting in the driveway right now, you'd probably just get a hang-up.

 

Welcome, loopy!

Ya done good.

What mats did you get, just out of curiosity?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(loopyloops @ Aug 20 2006, 12:14 AM) [snapback]306127[/snapback]</div>

Yes, probably the very nature of the business. You do get some of the crap in other areas. For instance, if you buy any appliance or big ticket electronic, they'll probably try to sell you a 3 year extended warranty. You can negotiate for furniture, mattresses and in some stores for other things. (I negotiated when I bought my washer. I can usually manage to get the delivery for free, that saves at least $25-$50. I also managed to get my mattresses the next day instead of waiting 4 days. Sometimes I get stuff thrown in for free, and extra filter or some accessories.) You may not be able to negotiate at Home Depot, but I did at Aztec Appliance. And you can usually negotiate in a furniture store. When I go antiqueing I always try to get the price a little lower and they routinely negotiate. But you can't negotiate price in the grocery store. So some businesses do, some don't.

I've never bought a boat. But I bought a house. No one tries to add paint protection or an extended warranty but the price is negotiable. And if the seller has upgraded the house with alarms or granite countertops, you're stuck buying them unless you can negotiate the overall price down. Negotiation depends on how hot the housing market is. Unless they're desperate, they can always wait for the next househunter. And if they have multiple offers, the price goes up over "MSRP".

Same with the Prius to some degree. If they don't sell the car to you, there will always be someone else who will pay. We'll see the mandatory add ons and dealer mark-ups go when there are so many Prii that people know they can just go to the next dealer and pick from a dozen different colors and packages on the lot, no waiting. We're not there yet. Some dealers are smart and know if they treat you right, you'll come back for service (where the money is) and eventually another car. And you'll either refer people to them....or warn them away. I think some dealers don't realize how the internet is going to affect their business.

Of course, there are some people shopping for Prii that only come here after they've bought, so they haven't read the warnings about what dealers to avoid. As years go by, that will probably change.

 

Hi
Yes you got a good deal. Congrats.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(loopyloops @ Aug 19 2006, 04:52 PM) [snapback]305956[/snapback]</div>

Congrats, and you did just fine, especially for SoCal. I got MSRP too, and they threw the first aid and cargo net in. (Power Toyota Irvine.)

The "closers" are annoying. I told mine up front that I didn't want to hear the spiel, and that I would tell Toyota what a compelling salesman he was on the dreaded satisfaction survey.

Welcome! Enjoy the infinite sense of smugness you'll feel driving past the gas stations.

I received sticker number 695XX on 8/7. My guess is you'll barely make it. I'll bet you'll be in the 74XXX, but you are on the bubble. DMV has seen a fever pitch of applications.

 

I bought my 2006 Prius through Costco on-line. They sent me to a local dealer in Orange County, The Fleet Sales department had a Costco price list. It took nine weeks, but I got exactly the car I had ordered, at $100 under MSRP, with only the floor mats added (I would have bought them anyway).

Only way to go........

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Clarinetist @ Aug 25 2006, 08:05 PM) [snapback]309581[/snapback]</div>

And in Orange County, that's a GREAT deal! Congrats!