Prius finally available without a wait

That's not the case in the Chicago area - however a colleague of mine finally found a dealer with only a 3 week wait

 

Depends on the area. I just checked the dealer where we bought our Prius last spring - Miller Toyota in Manassas, Virginia - and they have 37 base and 1 touring on the lot. And they're having a "white sale" - looks like $300 off invoice for all white Pri. Not bad.

 

The dealer I drive past almost every day has had about 5 or 6 sitting on the lot for the last few weeks. This is the same dealer that in August said they never have one I could even test drive.

I have a feeling gas prices will be going back up soon and the Priuses will fly off the lot again.

 

Currently in North Texas (Dallas area) you can find Prius on Dealers' lots without a wait. They range in equipment all the way from Package 1 or 2 to Package 5 or 6 in a selection of colors. My 2007 is due about November 9th - Touring Package 6 with all the "bells and whistles." I managed >$500 discount off MSRP plus a very good trade on my 2004 Package 8 (about the same as the 2007 Package 5). I waited about 2 weeks to get the specific Package and Options I wanted and the trade I had negotiated. A few (very few) area dealers are still "in the old days" expecting "market adjustment" over MSRP, but they're fast adjusting their thinking.

Looks as if Toyota has nearly "caught up" on the Prius demands.

IT'S ABOUT TIME :lol:

 

I don't really see that as much of an improvement in availability, but it does seem to point to softening demand.

Look how they're reacting to the news over at GM Inside News:

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40125

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Nov 6 2006, 05:50 PM) [snapback]344725[/snapback]</div>

Toyota dealers that charged over MSRP really shot themselves in the foot. It instills bad-will in the minds of customers. If a dealership charged you $2,000 over MSRP two years ago, would you go rushing back to them now? I certainly wouldn't. Which is perhaps why Toyota dealers fair so poorly in JD Power Surveys.

 

I was able to buy my fully loaded 2007 Touring Package 6 (Nav + Leather) out of dealer stock AND with a $1200 off sticker price two weeks ago. Each of the dealers I visitied had at least 5 on the lots, but only one dealer was really interested in discounts.

My favorite sleaze-ball dealer added $2600 chrome wheels to each Prius and had been doing so for years. The wheels were MAYBE worth $500. The salesman said "instead of just taking on $2000 of pure profit, which Toyota frowns on, we added these wheels and marked them up so we still get an extra $2000 profit." At least he was honest. He said for the past 2 years, demand was so high people didn't think twice.

That particular dealer's "discount" was to include the wheels and sell the car at list price. So, I suppose its like $500 off.

In California, 3 factors drove sales to record levels in August and September. High gas prices, limited HOV stickers, and tax credit. In October, all three of these factors were significantly reduced, so I think the "glut" of Prius is only temporary. Especially if OPEC goes through with the production cut they are promising for December.

 

<_< Quote Chrome: "Toyota dealers that charged over MSRP really shot themselves in the foot. It instills bad-will in the minds of customers. If a dealership charged you $2,000 over MSRP two years ago, would you go rushing back to them now? I certainly wouldn't. Which is perhaps why Toyota dealers fair so poorly in JD Power Surveys."

I couldn't agree more, Chrome! Only ~5 weeks ago, three North Texas dealers unapologetically informed me on the 2006 Prius that they added $1,000 to $1,500 'market adjustment' to MSRP. None of these dealers entered into my shopping for my soon to arrive 2007 Touring Edition. It was 'interesting' that one dealer who quoted $1,000 over MSRP referred my name to a sales lady in the dealer from whom I am buying - a dealer who did not add $$ to MSRP.

As we say in Texas 'country,' "Your chickens will come home to roost!" -or- "What goes around comes around." Serves 'em right.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Chrome @ Nov 7 2006, 01:43 PM) [snapback]345118[/snapback]</div>

Seems like they offered every possible explanation except the most probably one, which is cheap gas.

If you integrate all the available information, you get what I believe is a pretty clear picture: The Prius sales rate is slightly down, .... and the GM SUV sales rate is hitting records, the sales rate for GM's fuel-efficient cars (e.g. Cobalt) is way down, and Ford SUV sales are way up, and the price of gas is down $1 from mid-year highs. That seems all of a piece to me.

There was a great article from Fortune posted here last week, summarizing last month's car sales trends, subtitled something like "American Car Buyers Get Amnesia" regarding the dip in gas prices and the change in mix of vehicles sold.

I bought my Prius in '05 during a dip in the upward gas price trend, and at that time I could get one with no wait. A month later, gas was moving up again, and it was back to waiting lists. This too shall pass.