What it means to be on a waitlist for a new prius

First, Welcome to Prius Chat!

All great questions!
However, it's like going into a college, and saying "I want to know about Chemistry".
That could take from a 5min quick overview, to many lifetimes of information, with everything in between.

Imho, the youtube channel below, and maybe ?membership so you can ask questions and get correct answers and links to videos?, might be helpful.
(I don't have any association with the channel, I don't even subscribe. But, I watch just about every day.)

Code:

https://www.youtube.com/c/YourAdvocateAllianceYAA/videos

https://www.youtube.com/c/YourAdvocateAllianceYAA/playlists

Also, fwiw, the new generation (2023+) is being announced on 11/15/2022, and interest rates are high. Therefore, today, there are often both current 2022 Prius Hybrid and Prius Prime (plug ins) on various lots at various times.


First, ordering a new Toyota is Very Different than ordering a new GM or Ford, check out the links below:

Code:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT1BWDsf90U
MYSTERY OF TOYOTA ALLOCATION EXPLAINED BY ENGINEER! - How to beat the system when buying 2022 Tundra
AutomotivePress
Nov 19, 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y3UozyzRAw
HOW we order YOUR vehicle! Dealership vehicle ordering process!
Toyota World
Oct 31, 2021

https://priuschat.com/threads/factory-order-anyone.231072/#post-3249854
factory-order-anyone

Also, the State and area that you are in, makes a *massive* difference.
Therefore, be careful of "general BS advice".

For buying a Toyota, Southern Calf and the NYC area, might as well be in different galaxies.
And, buying a Toyota in most of the South, is almost like being in a different Universe.
Buying a Toyota in the Plain States and Mid-West is almost like not even existing yet.
The same goes for local rebates and laws. This is the United States. Not, Iran. We live in States, not a single law country.
So again, general BS advice, is often just that - general BS advice.

Imho, living in Orange County Calf, and spending $1000+ for a full set of mounted Blizzak snow tires is moronic. (assuming they don't drive into snow country )
Where as, living in Maine, and not having snow tires, is far beyond moronic.

Local and State Laws also vary massively.
Michigan ("the home of the 'Big 3' auto manufactures") has many laws very oriented towards car/truck/sub manufactures. Not towards the consumer.
Whereas, Calf is near the opposite end, with a lot of consumer oriented laws.

See my points.


In General, Deposits are refundable.
However, that is not always the case.
Also, YES, there are some Very Scummy dealerships. Even if you had a refundable deposit, you can go ****** yourself, thinking that you'll ever get even a penny back. You'd have to spend $20+K with a lawyer and going into court, to get the money back.
Think I'm kidding? Many Florida dealerships were doing similar scummy things for many Decades. Only because of the interweb, did the State Attorney General get off their fat worthless *ss, and do something.

So again, take any advice with a grain of salt, unless it's about a Specific Dealership.



Fwiw, I put down a $500 deposit for my car.
Another dealership required $100.
A third didn't require anything.
All deposits were refundable.

Wait times are extremely variable.
A RAV4 Prime is 2+ years out.
As the videos above talk about, "requiring some options", may mean you'll be waiting until after the sun burns out.
It gets more involved for Hybrids, verses the Prime, since Hybrids have many "significant" options (like radio upgrade) with many models.
For the 2022 Prime (plug-in), there are only 3 models. For a specific model, every option can be dealer installed.
Where as, for the 2022 Hybrid, you'd need to decide which color(s), model trims, and options you require.


For me, I required a "Metallic Gray Toyota Prius Prime Limited" - that was it.
*I* did not care if it came with every possible option(many thousands more), or no options.
I got lucky, and got my car in ~6 months.
In general, for 2021 and 2022, Toyota sent Primes with few options, and let the dealer install any other option that the buyer wanted.

Of course, things change.
So, my experience, will be different than someone else's experience.


Btw, the Toyota brochure, and just about every picture/movie is very poor in showing what the vehicle's color really looks like in person.
Before I saw every color, in good sunlight, on clean cars, I liked the Silver color the most. However, for me, in person, on a clean car, in good daylight, I liked the the Gray Metallic color the most.
So, ordering a 2023 now, without having any real examples of a Gen5 color, does present a slight risk. Imho, try to see the exact colors (by name), on another vehicle on the dealership's lot.

Good Luck!

 

That's great

SM-G965U ?

 

My forced education here in North Pittsburgh has taught me do not waste time at the dealership of your choice for hybrids or cars not made in the USA. I was told to do what i am about to share, and persistence, patience and willingness to drive long distances to make that purchase is how it is being allocated by Toyota. Thats what one dealership told me. So I kept looking at the inventory available from Toyotas website, almost a month later, a Prius popped up in another state, I called right away, offered sticker price and he said OK.

I hope you all have more smiles in life to share with more strangers.
WayneO

 

1. I would try to buy from a dealer owned by Toyota. Some aren't, and can do whatever they like.
2. Secure your financing from your own bank or credit union first. Don't finance at the dealership.
3. Try to talk to current customers about their pros and cons.
In this county, there must be 50 dealers. There's only one for sure that I'd buy from.
And remember, there's a reason they're called "Stealerships."
I knew a millionaire who wanted to buy a brand new car. So, he dressed in his grubby looking gardening clothes, and walked from dealer to dealer, only parking his own car a few blocks away. They all treated him like a bum, until he walked into a Lincoln/Mercury place. The salesperson was very polite. He bought a new Lincoln from that dealer that day, paid cash for it.