Prius glut?

It's been talked about before. My opinion is that prius manufacturing has probably increased and they are finally meeting demand. Some people are probably waiting for the upgrade of the prius out next year. It would be interesting to see how long, on average, a prius sits on the lot before it's sold. It just to be a negative number (sold before reaching shore). My guess it's that it's still a very low number.

 

B) I'd hardly call it a "glut." True, Prius are now found in stock in most North Texas dealers, deals can be made and quick or instant delivery is possible - you know, just like "regular" cars. The "gluts" I see are many GM, Ford and Chrysler products

I believe it is not directly associated with lower fuel prices, but with Toyota's response to short supply since the 2004's were introduced in the U.S. One certainty, the days of 99¢/gallon gasoline are forever gone and some economists believe we will see $4.00/gallon - maybe more. I can recall 21¢ for "Ethyl" and 19¢ for "Regular" when I had my first car. I welcome the fuel economy together with the fabulous engineering and reliability [It IS a Toyota], and that fuel ecnomy is good at any fuel price.

 

I think Toyota has saturated the available market with this cool car. b/c it's price is a bit stiff, the limits reached. Pri's purchasability in the socioeconomic group that would gobble this car up is @ 5-10K too high.
As with the price of fuel, I overheard that prices will remain flat btwn 50 and 60 a barrel for a looong time. Hearsay has it that 3rd world has opted out of bidding once a barel went over 50. They couldn't afford the price. This is a surplus for those who can pay 50+.
I wonder which countries no longer have oil??

 

The 'glut' doesn't exist just because the scarcity has eased. I wasn't even thinking I could buy a Prius until a month before I bought it because I was still under the impression that 1. I would have to wait a couple of months at minimum and 2. the car was going to be out of my price range. So I go to dealer and 1. I found out I could get exactly the color/options I wanted within a couple of weeks at maxiumum, and 2. the car with the option I wanted was only a couple thousand dollars more (with tax credit) than a fully loaded Corolla and all I lose is the moonroof (and I gain steering wheel controls, computer fun, better fuel economy, climate control system). And on top of that, I found great financing. I think if Toyota keeps upping the advertising so that people know the new easy way to get a Prius, there will be more people in dealerships snapping them up. I have only seen two commercials in my market area in the last month (and I watch a shameful amount of TV). Another thing is that too many people have this whole greenphobia where they won't look past the hybrid label to see the car in front of them (maybe that is just in the midwest/south). My family asks me why I bought a hybrid, and I tell them 30 things I love about the car before kicking in that it is a hybrid and has great mileage just so they would see it as a car, not a label. But yes, they know I am green and they know it has to be a reason I bought it, but it doesn't have to the main reason they buy it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Angel Flight Pilot @ Feb 16 2007, 10:20 AM) [snapback]391586[/snapback]</div>

The story aired on ABC World News Tonight on Monday, Feb 12.

ABC News - The Once Hot Prius Falters As Gas Prices Fall

 

Bear in mind, also, that this is the slowest time of year for ALL car sales. So that factored with increased production probably accounts for the "excess" inventory.

When I went to test drive mine a couple weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised to find about eight on the lot. I was able to take my new car home two days later.

But my salesman said the dealership is still moving six to eight Priuses per week, so it doesn't sound like they're hurting too bad.

I also really like the 0 percent financing I got from Toyota. So if the inventory is up a little bit, spurring such incentives, that's good for the consumer.

 

The so-called glut is just due to increased production. Sales have increased.
The Prius gas-electric hybrid mid-size sedan posted best-ever January sales of 8,299, an increase of 4.1 percent.
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/02/01/035722.html

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Feb 16 2007, 03:28 PM) [snapback]391639[/snapback]</div>

A quote from the above linked story
"The EPA figures are designed to better reflect driving habits of motorists. Bad news for Prius and the hybrid fleet as a whole.



Today on the sticker of a new Prius you will read EPA mileage of 60 miles per gallon in the city and 51 mpg on the highway. But the new EPA figure is expected to be no higher than the mid-40s for either.



Toyota insists that's a good thing. The Prius will get the mileage it's always gotten, Press insisted, and there won't be any customer disappointment about not getting 60 mpg. But selling a 30 percent reduction in miles per gallon will be daunting even for the marketing wizards at Toyota. "

This is a part of the negativity that really irks me. ALL cars will see about a 30 percent reduction in gas mileage. It isn't like the Prius will show 45 and the Corolla will still show 40. All things will be adjusted and it shouldn't affect any specific type of car that much different than another. That, and the media should let people know that they CAN get the sticker gas mileage if they do their own simulation that mimmicks the EPA's, that mileage varies a LOT depending on how you drive, how cold it is outside, and a bit depending on air filters, tire pressure, tire type, and so on. And what is this whole marketing wizards thing that keeps being brought up?? How does Toyota market better than anyone else?? I can't remember the last Toyota marketing thing that made me want Toyota. I wanted one because of a lot of internet research. <_<

 

There is also the fact that the stickers for the HOV lane have all been sold here in California. We think that helps to account for the 4 or 5 Prius in the local lot.

 

Drive by a dealer's back lot where they store unsold SUVs. Now THAT'S a glut! Prius is small potatoes by comparison, but the jabbers like to raise the negative Prius points every chance they get. My guess is what, 100 to 1 SUVs vs Pri on dealer's lots? Maybe 1000 to 1? who knows?

 

Just saw a commercial on TV that now Toyota is offering 0% financing on the Prius here in the Seattle area. 5.99% last October...

Dave

 

There are 47 Prii on the lot at Boulder Toyota. Truly incredible. If February sales are down, then the abc story may have merit. But, if sales are up, then it will be due to higher production.

We can thank Toyota for higher production, because it means more of them on the road.

Finally, the people who wander in to car lots like sheep can come out with a Prius instead of only those who pre-order. I know several people who would have bought a Prius but couldn't find one.

Cars on the lot will only increase sales.

Nate

 

There was a recent New York Times article saying that time-on-lot of Prius has changed from 3 hours! in mid 2006 to over 30 days currently. Most dealers here in CA have over 30 in stock, many are selling at invoice or below. They said Toyota has ramped production of the Prius up 50% in the last year to meet demand. The sold 100K of 280K units worldwide in the US last year and hope to increase sales to 170K units in the US. A large advertising campaign for the Prius will be starting in the next couple months.

 

People want what is in high demand, even if they have to wait months to get it. But once supply meets demand, the thrill of the game begins to wane. Just wait & see happens later this year, as gas prices continue to climb. People can be such puppets.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Angel Flight Pilot @ Feb 16 2007, 10:20 AM) [snapback]391586[/snapback]</div>

Heard a Prius radio ad this week. Pretty surprising.

This "glut" situation is a great situation for potential buyers and even current owners.

JohnG

 

The price for regular gas will hit $3 by year end. It will bounce up about 10¢ to 15¢ next month. Prius sales will increase. Just watch.

 

Someone who didn't get Prius at $3 per gallon, won't get it at $3.10 either. While Prius does save money on gas it doesn't save money in the long term. $15K Corolla is cheaper than $25K Prius (and top of the line Prius is now pushing $30K) even with higher gas bill. Therefore, while changing huge SUV to Prius saves money both ways, changing from compact sedan to Prius makes less financial sense unless one has to buy a new car anyway. Besides, there are other reasons people buy certain cars besides pure gas cost.

There is a market for Prius-size car with Prius amenities. However, it is just one market segment. In family sedans Hybrid Camry is too expensive for the 'Camry' name. Toyota really should have made Lexus ES Hybrid instead of Camry. There is no hybrid minivan. There is no hybrid smaller car, comparable, maybe, to Yaris. There is no hybrid AWD sedan. There is no hybrid sport sedan or coupe - see, raw performance and power in sport cars is not everything. Otherwise no one would buy 4cyl BMW 316 or Mini Cooper. Hybrid Cooper would be cool - plain one gets 30-35mpg, hybrid could easily push 50.

There is only one hybrid SUV, but not eveyone likes Highlander look. I am sure not everyone likes look of Toyota cars in general. I would never buy any Toyota or Lexus except of Prius since I really dislike Toyota designs.

So at some point Prius sales will flatten, gas price or not. Besides, there are other ways or reducing gas bill: carpooling in 23 mpg regular car gives you same savings as driving Prius minus cost of getting one.

Just a reality check.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LazyBear @ Feb 17 2007, 12:48 PM) [snapback]392033[/snapback]</div>

I bought a Prius because it was the best choice of hybrid vehicles for me. I could get by with a smaller car, a Yaris-style hybrid, that would get even better mileage than a Prius.

This is the time of year when the least amount of driving is done, and gasoline tends to be cheapest.

I do not expect gasoline to stay this cheap for long. I'm positioned to cope with whatever gasoline costs for the next 12 years or more. I expect gasoline to spike up a huge amount due to world conflicts. When? I don't care when.

I'm also minimizing my carbon footprint, something I have been concerned with for a very long time. Conserving energy has always made sense, to me, anyway.

Harry