Am I Stoopid?

You most certainly won't be the first to get it below MSRP. Quite a number of people who put down orders very early before the demand became evident got theirs below MSRP.

However, that's not usually the case in recent months.

Since you clearly weren't prepared or very knowledgable about the Prius situation, I'm really not surprised that the Dealership was a tad annoyed with you.

As others have pointed out, nationwide, the backlog of orders is certainly more than three months.

I suppose if you hit the right dealership in the right remote area, you might get one for under MSRP in three months.

 

By any chance is this a sign of the hype dying and the increase of cars being sent to the US? Could it be the dealer is still saying "100's" and there isn't, trying to keep the hype alive? That is, why would this person be bumped up on a long list and be offered MSRP? If I understand it right, the dealer didn't' balk until an counter offer below was given. I'm sure in a couple places there still are long lists. I myself I'm looking at a wait of over 1 year and that was with real numbers given from the dealer. (Amount they see a month and exactly my number on the list. This also included the 50% increase, but I don't think it included the 100,000 for 2005 to the US at the time.)

So on the other side, could the '6 in the lot' really already been called for just waiting for someone to get them?

 

They are showing an inventory of Prii.... I guess the price is based on how bad they need to turn it over.... But listing an 03 at $24,000 doesn't show me that they are giving anything off the MSRP..

2005 Toyota Prius 4 DR Hatchback 4 Dr. Millenium Silver $23,651 Contact Us
VIN: JTDKB20U850119147 Stock: 59479
Features:
Anti-Lock Brakes Air Conditioning
Front Wheel Drive Power Brakes
Power Steering Power Windows
Tilt Steering Wheel



2005 Toyota Prius 4 DR Hatchback 4 Dr. $26,641 Contact Us
VIN: JTDKB20UX50119912 Stock: 59517
Features:
Anti-Lock Brakes Air Conditioning
Front Wheel Drive Power Brakes
Power Steering Power Windows
Tilt Steering Wheel



2003 Toyota Prius 4 DR Sedan 4 Dr. Silver $23,989 Contact Us
VIN: JT2BK18U930088723 Stock: 53320


3 matches found. Vehicles 1 to 3 shown.

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Folsom Lake Toyota
12747 Folsom Blvd
Folsom, CA 95630
Email Contact Us
Dennis Braden: 916-355-1500 direct
Ted Colfescu: 800-655-0505 direct
Jim Howeson: 916-761-8374 direct


Longo Toyota in El Monte Ca is showing these in inventory... There are cars out there...

they have the #9 at $26,239... sounds like MSRP to me...

6 matches found. Vehicles 1 to 6 shown.

Year Make Model Exterior Other Price Photo
2004 Toyota Prius 5dr HB Black Contact Us
VIN: JTDKB20U740104864 Stock: 00419834

2004 Toyota Prius 5dr HB Tan Contact Us
VIN: JTDKB20U540105348 Stock: 00419835

2004 Toyota Prius 5dr HB Gold Contact Us
VIN: JTDKB20U140105878 Stock: 00419944

2004 Toyota Prius 5dr HB Green Contact Us
VIN: JTDKB20U840105523 Stock: 00419836

2004 Toyota Prius 5dr HB Blue Contact Us
VIN: JTDKB20U540105754 Stock: 00419943

2004 Toyota Prius 5dr HB Millennium Silver Metallic Contact Us
VIN: JTDKB20U140105976 Stock: 00419945


6 matches found. Vehicles 1 to 6 shown.

 

i agree. the reason some dealers have inventory is BECAUSE they prefer to wait until they get their price, well ABOVE list.

 

Yeah, actually, I do think you are stoopid

 

I suspect that you really don't want (or can't) buy a Prius; that would explain why you would make a such hassle about saving $1000 on such a market, and on the fourth car offered to you. :roll:

 

As you say, everything is negotiable. You will have to wait a while yet to get one at or below MSRP, but this will give you time to finish saving up the purchase price and avoid borrowing for it.

Write again when you have it and let us know how it went. Good luck!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Xioba Pompini\";p=\"43215)</div>

Please make sure that your head does not swell to the point where it may burst, on second thought...

 

I think that you went into this deal totally unprepared. I have never paid MSRP for a vehicle in my life....until I bought the Prius....and I actually felt I got a deal by paying that. Most dealers around the DC area are charging anything from 700-2000 over MSRP and getting it. Believe me, with the new law being signed in California and the ability for the Prius to use the HOV lane with one person...you won't be getting a new Prius any time soon for under MSRP. No matter how much they increase production. California is the number one state for hybrid sales with Virginia number two...the dealers know this...and you should have before you went in trying to get probably the most popular car on the market right now. This has even shocked Toyota. If they were willing to give it to you for MSRP, you should have jumped on it...My dealer charged me 670 over MSRP, but failed to mention it anywhere during the deal...(no dealer markup sticker, or salesman telling me that it was marked up)...I fought it with the dealer and won and got a refund for my efforts...it took me two weeks to rectify the problem though.

Bottom line my friend, you may have gotten one at the beginning of the year at or below MSRP, but if you want one now or anytime in the foreseeable future, be prepared to pay above MSRP, and be happy, very happy if you walk away at MSRP.

 

You can get one within 3 months under MSRP, no problem. You will, I promise, have to do a bit of work to find one, and I also promise you'll have to deal with a lot of dealers laughing and hanging up on you. A car like this doesn't come around often for the dealers, so they are obviously going to take advantage of the situation. And right now, it stands that if you balk at paying anything they set - at or above MSRP, most places will turn around and be able to easily sell it to the next customer at that price, and they lose nothing.

However, the 05s are in production now, and the production has increased. A few threads on here mention Canadian dealers having their lists 'cleared', which is quite possible.

Start calling and don't be suprised when the dealers laugh at you.

-m.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(starla30\";p=\"43149)</div>

And I hope no one buys them over MSRP. The dealer needs to figure out they gambled and lost.

 

Ok, I take it back... you do want a Prius, you just don't want it badly enough.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobA\";p=\"43161)</div>

Folsom is showing 3 at the moment. Interesting that they have different prices but list the same features, nothing about package. How do you know what you are paying for?

If the $23,500 was MSRP, I, like others, agree that you titled your post correctly.

You want to dicker? Take $1K off the asking price? Tell them you want a 2004 Camry, they'll be HAPPY to do it. Heck if they only take off $1K, they'll be making more than they expect.

I don't recall you saying which package you wanted so I don't know if the $23,500 was a marked up price or not. If $22,500 is MSRP, then your offer was not unreasonable, but the way you went about it was. At the next dealer, tell them up front nicely you want THIS package in one of THESE colors at MSRP. If you go in there all puffed up telling them you will not pay more than $1K below MSRP, I am VERY sure you won't be leaving a deposit or have a purchase agreement in hand when the door whacks you in the behind on the way out.

If the '04 you turned down (assuming MSRP) was your package and color, you already cost yourself $300 due to the 2005 price increase.