availability of next gen Prius..

I suspect that if Toyota offered a small incentive - $1000 - on the 2008 Prius, inventories would clear out fast. The better question is whether the 2009 Prius will be the next gen (III). Possibly if Toyota starts offering incentives on the 2008 Prius, we could take that as a sign that Toyota wants to clear out the 2008 inventory in preparation for the new Gen III model. Can't have the auto writers pointing out that Toyota lots are still full of 2008 Prius's during the next gen Prius launch. Need to keep the Prius still looking like a "hot" seller when the new model comes out.

 

Yet another indirect and uniformed observation. I've heard from a Toyota dealer that the dealerships are starting to see more (and more) used Prius's coming in that have just finished up their lease. Since the Prius is somewhat of an odd niche vehicle, one would think that most of these buyers that are now off lease would want another Prius (hybrid) instead of following the "American way" of moving up to a higher end vehicle (e.g. trading in a leased Corolla for a Camry). One would think that this group of buyers would be looking for a next Gen (III) Prius instead of buying the same old Gen II Prius. Hence, Toyota needs a new Prius (Gen III) later this year to keep the lots from quickly filling up with 08 Prius's. Granted, the hybrid Camry is an option - but I don't think that Prius buyers are typically interested in a Camry (hybrid).

 

For what it's worth, I originally wanted an Estima and had to,
uh, settle for a Prius. Absolutely no regrets.
.
Still doesn't excuse Toyota's unwillingness to bring us the
Estima or a hybrid Sienna or whatever.. from a technical standpoint,
they could do it in their sleep.
.
_H*

 

Toyota did offer a low finance option available last year? I don't know why but only lasted 1 month?

But next Gen Prius Nah, the next Gen III Prius will be totally new design, no matter if 08~09 Gen II Prius still in dealers lot. The Gen III will sell like hot cakes. The problem is, if Plug-in capable Gen III will show up and available for sale.
I will fear that will becoms so hot that is the event of 04 Prius mark-up over Msrp all over again... Toyota has to punish and give no Gen III Prius allocation to those _Greedy_ dealers that will charge bluntly way over sticker.

 

Prius lease coming back? Yes very few of them, Toyota was never agressive in moving the Prius with a low monthly payment lease.
The only Prius coming back to dealers lots are those TRAC rental car
We can only use the TRAC cars for 6 months and then goes to dealers used car lot.

 

Estima Hybrids in America? Yes, I do agree with you. I wonder what is Toyota USA marketing planning that Hybrid Mini-Vans not available yet ?
Will Toyota create a Prius line only franchise?
( Read=all Hybrids, existing and available plus new addition under the Prius banners ) ? They are talks that Prius may become the franchise name ?

 

Artificial inflated? DaveinOlyWA, not factual. Toyota allocation is and always were send the most units available to the USA to the region that sold more Prii in the past. Nor-Cal always outsold Los Angeles region and other rest of the country.

The Hybrid sales ( regional ) slump is due to more like the savvy consumers knows that the Gen III Prii are coming, ( They are guessing )
We here in Nor-Cal have the Sillicon Valley and their employees are the major Prius buyers. But I have noticed that even the High tech loving Prius owners are seeking newer "Gadgets" a more advanced Priii.

So more like demand receeding due to let wait till new Gen Prius appears.
Besides that, Toyota USA orders its vehicle from Japan based on the marketing planning of different Toyota regional offices. Nor-cal office missjudged demand and too many Prii came to this region, that's all...

Washington state, were not even gettin' any Prius back in 04 and not even now in 08... It is 'cause your state Toyota regional office's Prius orders were very conservative and did not order enough. Therefore the consequences that you still don't have enough Prii to sell.

 

sorry but i disagree... the areas that have more Pri per capita than Western WA is DC, VA area and CA which both allow HOV exemptions.

i contend that we would have the highest concentration of Pri's if that exemption were not available hence my statement that demand in your area was "artificially inflated"

now that no more exemptions are available you have a glut of Pri... and i think you will find you are one of the few areas in the country that does

 

I could be wrong about the whens and wheres, but I think Toyota announced at the Detroit Auto Show that they aren't making a separate Prius line for hybrids. They did say they're developing a new hybrid model for both Toyota and Lexus though. I don't have anything to back this up expect suspicion, but I'm hoping it's a hybrid minivan.

 

I don't think the Prius holds anyone comfortably. I need to bring the throw pillow from the living room couch to put under my left arm if I am driving more than 45 minutes. There is no place to comfortably rest your left arm. Also, I don't think the seats (mine are leather) are comfortable for a long ride. My last few cars were Volvos, they are much more comfortable. That being said, I would not change my decision to buy a Prius and I sure enjoy the gas mileage.

 

Well, "The Name=Prius" is now world renowned.. Why not capitalise on it? Prius the Techno wuder, Prius the most cleanest brand, Prius the easiest to upkeep, Prius the mileage champ..

Toyota top brasses are toying with the idea of creating the stand alone Hybrid line under the "Prius" name strengths,

Look at the Scion lines for the young and upcoming, low priced entry level cars with many features standard and accessorising to customise and build a unique Scion to make it personal.

So me want: Prius sedan, a cross over,Truck, mini-van,sport type etc. Me think will be a smash hit!

Toyota do it! People will buy them under the Prius banner.

 

I guess you're right. Why have BMW decided to keep the brand name MINI for a car which actually has been a true BMW? Because they've been smart.

sg

 

Hey I thought the Caveman show was cancelled! How can you afford to pay for that?? :bump2:

 

The HOV lanes are not an option to new Prius buyers in California. No more HOV stickers will be issued for hybrid vehicles in California. A Prius that has HOV access stickers fetches appproximately $4,000 more in the resale market than a comparable Prius does without the stickers. The demand for the 2008 Prius in California is largely due to the significant spike in gasoline prices. There is no "artificial" demand for the Prius in California. Personally I have over 150,000 miles on my 2004 Prius. I do however plan to keep driving my current car ( my car has the stickers) until the next generation Prius is available.

 

ok... now my post was in response to someone mentioning that there was a glut of Pri's for sale in Nor. cal. i said the reason was at one time Cali allowed the HOV exemption which artificially inflated demand for the Pri causing a larger allotment of cars to be shipped to cali. now that the exemption was no longer available the glut is the result.

so yes i am well aware that an HOV sticker for a new vehicle has not been available for quite a while now.