Advice on buying a '09 Prius.

I thought there was a waiting list. Is there no longer a list?
If it was me, I'd buy a pre-owned Prius and save $5000. Buy hey, that's just me.

(I just looked in the newspaper, and the 2009 Civics either just came out or they are coming out next week - so they are "clearancing" remaining new 2008 Honda Civic Hybrids for $21,428. The dealer near me advertised they have four. Call around the different dealers and find a 2008 before they are gone! (that's what I did with my Corolla - I got a $15K car for $11,800 (less than normal invoice). A coworker of mine paid almost $15K for hers. haha.)

 

What accessories come with that package 5 quote?

I bought my 2009 package 5 at Piercey in Milpitas. The package #5 with CF, carpet floor/cargo mats is $27,574 and I paid all of that plus tax, title and license. No complaints, got Spectra Blue, top choice.

I went in with preapproved financing at 5.49% and had no intention of buying the 'extended warranty' but some interest in the pre-paid maintenance.

The car was going to be a couple hundred over $30k out the door with no add-on plans. The business manager was a good guy, but his job is to sell extra packages, so he got a little PO'd when it looked like I wouldn't get either the warranty or PP maintenance. I threw him some biz and went with 3yr/40k PP maint. The chart showed $1,015 for that, but I missed him typing in $1055, so I got hosed a little. Well, maybe a lot from not buying it here.

The business or finance person, the one really selling the car, may try to focus you on a monthly payment. Keep your eye on the out the door cost of the car, the interest rate and term of loan. I'm not one to do minimum payments on loans, better to whip car debt ASAP if possible.

So, check all figures on sales contract for accuracy. I hope the pre-paid maintenance works out well. The coupon book shows what they are supposed to do on each service.

I would have taken a pack 3 if available.

Your $26,300 figure for #5 sounds pretty good. I bet as supplies go up through the cold Winter, prices will go down some more.

 

Hi John,
Funny to be on the other side of these questions: I just bought a spectra blue pkg 2 a week ago so the sales issue is fresh in my mind. Dealer was trustworthy, but there were two things they tried to sell: the extended warranty (read here about not buying that from the dealer), and "ResistAll" - a $500+ exterior paint and interior fabric protector. I had posted here a question about this, as they tried to sell over the phone first, before I went in. Readers tended to say no, and I called my mechanic who said "absolutely not". Also, see if you can get them to throw in a tube of touch up paint.
Good luck -

 

You may want to ask the mod to move this thread to Dealers and Pricing or the main forum. You're in the news forum. Just suggesting.

 

Read www.carbuyingtips.com. Floor mats are accessories. After the sale you will probably receive a discount card for their Parts Dept. I would have saved 15% on the mats if I bought them through Parts instead of with the car. IMO "Just say 'no' to everything beyond the option package. You should also consider taking the car immediately to get the clear bra installed and either the rubber or plastic film protector for the top of the rear bumper.

 

To respond specifically to your question # 3, Prius prices will probably decline assuming: 1) the price of oil does not significantly change in the next couple of months, 2) Our country continues to slip into a an economic recession, 3) In anticipation of the formal announcement of the 2010 Prius probably in January for release sometime in Q2 of next year, some prospective buyers will most likely hold-off buying a 2009. Based upon these assumptions, I think that the new Prius market will shift to a buyers market where a prospective buyer will be in a stronger position to negotiate a lower price in the next couple of months...

Good Luck,,,

 

Buy low, sell high.