2/12/04, Option #4(AG), Red but not fussy

I think you may right in the Toyota allotment process. It seem that Toyota builds a lot of cars and somehow they get allotted to various dealers while on the way to the port. I don't think there is "Order it-Build it" process. Your district manager tries to allocate the cars to the dealers to cover the orders as best he can. I have been waiting since January for my Silver BC. It arrived at the port last Saturday and should be here on Wednesday. Since you've waited this long, why not give it a few more weeks and see what happens. I think the big rush may be about over. Your dealer may be able to trade with another dealer close by to get your exact car. I would suggest that to him. Good luck!

 

Benevento,

You started at #9 in February, and are now only #4? I think that's pretty suspicious.

If I were you, I'd do two things:

• Is the AG options package (now package #2 for 2005 models) one of the packages that is normally shipped to your area? For instance, the Pacific Northwest only gets 2005 packages #1,#4,#5 and #6. (You can find this information out by going to the Toyota Prius web page and follow the "Build Your Own Prius" exercise.)
  If the AG package is not one of the Prius packages in your area, that could explain the extended delay -- and probably means you're going to be waiting a lot longer. As I understand it, if a package isn't available in your area, your pretty much out of luck (unless your dealer wants to try trading another Prii with a regional dealership that does get that model in -- a lot of work, and there's little motivation to do that right now.)
  
• Ask your dealer how many Prii they're getting a month. They'd have to be getting a very small number for a wait this long (unless, again, the AG package isn't offered in MI.)
  • 
    You've been waiting this long -- I think the dealership owes you some answers. You also have the option of calling around and trying to find what you're looking for in nearby cities (or states). Production really is up, and the wait out of the gate is a lot shorter than it was for those of us who ordered in the Spring of this year.

 

Toyota does seem to have the option to order the car that you want. I think in the normal case one would do this and wait a month or so instead of taking what is on the lot. But with the Prius, it's a different ballgame with the high demand. One ends up waiting for allotted cars as well. My big question with that is, if you have to wait, why can't they just put in the order for exactly what people want anyway? I think it might have to do with Toyota simply isn't set up to do that on a regular basis. Until now their cars weren't the type people waited months for.

Anyway, I went and put in a specific order of a package they don't get in there normal allotment in this region. (the 'AM' package) The dealer said they could do it. I figured it would add a little wait, but hey, what's another month to 18 or so? The other thing it will be interesting to see for sure if the dealer can get something that's not allotted in their region. I figure that's what the special order is there for in the first place.

You might want to try and put your name in a couple of dealers to increase your options. Some have had very good success with this.

 

Norman,
It is, indeed, unfortunate that Toyota isn't taking actual orders. A lot of people have taken a Prius that was not their prefered package and/or color. It really shouldn't be that way. As is happens, those that are interested in the car find it so superior to anything else they would purchase, they do the compromise thing. I suspect if there was some big pool where people could post "my xxxx is coming in next week but I wanted yyy and you could swap, there would be a lot of it going on.
The AG package is not listed in the Traverse City MI zip code. Only BI, AM and BC. The AG is the ONLY package that doesn't have them (which you probably already knew).

Unless you are willing to wait a long time, or your dealer is willing to do the work to trade with another dealer in a different region, I think you are out of luck.

I would suggest picking out zip codes that are within your acceptable travel distance and find a region that has the AG. Maybe your dealer could/would even tell you that but I don't know. Then you can hunt up dealerships. Skip the big city dealers since they have the largest base of buyers, thus the longest lists. Don't list with anyone asking over MSRP, it isn't necessary.

My $0.02

 

I think the same thing I thought in my prior post Look around for a region that does sell the AG. You said you didn't want the side air bags, NAV nor HID. At least SEE if anyone close enough for you sells them. $5K is a lot of money if you are only getting things you don't want.

NEVER! Inferior design, you will not be nearly as happy ;-)