Got the call in TX. Buy or wait - advice?

I picked up my nuber 7 silver a couple of days ago. I leared from the dealer(they are the oldest Toyota Dealer in the US) that the 2005 models will not be available in the base packages .ie no more 1-6, only something like #7 or #9. And, the HID lights really are great. Thay light up the road so well. Driving at night becomes a pleasure, no strain on your eyes. I had been dubious about them too.

 

It's a tough question; and I think it depends mostly on how long you're willing to wait.

Me, I want the SE/SS, and I'd wait for it. Also, I am encouraged by the allocation numbers going up of late. (I've also been on the waiting list since March.)

If I had to guess, I'd guess that I'll have a new Prius by the end of October (at the latest); and that's soon enough for me.

 

There are some big differences between the #3 and #7. Too big for me. If I was offered a #3 today and had to wait until next year (when I should get mine since I JUST got on the list) I would wait. I plan on having my Prius for a LONG time. A few months wait for me would be worth it. Everytime I got in with the key and stuck the fob in the dash I would think about the one it should have been. I don't want to think of such a big purchase as a should have been. I want to be 100% happy with what I got. Believe me I WANT MINE TODAY!!!!!!!! I sometimes feel like I'm going to explode having to wait when I hear how much fun everyone is having with theirs. So don't. I think you will be happy you did. And since you are #1 you will have the next first choice. So it won't be THAT long.

Alpha

 

Am I the only wannabe Priusite in the world who honestly doesn't give a damn about SS/SE?

 

I'm in New Mexico .. Long waiting lists, at least in Santa Fe and Albuquerque (Albuquerque's American Toyota told me it's now 18 months).

After more than 3 months after ordering I was #9 on the list when I got the call. Although I had ordered a Tidelands pkg. 9. They had a salsa pkg. 7 that the 8 people before me had rejected. It met my minimum requirements though.

So the question became, how long would I have to wait until my exact package became available. I took the red pkg. 7.

My minimum was the package 7 because it had both the side/head airbags and the Vehicle Stability Control. Need for a high level of safety is one of my quirks and both side/head airbags (also on the pkg. 3) and VSC (recently written up as the best safety feature to come along since seatbelts) are important to me.

The smart key is nice, but I could live without it. The high intensity headlights are great, but I could live without them too.

So from my perspective, I'd ask:

. How long before the next Seaside Blue comes along that has the package that satisfies me.

. Can I live without the VSC (did so for the first 48 years of my driving life).

. How important is price (the higher level packages cost more).

. Am I willing to get on another dealer's waiting list (those lists are getting longer and longer).

. Do I wait for the 2005 (most 2nd year cars just fix flaws discovered in the first year car - I haven't exerienced any on my 2004 Prius - 8,000 miles).

. The Smart Start is nice but there's still the lock, unlock, and panic buttons on the lesser fob. And I don't think I'd have a problem with taking it out of my pocket and inserting it in that slot on the dash.

. The HID headlights are good (or will be until have to spend a couple hundred dollars to replace one), but modern halogen headlights are pretty good too (and a hell of a lot cheaper to replace).

. Haven't used my optional fog lamps yet but I've never found those to be terribly important anyway - They do add to the 'cool' factor though.

Oh, one other point, on following the postings here, it seems that Texas has a pretty meager allocation from the Prius regional site.

 

SE/SE is alright. After having had my #7 for a couple of days and using it, I think it's nice to have but, I could easily do without it at the moment. It is slowly becoming habit forming and I am sure in a few months I'll think it's vital. It really isn't that difficult to press a button on the fob to open the doors and to insert it to start and, since we are used to it, it helps reduce the chances of forgetting the key or losing it somewhere. With the SE/SS sometime you could put the key somewhere in the car, it could be in your pocket, purse... anywhere and, sometimes, you may forget it since youn won't have the habit of taking it out of the car when you turn it off. I know tyhe car won't lock if the key is left inside. On the other hand, once you get used to keeping the key in your bag, just opening the doors and starting it and then later pressing a button on the outside of the door to lock and walking away, you might get hooked.

 

The SS/SE system is convenient and distinguishes the Prius from most other cars. My wife likes it because she can get in and out of the car without opening her bag.

 

I got a #7 because I absolutely needed VSC. I did not want HID headlights or SS/SE, but could not get VSC without them.

SS/SE turns out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread because of our bitterly-cold winters: I no longer need to take my gloves off to get in or out of the car. But if you don't need VSC then you don't really need SS/SE. An extra 6-months wait is six months without the car. So if you really wanted a #6, I'd recommend settling for a #3.

On the other hand, I would refuse the $900 dealer-profit package. And I'd wonder if it's true that all gulf-states dealers have to accept that from their Regional office, or if this is just a sleaze-ball dealer who's lying to you.

Finally, waiting for 2005 is a total crap-shoot. Nobody really knows anything about 2005. There could be improvements, or it could be identical. There could be fewer options packages, or more. There could be a price rise, or not. The only things that are really unlikely are major changes or a drop in price.

 

Hmm, here's my feeling on it -

Not having SS/SE would really suck for me, especially being used to it for 5 months now. However, you'll probably not notice not having it, since you didn't have it on your previous car. It's definately one of those features that, once you have, you won't want to do without. However, if you do decide to go with the package 3, I don't think you'll be so disappointed and regret your decision that you'd want to trade the car in - regardless of package, this is an amazing car.

That consideration taken, find out how long until the next shipment comes in, and if you'd get first pick from that as well - It could be they're getting a new car in less than a week or two, which isn't such a bad wait. Perhaps in that time you can also change their mind about the $900.

Best of luck whatever you do!

-m.

 

Nope. It's just another gimmick to get screwed up to me, and it seems as if the system does suffer from the occasional brain fart judging from the handful of complaints posted here. That said, I wouldn't refuse the car if it had it.

 

That's exactly where I'm at, as well. At this point, I have exactly one must-have feature -- the full airbag package. And even that I have to admit is more a gut-feeling of 'more is better' than anything I can prove I need, since no car I've owned to date has had anything more than the front 'bags.

So, if my dealer calls me up and says she has a #3, I'll take it; if she says she has a #9...I'll take it. As long as it isn't Tideland Pearl (yuk!), I'll at least consider it

 

Living in Texas, we would be receptive to some sort of class-action lawsuit against GST for adding the $900 package to the cars. Where are you located? We're in Houston, TX and ordered Seaside #2 on 11-21-03. We still don't have it.

 

What is included in the $900+ dealer port package?

 

Mshappe - I think you're right about the full airbag package. 999 out of 1000 you'll never use it. But that one out of a thousand is enough of a reason to pay for it. safety first! (Okay, I don't know the actual statistics.)

Enerjazz, you might not even need to upgrade the stereo. I have the base model stereo that comes with the #7, and it is fantastic!

 

Ya what is the base stereo in a #7? I drove a #9 and it had the 6 disk changer and a tape deck. Does the #7 one come with both??
I love books on tape and want a tape and a cd would be nice too.

Alpha

 

#7 doesn't have a 6-disc changer.

Check here for the list of options: Prius Options

 

The stereo in the #7 is an extremely high-quality CD player (one CD at a time - no changer) with AM/FM. It does not have the cassette deck. I gather that you can get spoken books on CD, but if you need cassette, the base model stereo does not have it. Sound quality is first-rate, though. I'd say you'd have to be a hard-core audiophile to want anything better. Me, I just want something to listen to.