Hybrid Head-to-Head Day

What is your goal?

"Come look at the cars that you can't go buy anytime in the next 5 months."?

Chicagoland is pretty much a self serving self centered short attention span wealthy suburban crowd. I'm not sure they'll leave your demo with a good impression of hybrid once they see how great the cars are, but then find out from these dealers you bring that the cars are a 4 to 8 month wait.

I guess I'm not sure what you are hoping to do with your event.. maybe you can speak to that...


To me, if we had 40,000 hybrids on the lots around here, what you are suggesting would be great for our commuters, tollways and environment.

I'm pretty sure the masses in Chicagoland are not ready to "get in line" for a new car. They'll just go buy a new tahoe tomorrow and pay cash.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Apr 19 2006, 10:42 PM) [snapback]242448[/snapback]</div>

Evan,

That is a great idea. I learned a lot about Hybrids since I bought the Prius, but trying to look at it from the point of view of someone who doesn't know that much about them (people are still asking me if it needs to be plugged in), I think showing them the guts of the vehicle is very smart.

I would also make sure the sales people are ready with info to counter the inaccurate info out there. People still tell me they are under the impression the hybrid will not save me any money over the long haul, especially considering the 3-5k I will need to shell out for a new battery in 3 years.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daronspicher @ Apr 20 2006, 05:49 AM) [snapback]242552[/snapback]</div>

What a rude and unhelpful comment.

People from all walks of life are interested in hybrids, for a variety of reasons. It would be (and is) wrong for you to paint all of them with one broad brush.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gtn12130 @ Apr 19 2006, 09:41 PM) [snapback]242409[/snapback]</div>

Wait wait....you sell cars? Like, for a dealership? Here's a question: When's the last time you lied to someone to get their money? Sorry, but when stealerships come to me asking for help on selling cars, the last thing I want to do is help them get other people's money. Good try, though.

 

"... have some vehicles that are 'stripped down' ..."
.
and/or point 'em at the webpage about it.
.
With a little more work, one could achieve a car *much* farther
apart than that -- for instance, pulling off that big plastic schnoz
bumper on the front would reveal much, like the coolant storage
bottle, the aluminum sub-bumper and how it connects to the frame
and has the airbag sensors right there, etc. The whole dash-top
panel could be floated out a little ways to reveal all the nifty
stuff up near the firewall. Some of this would render the
car mostly undrivable for the day, which was one of my major
considerations since I had to get the thing to the show and back,
but if this is being done at a dealership they should be able to
get it very naked in short order.
.
What would *really* rock is having a moveable cutaway transmission
like in the pictures... somebody really should take a wrecker and
turn its HSD into a demo piece one of these days.
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Boxster...WRX...Prius? @ Apr 20 2006, 10:01 AM) [snapback]242586[/snapback]</div>

Sometimes I can't believe the negative comments on this board.

I guess anyone selling anything is "trying to get other people's money". Hey- don't direct anyone to Priuschat because there is a link to support the website and another to order an extended warranty and you don't want to help them "get other people's money"

This person posted a message asking for help in selling a car that almost everyone who belongs to this community believes in. Why assume the worst?

One of the criticisms I have of Toyota is that their dealers know far too little about the Prius and about Hybrid technology. If someone is trying to learn about how to remedy that, or even how to better sell the car, what's wrong with helping?

As I said in my response to the ridiculous comment about Chicagoland, don't paint any group with such a broad brush.

Are their dealers that will lie? Yes. There are good and bad people in every profession. Ascribing a set personality trait to any one profession is wrong.

Except doctors. Them I don't like.

Just kidding Evan.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gtn12130 @ Apr 20 2006, 11:41 AM) [snapback]242639[/snapback]</div>

Hey, I have no problem with sales reps -- until they give me reason. My hunch is that I'd rather be dealing with you than with the one I am. :angry:

I'd just like to second (or third, or whatever) the idea of getting owners to be there. I know I never pass up a chance to talk up my Prius -- to the extent that I've offered to drive 200 miles to demonstrate my Prius for a friend's high school class.

Peace--

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gtn12130 @ Apr 20 2006, 01:41 PM) [snapback]242639[/snapback]</div>

I think it is a great idea as well. I wish a dealer around my neck of the woods did something like this.


To add on to some of the other ideas:

A FAQ sheet that people can take with them if they forget to ask a question until after it is over and have something to refer to at a later date.


A printout (like the Knowledge Base Article) about how tips on how to maximize mileage (helpful to even those that don't want to go hybrid) and will helpful even more if they do.

 

Hey T.J.-

I also concur that a Chicagoland Meetup and hybrid comparison is a great idea. Many folks have been exploited by car dealers, so to not trust them makes sense. I have had several encounters with you and certainly can vouch for your integrity (unfortunately, not a stereotypical trait of a car salesman), but you should not be standing on trial here as a salesperson, rep from a dealership, etc. This is about educating consumers on the Prius. Whatever Prius you show is what any Toyota dealership would show. I think having a Hybrid Showdown is a great idea, and you will certainly find Prius owners as being some of the sharpest consumers out there. I think we would all learn alot, even if we come into such a meeting knowing alot. But most importantly, I understand there will be FOOD!! Isn't that the Great Uniter?

-S

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Apr 20 2006, 09:27 AM) [snapback]242576[/snapback]</div>

I'd been looking at the Prius for a couple of years now, reading up on it and other hybrids, but really had no intention of buying a car in the near future - I had less than 50,000 miles on my old car, and everyone said the hybrids were in short supply with long waiting lists. A little over 3 weeks ago, my car was totalled and I NEEDED a new car this afternoon! I looked at some Toyota dealers online, many of whom said they had Prius's in stock, and I decided to at least go look at the Scions and Corollas. I test-drove a used Prius, tho, and fell in love. I didn't like the salesman and went to another dealer down the road. He had a Prius coming in next week in a color and package acceptable to me, so I put down my deposit for a little over MSRP. In the meantime, another dealer got in touch with me and had stock - we negotiated a price below MSRP for a Barcelona Red one - hurrah! hurrah! - but then he called me back and sait it was a mistake - the car had alread been sold <sigh>. So I went to another dealer that night and drove home in a White 2006 Prius for less than MSRP (and the next morning, the dealer that had the mythical 'red' one called to say it WAS available, and the "coming in next week" car arrived at the other dealer).

After all I'd heard, I was surprised that I could get a Prius less than a week after my other car was totalled - but I'm glad I didn't have to wait. If I'd had to wait, I wouldn't have gotten a Prius. Nor would I have gotten a Civic Hybrid - I couldn't even find one to test drive!

IF there was an event like thie 'head to head' proposed event, I would have gone, leaving more convinced than ever that my next car would be a Prius. If there were still witing lists, I would have joined the list, assuming I had a car that worked as a form of transportation (instead of a modern sculpture).

I live 50 miles away from New York City and lucked into 3 available 2006 Prius's with acceptable packages whthin 30 miles of my home, barely scraping the surface of the 'local' Toyota dealers I found through the Toyota web site. Chicagoland is an equally huge geographic area - I wouldn't be surprised if someone there needed a Prius 'this afternoon' that they'd have any more difficulty than I did unlee they were adamant about getting a high-end or low-end package (I was willing to take anything from a 3 to a 6, and found 7's and 8's available, too).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ May 3 2006, 08:59 AM) [snapback]249023[/snapback]</div>

I'm extremely lucky, I guess. I got 't-boned' in my convertible, went flying through the air backwards, went down an embankment and hit a tree that stopped me from sliding into the river. When I landed, my head went to the side with a 'thunk' against the window - it's 3 weeks later and I still have a small bump where I this my head, and some traces of bruise marks on my face. If the car had hit me 3 or 4 feet close to the front of my car, I would have been dead, no question about it. But I guess it's not my time yet - I didn't even see my life flash before my very eyes, I just noticed things like "my brakes are doing absolutely no good - oh, my tires are not touching the pavement - no wonder the brakes don't help!" and, after I landed and hit my head, I watched the left side of my forehead swell up enormously - didn't even think to turn off the ignition. I felt like the whale in 'HitchHiker's Guide".

So, no real damage to my body, my checkbook started whining about being on 'empty', and I got a Super White 2006 with package 5, so I now have side air bags <g>. I'm very, very happy!

I certainly hope it becomes more common to be able to buy a Prius so quickly. Some people at work are actually thinking about it given the availability of the US tax credit.

 

First of all, I would get rid of any connotations that this would be some kind of competition between hybrids - “a Hybrid Head-to-Head Day" – where the different manufacturers will tell you why you should buy their hybrid and not some other lesser hybrid from that other manufacturer. This should be a total “Non-Sales Event.â€

I would advertise it as a “Hybrid Information Fair†where you can come obtain information about all the different models of hybrids currently on the market, regardless of manufacturer. LOOK, FEEL, LEARN, DRIVE. If this were a “Sales Event†I personally would avoid it like the plague for fear of being cornered by some high pressured sales critters. (No offense intended ).

Advertising: Being that this would not be a “Sales Event,†the local media outlets would be more willing to cover it as a news story – one which would nicely segue from current high-gas-price news stories. Alert the media!

Does Illinois also have a state EPA like California with our Cal-EPA?
See if they would be interested in co-sponsoring or having an informational booth. That would lend credence to the event, and make it more likely the media would play along.

Good luck.

 

Do you have the blessing of your dealership to do this event? Where, on your dealership's property?

For the Prius, it'd be good to have some printed info to pass out, OTHER than manufacturers' slick sales stuff. john 1701a has good downloadable flyers you can print---have you been to his site? I'd also check online sites for the other hybrids to see if any enthusiasts have assembled similar info. (You'd probably have to sign up with each group and post what you're looking for.)

It's a good idea. I'd pitch it as a "The Truth About Hybrids" event, and, if you feel you have to use the "Head-To-Head" line, use it farther down in your copy.

And with the media outlets (especially TV) you have in Chicago, I'd definitely pursue coverage---from the Trib and WGN!

 

Definitely a great idea. I would suggest that you may also want to consider having a few of the non-abrasive environmental groups with booths and turn this into some sort of green expo with the focus being on cars. These groups could possibly present the people there with scientific information on global warming, peak oil, etc... that will hopefully help your participants understand that buying a hybrid is more than just about saving a few bucks at the pump. Thanks.

MIke

 

When I was growing up there were several plastic model engines that could be assembled that actually had the moving parts. The first was, of course, the V-8, but then there was the Wankel Rotary, and finally the turbine engine. An interesting addition to this would be an HSD drivetrain...