Long Wait for Prius (for me)

I have called around and checked near and far ... seems like to get the Prius I want it will be anywhere from 4-12 weeks. I won't buy until mid-June, so by then I may just end up waiting for the '09s although nothing will be different.

Then my mind gets to thinking ... "why not wait for the all new '10s in early spring or fall of '09"? Most likely I will go with the old gen and trade up for the remodel after a few years of working out the kinks, OR wait for the all-new Lexus designated hybrid.

My main problem is that I want a Touring edition, Pkg 6, gray interior, in either Black or Super White. I am considering reducing my demands to Pkg #3 or higher, but I am of the opinion that I should get the car I really want regardless of how long I have to wait.

I have been searching the inventories of dealers in So Cal even (willing to fly and pick it up and drive it home halfway across the country) and if it shows on their inventory it's always gone or spoken for. It's kind of frustrating, but I understand the demand is VERY high right now.

 

That's the way I'm feeling ... I'll probably get on the waiting list and keep looking around for one on the coasts.

 

I finally put down $500 to save my spot ... I am hearing anywhere from 4-12 weeks. I am being REALLY particular about what I want. I am #4 on the wait list ... it's a small dealership near my hometown. I am hoping that even though it's a small dealership that doesn't get AS many Priuses, the short wait list will make up for it.

I called dealers in L.A., San Fran, and Portland and the wait would be pretty long there as well so I went local b/c I can just trade in my Acura MDX without having to drive across the country to do so.

Maybe I made a mistake by not going with a larger dealership ... I just didn't care much for the local dealer. They knew I knew what I was doing when it comes to buying cars, yet pulled the "make em wait" game on me and then told me any deposit wouldn't be refundable. The same dealer here in Lincoln owns the dealerships in Omaha as well. I did have contact with the dealer in Des Moines and I really liked the guy, but I went closer and smaller (hopefully it pays off).

Finally decided on a Black Touring, Package 6 w/gray interior. The Touring part could either hurt me or help me ... could help b/c not a lot of people around here want the Touring or the Black or the Package 6, but also there aren't many Tourings in allocation let alone Pkg 6s in black so that could hurt.

If it takes too long I will just ask for a refund and wait for the re-design most likely.

 

Yes, I did put the deposit down in Columbus. The people at Performance Toyota here in Lincoln just rub me the wrong way. My hometown is Norfolk, so I head up that way to see the parentals quite often.

I guess when I said "local" later in my post I meant "rather than deal with people in Kansas City or Des Moines". And yes ... Columbus is 80 miles away The Internet sales guy in Des Moines was really great, but that's a 3 hour drive ... they are the largest dealer in 3 states though, so they maybe could've gotten me one earlier. I believe their wait list numbered in the lower 30s however. Supposedly Columbus ONLY gets 2 or so a month though and I'm worried they'll get passed over often when it comes to a Touring Pkg 6. Who knows???

We'll see how it goes.

As far as the Lincoln guys not being able to tell you when ... they told me it could easily be 3-4 months. I think their list was near 20 or so ... however, they also have a few dealerships in the Omaha area and that makes their overall allocation pretty big. I just didn't like how they worked. First salesguy I had was kind of an idiot ... the 2nd guy I'd worked with was a really nice guy though. The manager said my deposit wasn't refundable though, so I walked then put down a deposit in Columbus 2 days later. Miraculously the Lincoln store called and just so happened to have a meeting and decided they were changing their policy on deposits ... yeah, sure. My brother talked some #s with them about a pickup truck and they played the big "make em wait" game and we left.