Looking for new Prius

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dnoh @ Apr 16 2007, 08:06 AM) [snapback]423944[/snapback]</div>

This may vary depending on location and the stock situation.

The dealer where I bought mine about 3 weeks ago offers $300 under invoice with a COSTCO membership card. They ended up beating the price of another dealer so the final price ended up lower than that.

It's possible that in your part of the country they may not sell for invoice, but here they can sell for quite a bit under.

Yes you probably will get a much better price selling the Mini on your own. I've had good luck on Craigslist but those were lower-priced cars. You can always try it though--it's free. www.cars.com is my other favorite--I think that one has a fee.

Look at other dealers that may be a few-hours drive away...it might help if they have a lot of stock sitting on the lot. See if they have a lower advertised final priceor find out how low of a price they can give you. Do you have Autonation dealers out there? That's who I used. Tell the dealer you have been working with (or find a different one if that one gives you a bad feeling) and tell them this other dealer will sell you one for this much and you don't want to drive all the way out there but you WILL if you HAVE TO. Then see if they come around.


Have fun,

Eric

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dnoh @ Apr 16 2007, 09:03 AM) [snapback]423982[/snapback]</div>

My salesperson mentioned the COSTCO discount to me. It's in their incentive list. I think all you have to do is ask about it and show them your card.

I definately don't have much tax expertise, and someone please correct me, but my impression (I haven't gotten my credit yet) is that the tax credits have nothing to do with your trade-in. They are set amounts of federal and state credits that you can file to receive if you purchase a new Prius (and some other hybrids) The amounts do change throughout the year, and I believe they are gradually being phased out.

I'm sure someone will give you more information and/or a link.

It sounds like your offers are getting much better. Maybe they'll get better yet!

 

Hi dnoh,

Regarding the tax credit: I just finished my taxes (whew!) and the tax credit thing is not related to purchase price of the car/trade in value. It is a credit towards your tax liability itself. There are a couple of additional forms that you need to fill out when you do your taxes next year, 6251 (AMT) and 8910 (Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit). The actual amount of the credit you will recieve will depend on your income and whether you need to pay AMT (and how much), so the credit may be limited or even eliminated. Unfortunately you won't know for sure until you do your taxes for the year you buy your Prius. But the car itself is great for so many reasons and worth purchasing even without the tax credit, IMHO - I am very pleased with mine and the doubling of mileage over the Acura I traded in for it!

BTW, just to give you a comparison...I am a single filer, made 120K of which 2/3 became my taxable amount after all deductions. I qualified for the full 1575.00 that I was entitled to since I bought in November last year. (although I wouldn't have recieved the full 3150.00 had I bought earlier).

Let us know what happens,
cc B)

 

dnoh, It is late in the game but read through www.carbuyingtips.com. Since you know exactly what you want e-mail or fax a request for a quote to other dealers. You may want to consider asking dealers in the southern part of the state. For many things you are in the NY zone where prices are higher than in the Philadelphia zone which covers South Jersey. The border is usually around Trenton.

I recommend asking the internet sales managers at www.lawrencetoyota.com (Lawrenceville is between Trenton & Princeton on US 1), www.libertytoyota.com (on US130 in Burlington), and www.cherryhilltoyota.com (close to NJ38 and I-295). I believe all Toyota dealers will pay you a small referral fee so unless they will give that to you on the 2nd car, don't buy 2 at the same time. If you do go to CH, notify me so you can get the referral.

The credit, as mentioned, is a credit for 2007 Federal income tax. As an estimate, download the free program at www.taxact.com and enter estimates for your 2007 income and deductions on the 2006 form to see the calculation for the credit. Happy hunting.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dnoh @ Apr 16 2007, 11:37 PM) [snapback]424427[/snapback]</div>

Sounds like you are going in the right direction with your purchase. Working the deal out over the phone may work to your advantage however. Most dealers I've dealt with would make the deal you proposed in person on the spot...(After some haggling of course) Since your talking via phone, now is a great time if you have the patience to shop around and see if you can do better, you certainly will do no worse!

Our car seems to draw a lot of hate amoung the uninitiated, I'm ok with it though as we all know we have a gem of a vehicle.

I hope you've taken some time to browse these forums, there is alot of valuable information here you will never find out by reading the manual!

Good Luck!