New Member Lots of Questions

1. $500 seems a bit steep for 1 month storage but, if that's the best deal you can get, you'll still be ahead ($3150 2006 tax credit - $500 storage - $560 2005 tax deduction = $2090).
2. You can get credit for each hybrid you buy, however, the full tax credit applies to the first 60k of all cars produced by manufacturer. It would be unimaginable that you would be able to buy a Toyota next year and get the full credit unless the credit were extended by an act of Congress.

 

<_< Your 2006 Tax Credit is based on when you "take delivery" (Prius sale is completed and titled in your name) - so I believe "taking delivery" in November and "storing" the car would not qualify you for the tax credit. Seems you would need to make a deal to have an "legal option" on the car which you could exercise on or after January 1, 2006. How about a legal Contract providing for purchase of a specific Prius (VIN) on a specific date (January 2nd or later) including specific payment provisions.

My take: The Dealer's $500 "storage fee" is most inappropriate... just no way it could cost the Dealer that much to simply "hold" the Prius.

Another thought: Online snooping can virtually always find Prii in many states and regions with a variety of options and colors. $500 would more than pay for a one-way flight and drive back home.

 

Did I undersatnd it correctly, you are getting a Highlinder because you are afraid of being in a sedan due to the high probably of colliding with a bigger vehicle?? Is that right?

 

I traded in my Jeep for my Prius (and I actually made use of it - I towed with it in the winter). All I had ever drive was SUV's (1 Chevy Blazer followed by 3 Jeep Grand Cherokees). While I do sometimes feel small out on the highways next to 18 wheelers and such, I don't feel as small as I thought I would have. And the Prius has more safety features than anything I've ever owned. It's not as small as one might think.

I would have loved the highlander, but wasn't willing to pay quite that much for it, when I could get a fully loaded Prius for under $30k.

Anyway, I agree with Charles. If you actually "take delivery" on Nov 18th and finalize the sale, then you won't get the tax deduction for next year. You would actually have to postpone the sale until next year to get the new tax break.

The big question - What could you be doing with the $500 over the next 16-18 months? Because that's how long it will be before you'd see any of your tax credit.

 

Not so, as long as you are careful, you can realize the credit at ~$800 per quarter by adjusting your withholding for 2006.
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=11911&hl=strategy B)

 

I believe you are quoting the tax credit of $3,150 for the Prius. From the OP, it sounds like they're looking to get a Highander Hybrid. I'm not sure what the tax credit would be for one, but I am sure that it's a lot less than $3,150. :blink:

 

The occupants of the more massive vehicle will fair better in an accident all other things being equal, but they seldom are. The smaller vehicle may be more capable of avoiding an accident to start with. Smaller lighter vehicles usually have better handling and shorter stopping distances. So why stop with a Highlander? You might be even safer in a Suburban, or a cement truck.

Edit: Actually my previous comment may have been a little hasty when applied to the Highlander, according to Consumer Reports it has a slightly shorter stopping distance than the Prius. 137 feet vs 143 feet from 60 mph. The Prius wins the slalom however, 48.5 mph for the Highlander compared to 50.5 for the Prius.

 

Oops, my bad. I didn't read carefully enough and thought Prius.
I know I've seen an article with 2006 tax credit info for different hybrids listed but I can't remember where just now.

 

but that's assuming that you will collide with a vehicle of exactly the same size as your vehicle or smaller. That's also assuming that you will definitely have an accident, and as much as I belive that things sometimes just happen, you could try your best to avoid situations like that. I find this a bit odd of a reason, but hey that's why I am me and you are you

 

If you'd really been following the forums thoroughly, you would know
that people have walked away from the remains of Priuses in some
really horrendous accidents. You are falling completely victim to
the ongoing myth that just because everyone else has a behemoth,
you have to as well to maintain some misguided perception of
"competition". Totally swayed by marketing. Well, hopefully I'll
be able to avoid your cement truck as it barrels toward me..
.
_H*