Toyota Prius

bjrich

We just picked up our 05 on the 12th...waiting since October 25th. Lou Fusz Toyota in St. Louis; window sticker plus $77.00 for service fee..We had ordered Tideland Pearl with Pkg 3, but ended up with Tideland Pearl with Package 6. I know they had another color with Pkg 3, but went ahead for the extra money and are very pleased...we have always paid too much for cars...time and time again...Lou Fusz Toyota is really a neat place to buy a car..and did not shop another dealer..Feld Toyota is much closer to our home but will take the car To Fusz for service.i have been reading on several forums for over 6 months now and have and will continue to learn much and enjoy the forum.We are enjoying this new experience..fiddling with the screen and not paying enough attention to the driving. So far running about 45 Mpg but expecting to do better. The dealer put 34/32 lbs of air and I guess we will be pushing that up to what I read about the 40 lbs level..The car rides good....not great...Handles very well...not just good. Good pep.! The toys are great. We plan on this being our final car..we are both retired and wanted the room, convenience of the hatch, the super quality of Toyota.....The Prius has the highest quality rating of all Toyotas..which puts them in the top of heap of all cars....I want to further complement Lou Fusz for how good they are and hope for a long pleasant relatlionship with the Prius.They treat my wife like a lady when she has to go in...We hope to take a grand tour of the north; north west; and western US early in the fall and the Mpg's will help...The wait was worth it and we believe a new Caddy or Benz could not please us more.Thanks for all the good reading. oo

brian88

Please give me your opinions on this 2004 pkg 6 that I just purchased. I have been looking for some time for a low mileage 04. I found this car on e-bay in my state in Ca and it looks and sounds like a great car. It has just under 17k miles on the odometer and advertised as a pkg 6 with the basic features not including Nav, 6 cd changer, or blue tooth. I paid $19,600 and will be picking up the car soon. The seller is a dealer, sounds legit and honest, and the car checks out with clear title via auto check. I hope this was the right thing to do, and would appreciate any comments or advise before I pick up and pay for the car. Thanks.

sunny9

Thank you, Backy.
If you do not mind disclosing and in light of the shift in production you described, which package did you end up with, please?

Interestingly, my husband wants the navigation--amazing since he is stellar at getting us anywhere, even without Thomas Guide maps. I think the navigation thing would be distracting to me. Besides, with long commutes in So. CA, who has time or energy for much except the commuting--LOL!!!

toyotaman1

Found 2 with package # 1 & # 4 in Chicago,IL

koker

To find out which packages are in your region, simply go to the main toyota website, select buy a toyota, and then when you enter your zip code it will send you to a custom selector for your region. Then select "build your toyota" and it will allow you to select option packages for your area:

for the newengland area my zipcode got packages 3,4 and 6 about 1 month ago but now also shows #5 available. When I went talked to dealers they had 3's 4's and 6's on the lot.

When I put in a southern ca zipcode I got packates 1, 3 and 6.

So, pick your region and see what they list. That seems to be a reliable way to find what is being commonly shipped to your region.

Good luck

ps. I was able to get a black package 3 right off the lot at MSRP here near Boston.

semenzato

Wow, thanks, those links are great. I had no idea that the Prius has two electric motors, not one, and that the gas motor (the ICE) is a Miller cycle motor. Funny that Toyota doesn't even bother to advertise these facts (not that I looked at that many ads).

But I still think that a simplified power flow diagram should obey the conservation of energy, and that the (idealized) electric motor should receive power from either the batteries or the gas motor---never from both.

I am surprised that Toyota missed this. I can easily envision the frustration of several Toyota software engineers, and the reluctance of some manager who are scared by code changes and thought that this was "good enough".

backy

Well, I wound up with none. As I said, it was too late for me. The car was supposed to arrive by March. The lease on my minivan expired in May. The car actually did not arrive until mid-July. By then, I had turned in the van and bought another 5-door hatchback, which is working out fine--but it's not a Prius.

treydot

I found a site that has a tire calculator that gives both a visual comparison and measurements of a current tire size to a relplacement tire size. so comparing my OME 185/65/ 15 with a tire sized 195/60/ 15 produces the following results
Stock tire: 185/65/ 15
sidwwall 4.7 in
Radius: 12.2 in
Diameter 24.5 in
Circumf: 76.9 in
Revs/Mi: 824.0

New TIre 195/60/15
Stock tire: 185/65/ 15
sidwwall 4.6 in
Radius: 12.1 in
Diameter 24.2 in
Circumf: 76.1 in
Revs/Mi: 833.0

the replacement tire would clock at about 1% too fast on a speedmeter @ 60MPH when you are actually goining 59.4 MPH. I think this is probably within a range experenced by normal tire wear.


The Web site is: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

dreasdad

Gulf States seems to be getting only 3 , 5 annd 6

Kirstie_H

A reporter with a national magazine is on a series of articles with real people and their car buying experiences. The reporter is looking for people who have recently purchased a car and had an interesting car buying experience using non-traditional methods. Specfically, the reporter would like to speak with people who have purchased a Mustang, Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum, a Mini Cooper hardtop or convertible or a hybrid vehicle of any make. If you fit what the reporter is looking for, please email the details of your car buying experience with your contact information to kholguin@edmunds.com by Friday, April 22, 2005.

pjyoung

bjrich - at last!!! If you like yours half as much as I like mine, you'll love it. I liked mine so much, I bought my wife one (black package 6).

bjrich

glad you caught my post, pj;
Oh yes, we are pleased and are taking turns driving so that we get fully familiar equally...We have pretty well caught on to the screen, except the navagation system...that is going to take some doing, and my son in law may help us;
We have the Tideland Pearl Pkg6.
How many miles have you and what is your mpg average?
We have 200 at 45 mgp.
Jan and I are talking very seriously about an extended travel...north. northwest. coast, south and back up north via Denver in early fall...Jan has always had a love of Native American lore etc. This may be out best chance to take such a trip. About 4 weeks or so, and the Prius will really fill the bill.
My cousin from ov pk is coming to visit us next weekk and we are glad to have the Prius for him to see and drive;;;;His old van will need replacing soon...
I have had some thought of a Gateway Pruis club here, as I was active in the Gateway Miata club for a long time.....Shall look into it when I have the time.
ONce again, I am glad you caught my post;;;it was a great wait and a great prize for waiting...regards, bj

timber104

Hello Everyone,

As I told everyone, I ordered a Prius in November and had a 6 month wait for it to get here, and after the dealer attempt to screw me, I refused the vehicle. So I went in search of another Prius & I live in the North East US, where gas is $2.69 per reg unleaded. I found a dealership with no waiting list and 4 Prius's expected each month from here on out. Does anyone feel that Prius's will be under MSRP this year? They may not sit on the lot long, but they are not all sold in advance any more.

jrct9454

Sure, but not in all markets, and probably not in amounts great enough to make it worth traveling someplace else.

If you want the car, and can find a straight-shooter dealer who doesn't play the games with add-ons and forced markups, MSRP is still a reasonable deal on this car. In really competitive markets, there are small discounts developing, but so what? If you can find the car you want nearby, and have a dealer who behaves like he wants your business, that ought to be worth something in the end.

kkb

I contacted several dealers in the Atlanta area over the weekend and could not find any possibility of a Prius (now or later) under $30,600 plus tax. In addition to the usual extra charges, there is a markup of $2,500 (Internet discount) to $4,000, and all of the cars are loaded with the maximum options. Edmunds and other pricing guides are not indicating these huge markups. I am very disappointed and would appreciate any advice anyone might have before I give up and have to buy an Infifinit or Acura because I can't afford a Prius.
KB

brians1

Had the same problem in So CA. I looked for the last 3 months on Auto Trader and all other cllassifieds for an 04 model with low mileage (this car has 17,000 miles) and finally broke down on an E-Bay car, bid, and flew 400 miles to Sacramento to pick it up. I posted a message before I went to get the car on this board looking for some advice, but no response so I now own the car and am happy I bought it. I paid $19,600 and the car seems perfect.The guy that sold it to me is an independant dealer, and told me he picked it up at a dealer auction. I guess some areas have more demand than others. May be the way to go in your case. Good luuck.

gagrice

I paid $19,600 and the car seems perfect.

Welcome to the Forum,
Which option package did you get? Is the warranty transferable with Toyota? Deals are out there you just have to do a little research. The Internet has made it so much easier.

pjyoung

Bjrich - I've got almost 7,000 miles on mine - and I've experienced the "winter drop" in fuel economy..."only" got around 43 mpg in the winter months. So far this month, I am just barely under 50 mpg - A tank is lasting me aboutr 2 weeks and I put right at 500 miles on it. The most I've paid to fill it was last week - $21. I found that it really does quite well in the snow and slush - you'll appreciate the stability control next winter. I bought one for my wife - she's a realtor and will all the running around she has to do in her job, the car's just about paying for itself. Hers has the Nav system in it, and it does take a little getting used to, but in her business, the Nav was well worth it.

airecken

Does anybody have any information about when the 2006 Prius will be out? With the 2006 Highlander coming out, I'm wondering if it's worth waiting for the 06 Prius since a dealer in Socal just told me yesterday that wait is 3-6 months.

Thoughts please?

kev3

Hi John,
I just bought a 2005 Prius and the Bluetooth Phone I purchased only partially worked (HP H6315 by TMobile). It allowed me to use the cars speakers to speak into, but I had to do all of my phoning from the tele device; my Prius keyboard was useless. I returned it and decided to research further. Do you have a list of phones that are actually working in the Prius? I would appreciate that.
Thanks
Kevin Williams

bjrich

Hi PJ;
7000 miles ahead of me and you mpg sounds very good. we have 300 and the dash says 49.2 so far..it is about time to make the first fill up...I do not understand the traction control but will look it up..as far as the navagation system, it is pure Greek. I am going do take it to the dealer and get their guru go get me started with it I think your wife gets a great tax deduction for miles driven and with the Prius that will really help pay for the car..it is probably set up for a Chevy or Taurus..not for a car like the Prius.
Many friends have found it fascinating;;our 11 year nephew that it look like star wars etc.
I was kidding him and told him the car raised up, and the wheels folded under....he was thrilled...he is a cute guy and we finally had to tell him the truth.
Lets keep in touch. regards bob

brians1

Just got off the phone with Toyota and confirmed that this vehicle is a pkg 6 and that the warranty is completely transferable. I bought the car for my wife, and now I'm pretty sure that eventually I will buy one for myself as well.

serene_green

Sorry, I don't have any information for you on the 2006 but I'm also very curious.

We just started seriously looking in my area (AZ) for a 2005 and had a dealer contact me this morning with this email.

. . . I am the fleet manager at Scott Toyota I have a quote for you on the 2005 Toyota Hybrid Prius. The Prius is in huge demand at this time due to the incrase [sic] in gas prices so we are currently offering them at $1,000.00 over MSRP plus tax, license and doc fees. The Prius has 6 different option packages and they range from $22,766.00 to $26,966.00 MSRP depending on which one you choose, if you would let me know which one you would like I would be happy to get you the numbers on it, or if you need to know what the options are I would be happy to go over them with you my direct line is . . . .

I had thought that the production was now servicing most of the demand. I won't pay over MSRP, so I'm going to keep checking the other dealers in the area and in surrounding states. I'd like to own a Prius but am confident that with the other hybrid cars being introduced the price/demand continuum should have leveled out even with the increase in gas prices.

Unless a dealer wants to sell one to me now without any premiums over MSRP -- I may just wait for the 2006!

larsb

I got some "honest" quotes from Big Two Toyota in Tempe AZ last June when I was shopping Hybrids. They (at that time) said they DO NOT charge over MSRP for Priuses......FYI.....

In fact, here is a quote from the last message I got from them:

"We wanted to let you know about a special shipment we received from Toyota for not selling the Prius over MSRP."

serene_green

Thanks for the heads up on the Big Two dealership, I will definitely check them out and keep you posted!!!

dreasdad

I know of 4 dealers in Texas that still have an 8 to 12 month list. They do not mark them up over msrp. several other dealers have no wait but are asking for 3 to 5,000 over, Since they sell them this way they get fewer that the dealers that sell at msrp. They get fewer because they sell the ones the get slower ,not because of any punishemnt by Toyota

carlstraub

Hello,
Purchased a new Prius about 4 weeks ago. When we decided to buy I called the salesman who helped me earlier re. what we wanted. Could not reach him ?? I emailed him, at the dealership, with the specifics. We wanted a white car with #1 pkg. Did he have one? and firm price please. THE INTERSTING part was that the online salesman answered, yes one was due in 3 days and he would give me a $500 reduction from sticker!! I called to thank him, explained I was working with "my"salesman. Got my salesman on phone, showed him a copy of email, he matched the price. Had no hassel deal and Toyota gave good financing.
I have no idea why the reduction, as car was brand new- 7 miles on odometer.
Finance lady said "first one from them under sticker"-have no idea if true or not.
One other interesting thing. I live in Malibu Ca. I bought the car in Oxnard Ca. about 30 mi North. I called Santa Monica Toyota, 30 miles So. They said 3 mo. wait and price over sticker- but no exact amount.
Your site was very helpful in deciding. Also rented one (Enterprise) for 4 days which was GOOD idea.
Carl Straub

carlstraub

Just bought a Prius 3 weeks ago. Calif get pkgs. 1,3,5. I bought mine in Oxnard and waited 3 days for exactly the car desired. Very good buying experience. If you want saleman info let me know.
C. Straub
malibucarl@yahoo.com

airecken

Which enterprise rental did you rent from? I just tried calling the ones around here in OC and none had them.

raguero

The April issue of CARGO has an article of interest. A turbo kit for
Prius that boosts the 76 ICE to 130 h.p. That plus the 67 from the
electric motor would make a nice 197 h.p. Can you say green-zoom?
It says it will go into production if enough hybrid-heads are
interested.

airecken

Does anyone have any information on the 2006 Prius?

I know there wasn't much change between 04 and 05, but I'm sure there will be a few extras in 06. I just wanted to know what might come, ie power seats, XM?

Thanks

jaguar88

I had to wait six months but the waiting lists are going down. I paid MSRP for my car from Longo Toyota. I heard the waiting list for package six is around two months. I contacted them through the internet and they required a $500 refundable deposit.

semenzato

> A turbo kit for
> Prius that boosts the 76 ICE to 130 h.p. That plus the 67 from the
> electric motor would make a nice 197 h.p. Can you say green-zoom?

Sigh.

Can this even work? It seems to me that the coupling between
ICE and electric motors would limit the maximum torque that
the ICE can produce, or Bad Things Will Happen.

And if it works, what happens to gas mileage?

And if nothing bad happens, how come Toyota didn't do it?

I suppose there are enough people out there that some are
bound to have their own perverted reasons for wanting to do this.
Not me.

carguy1234

I just got this from Toyota: http://www.toyota.com/hybridsynergyview/2005/spring/prius.html

saying that the wait time is now 0-3 months in most places for the Prius. However here in MN, a couple of the dealers won't even talk to me (won't return phone calls or emails), and the other ones I talked to are still saying 8-12 months.

So where can you get nearly immediate availability now? Thanks.

backy

Have you tried the dealer in Willmar? A few weeks ago they advertised in the Minneapolis paper that they had immediate availability of the 2005 Prius.

wingman

Went to a local Toyota dealer in Eatontown, NJ and ordered a 05 Prius. Supposed to be MSRP only. He charged $23210 with Package 3. He said I couldn't order package 5. If I wanted the home link I would have to order Package 6 for an extra $5k. Then there were add ons like $129 for Vehicle Protection Program, $15 for Credit Inquiry Fee (I told him I was paying cash), Clerical Expense Fee for $95,Document Delivery Service for $54 (to walk across the street to motor vehicle dept and wait in line), Admin fee for $10 ??????? and the ubiquitous online registration fee of $7.70, yeah right. They did however put down in writing that my deposit was 100% refundable. Waiting time 3 to 5 months.

So, the next day I took my sales slip to another but larger Toyota dealership 15 miles away in Freehold, NJ. They looked at it and started crossing out all the add ons, ordered one with the #5 package for $23791 + 6% tax + $95 doc fee.. I could expect to get my Prius anywhere from 1 to 8 weeks. And they let me test drive a Prius where the one in Eatontown couldn't as their monthly allotment was smaller.

I guess it pays to go to the largest dealership you can for the best deals and better service.

sharmabmw

I went to N. Hollywood dealership. They have plenty of Prii with short to no wait. The dealer said firm MSRP. Any experience with these guys?

carlstraub

It was in Thousand Oaks Cal. They also had rentals in Oxnard.

scuff

I ordered our Prius in late Dec. of '04 and received it early in March. We have 800 miles and love it but was disappointed with the lack of daylight running lights and automatic lights. The daylight running lights only get shipped to Canada because they have a law that requires it. All Prius' should have daylight running lights as a safety item. Your insurance would be lowered a fraction if you had them.

We've gotten as high at 52 MPG on a combined trip of about 50 miles. Usually it's about 45 MPG.

Overall it is a GREAT car with marvelous technology.

timber104

Hello Every one,

I have found a dealer in New York who has a Prius in Blue with BC package (#7) with the Z1 add on for $400.00. They would give me the whole thing for $26,700.00, but I did not like the color. I was told there were very few fully loaded coming in, all will have package 3 & 5 in all colors.

As far as Auto go, I don't understand why each company does not talk to each other or steel ideas. I have a Subaru that has heated wipers & windshield, great in winter ( keeps ice & snow from forming on windshield no matter how bad it gets). Why do some vehicles have a meter with miles left on tank, but the Prius does not. Why do Chevy's have auto head lights, with a switch to turn them off & other cars don't have auto lights at all? Or day time running lights, why are they in white and others are yellow? Signals easier to see when yellow in back and vehicles are still being made with all red in the back. Would it not be safer for everyone to have yellow signals in rear? or Blue or green to catch your eye?

Why don't the auto makers talk and keep the good ideas, and get rid of the not so good and talk to the insurance companies before they put there vehicles on the market? to save us all money in the end, as well as our lives and the lives of the other people on the road.

kkb

I have been having trouble finding a Prius without a big markup. I just found one at MSRP without the useless $699 "protection package" that is standard in the SE. However, it has $1499 17" wheels. Is this a decent option, or would the standard wheels be better?
KB

Kirstie_H

If you own a hybrid vehicle and live in New England, a reporter would love to hear about your experience.
Please respond to jfallon@edmunds.com by May 1, 2005 with your daytime contact info and any brief comments you care to share via e-mail.

carlstraub

Hello kkb,
My dealer said any modifications would void the warranty. We were talking about cd players however I would check to make sure.

cjminnc

I am very interested in ordering a Prius for when my current car, a CRV, goes off its lease in August. I was wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to get the $2000 tax deduction if I lease a Prius or is it only if you buy one?

Thanks,

larsb

Everything I see says "purchase a vehicle" and I can find nothing that mentions leases:

http://egov.oregon.gov/ENERGY/TRANS/fedcredit.shtml

electrictroy

Near the end of 2005, a company called CalCars is going to release the "Prius-Plus" which includes a plug, a second battery, and the ability to recharge off your home.

It will reduce fuel consumption from 50 mpg to 100 mpg, and cost about ~$30 a month in electricity.

Anybody here have plans to purchase one?
What do you think of this idea of a chargeable prius?

troy

tryharddiehard

Out the door price (3% sales tax, everything) of $24,299.07. Got $500 off MSRP but paid $249 for processing fee. Got third of four color choices..there are only 6 colors.

Thanks to everyone for posting earlier. I probably would not have asked for $500 off MSRP without reading of this. The salesman was a good guy and said that sales are picking up again after a brief lull. I am in Western Virginia. I am a first time new car buyer...the experience was relatively painfree.

jrct9454

OK, but at what dealership, where?

jpats

On the waiting list for a Prius. But my concern is two fold. Safey, yes the Prius rates well on paper and with features, however, what are the real world results out there? Second what about battery issues? Replacement and resale are issues that concern me...what about the battery disposal once it is used up? Seriously considering going w/o a hybrid until technology mature with more makes and models. JPATS

tryharddiehard

Shelor Toyota in Christiansburg, VA.