Toyota Prius

rajd1974

The 2006 model year Priuii will be coming out shortly.. The 2005 model year cars will have to be discounted atleast $1000 below MSRP.. I would wait a few months and buy a 2005 at a discount or just get a 2006. Why? all things equal resale value jumps by atleast $500 for every model year

backy

Don't count on the 2005s being discounted $1000 below MSRP as the 2006s arrive, not with the strong demand and wait lists for the Prius. That might happen if there were 2005s sitting on dealer lots--but they aren't with rare exceptions. There was no discounting back in late 2004 when the 2005s arrived.

jrct9454

Yeah, that will be the day - chances are exactly zero that anyone will be offering $1k off MSRP on this car, now or at model changeover time.

While supply and demand are in more reasonable shape than they were six months ago, that doesn't mean that there are enough cars on the ground to tempt dealers into substantial discounting. And, it appears that will certainly not happen any time in calendar year 2005, no matter when the '06s come out.

With fuel prices making fresh [if overwrought] headlines every day, I can't see a relaxed market atmosphere for this car until well into next year, if then.

sharmabmw

I disagree that we won't see $1000 off MSRP. There are plenty of dealers who have adequate supply of prius. Toyota is making more. The fad will wear off. We'll see better deals.

gagrice

There are plenty of dealers who have adequate supply of prius.

If you walk into a dealership that has 3 or 4 Prius available, I can guarantee if you offer $1000 under MSRP with cash they will jump on it. Anyone looking for a Prius needs to shop around. Many dealers have several on their lots ready to go. If you live in a hotbed of "Greenies" you may have to wait. I called 3 Toyota dealers in San Diego County and they all have Prius ready to go.

carcrazednut

Toyota's committment to hybrid transportation will grow tremendously in the coming years. Prius is the "starter" car for us, and once the Highlander hybrids are introduced, we have a few more cars to announce as well. The Camry hybrid will make its debut in the first quarter of 2006 (March 2006 as a 2007-year-model) and it's a 4cyl model only.

Changes for Prius in 2006 will be as follows: look for color changes to happen. The white stays the same. The silver color changes to a different silver color code. The driftwood stays the same. There is a different metallic red coming, and there will be an additon of a dark gray metallic, presumably a color like the flint mica in Scion tC's. The blue stays the same, and the green (tideland) changes to the lighter silver-pine green like the new Avalons have. Black stays the same too. More important -- there will be a factory leather option for both interior colors, gray and ivory. It's suspected that the power driver's seat may also be an option, but only if the car is ON. That's unconfirmed as yet. The 2006 front fascia and rear taillights will also change slightly. Otherwise, the car remains the same for 2006.

CrazedCarNut. :shades:

backy

I have been tracking Prius sales here and elsewhere since the fall of 2003 and I can't recall seeing anyone get $1000 or more off MSRP on a new '04 or '05 Prius from a dealer. If anyone has done that, please tell us about it!

falconone

I doubt you can get $1,000 of MSRP. Funny... you just bought a new car and you're still calling Toyota dealers for Prius. Now if that ain't Prius Envy I don't know what else is. :P
Enjoy your oil burner!!

falconone

The article was pure fiction. Gas will NOT see a $4.00 avg US price for at least five years (assuming no catastrophic world events). It appears the supply of the Prius has caught up to some degree. It's nice to see the hybrid technology catching on. It's only going to keep getting better. Can't wait to see what Toyota has in store for us for the NEXT GEN Prius!!

fmva

While the Toyota website has a very small amount of information on Bluetooth phones, the Lexus website has lots of information. The Lexus site has information on phones that have been tested to be fully functional with the Toyota/Lexus Bluetooth system. The big problem is that not all types of phones are available in all areas (depends on your cell provider). There is another website LetsTalk.com that has special sections for Toyota and Lexus as well.

rajd1974

Having worked in an auto industry for 15years, allow me to explain the economics during model year change..

The factory that produces 2005 prius will keep building these until that crucial date.. whenever there is a model year change and then switch over [typically on a weekend].

The market [consisting of all the buyers and sellers like you and me] unfortunately for the manufacturers, is too smart.. and it knows exactly what is coming. There is an automatic premium attached to the newer vehicles over and on top of already established price differences. Anyway to put it in simple terms, even though Toyota appears to control prices, it really is highly market driven else Toyota will have to "swim against the market tide and lose money". So they either increase the prices of the new model year vehicles OR introduce additional rebates or dealer holdbacks or a combination of both. Dealers in turn, depending on their inventory levels price their vehicles depending on the "supply vs demand". If they start to build on the 2005 inventories on their lot, expect them to give rebates to "make way" for the 2006 cars..

The used car sellers on the other hand also exert a negative pressure on the prices of the older vehicles. they might want to upgrade or just realize that they might get a terrific deal by selling their 2004 or 2003 prius and upgrading, knowing that the resale values are very strong.. this increases the existing "for sale" usued vehicles in the market and will drive the prices of these a tad bit lower.. in other words the apparent arbitrage opportunity will quickly vanish.

This is the reason the ideal time to buy a car is July/august from a dealership that has inventories of these vehicles or that operates on a "high volume" basis.. I am going to wait for the "perception" of 2006 coming in.. and slackening of the 2005 prices.. that is when I shall buy a prius.

gagrice

I doubt you can get $1,000 of MSRP.

The dealer across the river from Portland, where I bought my Passat TDI was holding onto his $1000 over MSRP. I paid $3000 under MSRP, actually several hundred under Invoice. It is all about timing. My interest in the Prius is curiosity of what makes a person waste so much money to save so little. Also the hype about Prius availability. It is just that HYPE. There are plenty of Prius available. It is a matter of twisting arms and shopping. You cannot walk into a dealer with a, I just gotta have one look, or they will stick it to you. If you don't have the ability to get up and walk out the door you will get taken to the cleaners. IMO, anyone that pays MSRP for any car has been taken to the cleaners.

falconone

Your opinion is certainly not shared by others and thank goodness for that! People are buying this vehicle because of the fact that it offers so much for a reasonable price!!! If you compare the fully loaded Prius to your recently purchased TDI you have MORE content in the Prius!! Please... unbury your head from the sand. The Prius is selling EXTREMELY well NOT only because it gets great gas mileage. Oh... one last thing. Diesel fuel is selling for $2.69/gal and regular is $2.25. :shades:

backy

Your observations about the model-year changeover are correct for typical market conditions. The Prius is not in a typical market situation due to the strong demand and still limited supply relative to demand. Also, the deep discounting for prior-year models is typically done when the new car is re-designed, or at least significantly changed/improved. There is no evidence yet that the 2006 Prius will be significantly changed from the 2005 (and 2004) cars. Put the two together, add in the high gas prices of late and the lack of a direct competitor to the Prius (i.e., no more mid-sized hybrids, especially hatchbacks, due out before 2006), and it does not bode well for large discounts on 2005 Prii later this year. But I hope I am wrong so you and others can get big discounts on your 2005 Prii later this year.

wingman

On page 234 of the owners manual it says on how to start during the winter is: to press the start button while depressing the brake until the Ready light remains on. It also say during the winter the engine may not start even with the Ready light on.

Duh, Now what?

gagrice

People are buying this vehicle because of the fact that it offers so much for a reasonable price!!!

If you bought your Prius because you thought you got a lot for your money that is certainly your prerogative. Many people read this forum to be informed about purchasing cars. When I started following the Prius 5 years ago I had gone down and test driven the car twice. I was interested in the good mileage. There was no mention by the dealer that it was environmentally superior to other cars they sold. The car was available for $20k even. That included an 8 year 100k mile bumper to bumper standard warranty. I would have bought it for my wife if she wanted it. When they became the "IN Car" for Hollywood the prices went up. You cannot tell me the Prius II with a NAV system is worth the $30k many people paid for them. If you bought one for $1000 under MSRP it would be a reasonable price to pay for that car. It is just a car not an Icon.

PS
The Passat TDI outshines the Prius II in several areas. Size and handling being the two I was most interested in.

falconone

The TDI simply contributes more emissions. That is where it is definitely better than the Prius. Where do you get the 30k price for the Prius? It is 26k loaded. The people that pay 30k are as stupid as the people who paid $30k for a loaded PT Cruiser (aka Neon) when it came out. Don't come cryung to us when the electronic gremlins from the VW come knocking at your door.

gagrice

The TDI simply contributes more emissions.

You have asserted that misinformation before. Would you like to post where the Passat TDI PD running on ULSD is not as clean as any of the hybrids using non-CA high sulfur gas? You can post that in the Passat TDI forum. VW and Europeans do not agree with your assumptions.

Several people on this forum have said they paid $30k for their Prius. I can search for you if you like. The car is over priced at $26k.

railroadjames

I've been around this forum for a while and the the one thing I've come away with is....Some people will aways find a way to justify the spending of boo-koo bucks for their new car that they will probably be paying for till O.J. Simpson & Michael Jackson unite to compare gloves that made them famous.
Gary....You've got a great car simply put and those of us feel (in so many ways) that the Prius is the best thing to come along since peanut butter & vel-cro.
Guys, just be glad you could afford a new car because there are many folks that wish they too could but ...because the times they are a changin they can't. These new cars are impressive in so many ways. Time will tell which ones will be considered the ...aardvark eating dirt or the eagle soaring on high. Let's be patient and see.
Oh, and by the way. Remember, there are no experts around here just guinea pigs and car lovers galore.
Remember....We all love cars or we wouldn't be here.
Railroadjames(Free-us Prius)

gagrice

We all love cars or we wouldn't be here.

You may be the best advertising that Toyota has for the Prius. I do hope you get a long trouble free ride from your Prius!

brians1

I bought a pre owned 2004 pkg 6 with 17000 miles a couple weeks ago and am just beginning to appreciate this car. Actually, I bought it for my wife, and she loves the car. Went for a 60 mile drive yesterday and averaged 54 mpg. I feel like we got a new prius for under 20k. It took several months to find it, but worth the effort.

molokai

That's funny, I happen to think the TDI is overpriced. Just your opinion but thank goodness not shared by the general public. I can't believe the content of a fully loaded Prius at 26k. To top it off you get mid 40's minimum on your mileage, you have the lowest emission vehicle (TDI is too high with pump fuel and TOO expensive!!!!). Let's see.. you get NAV, bluetooth, smart key smart start, vehicle skid control, abs brakes, side air bags, HIDs..... geezz... the list goes on. Lastly, you get Toyota reliability. Can't say that for Volkswagons!!!

gagrice

That's funny, I happen to think the TDI is overpriced.

I guess we will not know for 10 years or so. I felt that a fully loaded Passat Wagon TDI for $26,589 out the door was a good price. I needed the room, enjoy the superior German handling, and overall build quality. Very nice leather and wood interior. The 37 MPG is just icing on the cake. Safety is not an extra cost option with VW as it is with Toyota.

If you can get a fully loaded Prius II for $26k that is a good deal. In So. CA they are $27k - $28k, which puts them over $30k with tax and license. The person that just bought a 2004 package 6 for under $20k got a good deal. About $6k under Edmund's TMV for that vehicle. I will repeat as you must have missed all the people that have been towed back to the Toyota dealers with their new Prius IIs. I don't see that happening with the Passat TDI owners here on Edmund's. If a new car died on me out on the highway I would let everyone know.

Kirstie_H

Please note that this is not the TDI v Prius discussion. Focus on pricing & purchasing experiences for the Prius only.

kirstie_h
Roving Host
Host, Future Vehicles & Smart Shopper discussions

pjyoung

** If you live in a hotbed of "Greenies" you may have to wait. I called 3 Toyota dealers in San Diego County and they all have Prius ready to go. **

Breaking news...just east of the Sierra Madre is a vast expanse of land know as THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES. And there are few, if any, dealers with Prius just sitting on the lots out here in "fly over country". And folks who want a Prius here are most assuredly on a waiting list.

larsb

search a particularly popular (cannot mention or link to it) website for finding CARS to buy and you will see many, many Priuses, some with under 100 miles and some with several thousand miles, for sale.....

sinepman

Just do a search and you will see what I mean. VWs are NOT as reliable as you think. I've seen WAY too many new beetles stranded on the side of the road. Stick with Toyota, you're better off folks.

rpm1

Is there anyway to reduce the volume of all the beeping sounds associated with the operation of the touch screen?
Thanks,

carbuyer2004

My 2004 Prius just passed 35,000 miles, and the service manager at my Toyota dealer claims I need new tires. He says my OEM tires are just "30,000 mile tires." Most of the mileage has been ordinary highway driving. Am I getting good advice? Has anyone else heard that the Prius comes with "30,000 mile tires?" (The only other Toyota I ever owned was a 1971 Corona Mark II, and the OEM tires on that pile of rust lasted only 25,000 miles. I thought Toyota had improved its product more than this in the last 30 years.)

sinepman

Do the penny test to see if the guy is yanking your chain. Have you rotated the tires? I've heard the OEM tires are pretty horrible anyway. Many people have changed out their tires before they wore out.

sarahc

There are several dealers around us that have a prius on the lot. I am ready to buy one, but was wondering if there is any point in trying to get a lower price than the sticker?

I am TERRIBLE at haggling, but also hate getting ripped off! :confuse:

Thanks very much,
Sarah

fatguy

Does anybody run a Prius in Manhattan or another urban area with really poor pavement, a lot of aggressive drivers and daily parallel parking where cars jostle each other? I'm quite smitten by the Prius but I worry that it won't be able to withstand pothole impacts, jostling by other cars and heavy use of the brake in start-and-stop driving conditions. Is there anybody out there who can reassure me that the Prius is as sturdy as a "normal" car and that all those hybrid components won't freak out at the slightest impact? I'm not in this game to save the planet; I just like the Prius and wouldn't mind the great mileage. But I don't want a flimsy car that's going to require constant replacement of the tires, shocks, struts, whatever. Any experiences?

larsb

there was a gent here last week who got a used 2004 with very low miles for $17K, so maybe you could consider a slightly "used" Prius and save some money....but whatever you do, SHOP AROUND - there are a lot of them out there in circulation now.....

brians1

Hi. I'm the one who bought the 04 Prius 2 weeks ago. I looked primarily at e-bay, auto trader, and carmax for about 5 months until I found my car on e-bay. Also, I looked at my entire state, as some areas have less demand. I got a pkg six with 17k miles for under 20k. It looks and drives like new. I bought it from a independant dealer in Sacramento who bought it at a dealer auction. The car has clean title. I was told that when Toyota dealers have inventory, they have to sometimes get rid of the pre-owned to make way for new inventory. This tells me that if you look hard enough, you dont have to be ripped off. So I flew from So CA to pick the car up, and drove home. It was worth the effort. Good luck.

backy

Since there are several dealers near you with Prii available, then it makes sense to try for a deal. What you should do if possible is bring a relative or friend who is good at haggling with you to help you--otherwise it's likely the more experienced people at the car dealers will "win".

northjerseydan

I'm in the market for a 2005, option package 6. Anyone have a good or bad experience in the northern New Jersey area? I've been quoted 1000 above msrp and 500 below after I hemmed and hawed.... All promise 4-6 week delivery. Would love to hear your stories/prices paid.

-Dan

Kirstie_H

A reporter is interested in speaking with people who either sold or bought a used Prius for above the MSRP price. If you have done this and are interested in speaking with this reporter, please e-mail Pam Krebs (Edmunds.com PR), pkrebs@edmunds.com, with your name and daytime phone number by 2 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, April 27

Kirstie_H

A reporter is interested in speaking with people who either sold or bought a used Prius for above the MSRP price. If you have done this and are interested in speaking with this reporter, please e-mail Pam Krebs (Edmunds.com PR), pkrebs@edmunds.com, with your name and daytime phone number by 2 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, April 27

rpgolfer

rpm1,
Hi ! I'm sure Toyota had to program in when to beep and at what volume, so there's got to be a way. But is it accessible to the user? That is the question. I have cancelled the "backup" beeper already on mine and I would think if you got back into that mode and you could read Toyota codes, you may be able to do it. However, there's a big chance of messing up things if you're not careful on that mode which may necessitate having a dealer reprogram things. I've also heard when the 12V battery is disconnected, everything reverts back to factory specs. If you're brave and willing, check it out. I've found that if I scroll thru the display screen settings while I'm driving, the repetitive beeping can be annoying to anyone trying to sleep....just ask my wife -)
Good luck,
Rich

rpm1

Rich,

Thanks for the response. Yea, I too, took care of the reverse beep some time ago (what a relief...) As for the "screen beeps", indeed, my concern arises from the complaints by my boss, too ;-) Actually, it bothers me as well, especially during night driving when things are quieter... I guess I'll plead my case with the dealer, when I bring it in for the next service.

Other than these little annoyances, it's been a great car, and recently the MPG shot up to mid 50's thanks to warmer weather and full break-in (14K), I guess.

Enjoy your starship...

rpgolfer

I, (ok, the car) just turned 14k mi. I changed oil yesterday and slightly overfilled the crankcase so I had to take some back out. John recommends keeping the dipstick level to about 1/4 in from "full". I just took a trip from the San Francisco Bay Area down to Death Valley, back up to Reno, (Nv ) and finally, home. A total of approx 1200 miles averaging 46 mpg. Not bad considering topping a coupla 8,000 ft summits!
When I went to purchase more oil filters, I brought in the old box for reference and was given a different box. I questioned the parts guy and he said this is the new replacement. The old part number was 90915-YZZA2 and the new filter number is 90915-YZZE1. I'm going to call another dealer just to double check. Anyone else find this also?
Thanks,
Rich

havillah

I assume you listened to the NPR "talk of the nation" comments on the Prius plus. If not, I'd encourage you to do so.....It was about 2 weeks ago on a friday and could be accessed through the internet....My sense after listening is that it is not ready for prime time and that it makes a lot more sense for Toyota to float this concept rather than the add on concept to take hold....apparently, this is done in other countries....I am sitting waiting as this certainly makes sense...if it is a good idea, one would think it would eventually hit prime time but it sure took a long time for the prius to get here...I think that car concepts are slowly turning toward conservation and it will show up in a couple of years......

rajd1974

Today I test drove the prius for the first time. While I am impressed with the technogeekery inside the vehicle I have not been impressed with key factors that make a vehicle fun to drive - ride and handling is so - so. Pickup is average, like that of a Corolla.. At 50mph it feels like you are driving at 70.. on a larger vehicle [not good!]
The only advantage appears to be that it gives you 50mph per gallon..
I did a quick math..You see, we already own a Corolla which gives about 30Mpg
The switch to Prius would save us 20mpg. Very approximately, it would reduce our need for gas by 40%. Right now we fill in our tank every week at a cost of about $25. That would be a saving of about $1000 per year in gas. Add to this the income tax credit of about $600 per year [this might not last long, if these vehicles become commonplace] total savings about $1600 per year.. Its not enough to warrant buying this overhyped cargiven that the depreciation is far greater on a $30K car as against the alternative we are considering - buying a nice fully loaded Lexus or BMW or Audi a few years old.

falconone

You should check to see if the tires were overfilled with air. That would probably be why your speed felt high. I have driven both cars as my brother owns an '04 Corolla (he loves it) and my brother-in-law owns a Prius. The Prius drives MUCH nicer on the highway and I felt the opposite you did. At 70 MPH I thought I was driving 50 and I had to slow down!! I also love the content this car has for the price and look forward to the upcoming luxury GS hybrid that Lexus will introduce next year (I may get one!). The car is hyped by the automotive industry and for good reason, NOT so much by Toyota. It was won many, many awards for good reason, it's a great car.

tryharddiehard

The tax credit is one time only.

The Prius I bought was well loaded with safety features...it accelerates much faster than the Corolla I test drove. The Corolla with comparable safety features was $18,500. So yeah, overall it is $5K more for a bigger car that will save $600/year. So far depreciation on a Prius has been much better than average...I don't know why you say $30K...I got mine for $24K which will be $23.5K after the tax credit.

rajd1974

When I sat inside the Prius, I felt like the length was larger.. from the dash all the way back to the rear.. [hatch back effect?]. However, the Prius felt like it was thinner.. driver door to passenger door appeared to be smaller than that of a Corolla. I havent taken any measurements but I do own a Corolla.

Why did I think of switching from Corolla to Prius? I thought Prius offered better fuel economy[true] and more safety. My safety perception when I sat inside the prius did not change compared to that of a Corolla. Maybe there are additional airbags but the doors on the Prius still felt cheap and plasticky [examine the door trim and you will know what I mean]. Yes it has some fancy display monitor and a great way to tell how power is being distributed between the motor and the engine.. but how does this translate to the basics of what we need from an automobile? Perhaps we have forgotten - safety, reliability, ride and handling etc
For these reasons I have dropped the idea of buying a Prius. I am still looking for an alternative to the Corolla. One that can compare in terms of reliability and fuel economy but offer more in terms of safety and uniqueness/style.

sinepman

You may want to consider the new Volvo S40. It has a great deal of safety features and has excellent build quality. The Prius interior is MUCH nicer than the boring Corolla. They had to costs somewhere so don't expect a Lexus type interior, but for the money you can't beat the Prius. Another unique car would be the upcoming A3. Hopefully it doesn't have as many bugs as its VW cousin.

vmccaul

We just bought a Prius package 6 (loaded) off the lot. We did pay MSRP, but no mark up, as in some of the So. CA dealers. Got the extended Platinum warranty for 1,600, which I have found is an OK price, but have heard of people doing much better. We usually don't like buying those warranties, but with all the tech on the Prius we thought it may be worth it.

The Prius felt nicer than any of the economy cars I've tried...infact it is listed as a midsize, and in my opinion was much more comfortable than a Corolla or Civic and has just as much pick up. It also seems to be more versatile with the ability to put seats down and the hatch. It has very high safety ratings. Now at close to 30K with tax and license and extended warranty, it is more expensive with out a doubt, but it also comes with navigation, six CD changer, homelink, bluetooth for your phone...many more amenities similar to luxury sedans. In fact we own a BMW 330i, and while I won't pretend the Prius comes close in performance, I enjoy riding in the Prius just as much! I like the quietness of the car, and I think the seats are more comfortable than the BMWs. I also like the fact that when I'm sitting at a red light, or in a line of cars, I'm not putting out any exhaust (an important factor in smog choked southern CA). Then, of course, there is the 48mpg that we got on the first tank . (They say 45-48mpg is typical, where as 50-60mpg is for ideal driving... coming from the speed racer BMW, I guess my driving isn't ideal! )

koker

You could still get the extended warrenty for <$1000 and cancel the one you have. If you check out the priuschat.com forums you will find a link where you can get this.

Congrats on your prius purchase!

vmccaul

Thanks koker. I have heard of this. Did you or someone you know get the warranty through that deal? I am wondering if it is completely legit. You know the old saying "if something seems too good to be true..." Ever the skeptic