Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
please do NOT buy any insurance that is not directly from the car company !!!!!
Ken
kirstie_h
Host, Future Vehicles & Smart Shopper discussions
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
It looks like I have to wait until mid-August just to *order* one. I'm ready for the car now. I haven't seen anything about the 2006 that makes me want it more. All I've heard is that you can get leather and satelite radio, niether of which I care about in the least.
The base price goes up $300.00, and I may have to wait until 2006 to take delivery, reducing my tax deduction by $1500. In my tax bracket, these two facts conspire to increase my purchase price of a 2006 by $750.00. Not to mention the cost of gas and extra depreciation I will incur with my current car while I await my new charriot.
No, unless you have some pretty compelling 2006 features to discuss, I think I'll be buying 2005 ;~)
So, any comments on the price? You mentioned that it 'sounded like list'. Was that a good thing or a bad thing?
Not a bad thing, just maybe more than you can find one for. If the 2006 is an upgrade the 2005s should be easier to find discounted below MSRP. If the car you have picked out is all you want, go for it. By the way. I did not think I would like XM Radio until it came in my new GMC. I will renew when the 3 months of free service expires. It is great!! I work with a guy that just drove a new Envoy from Michigan to CA. He said the only interruption to service was going through tunnels.
- Different type of windshield that significantly reduces road noise
- A tweak to the handling and suspension
- Different colors
-The front headlights, grille, foglamps area (fascia) changes, rear
taillights change.
-Possible different wheels
-Better radio
Some other goodies, but this is from a reliable source.
I'd wait... that's just me.
PS
That would be a good argument to use when negotiating. I think I will just wait for the 2006 if I have to pay MSRP.
RE: XM Radio - Yeah, I'm not saying I wouldn't like it, I'm just saying I'm not waiting several months and paying a lot more money to get it. Plus subscription fees... for radio. I'll just buy an Ipod and wrap it in the extra $300 I save for cushoning. ;~)
The tax credit for a Toyota Prius, for example, would range anywhere from $2,500 to $3,000, according to Toyota.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/07/29/pf/energy_bill_consumers/
The amendments made by this section shall apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2005, in taxable years ending after such date
I've read the germane parts of the bill. Page 1402 has the formula, and I ran the numbers. The Prius qualifies for both the Fuel Economy and Conservation Credit. Assuming an inertial weight class of 3000 lbs., the calculation following the rules of the bill for the Prius comes to $2750.00.
I know for a fact I could have done better if I had found the Chat and Online sites before I made my purchase.
It all depends on where you are located.
That is a direct tax credit that is much more generous than the old tax write-off. I think many people that catch wind of that will be holding off till next year. Dealers will have to be real lucky to get buyers that are unaware of the new Energy Bill. If that does not boost hybrid sales in the coming year nothing will. Especially the smaller high mileage vehicles.
I'm not convinced this will apply downward pressure on the current price because I don't think most people are at all aware of the tax benefits of hybrids in general.
For instance, I don't see any mention in my (admittedly incomplete) perusal of this thread regarding any state tax benefits that might already exist. Here in Oregon, for example, there is a $1500.00 tax credit (and I use the term advisedly).
And this is a board filled with fairly knowledgeable people.
In any event, with the tax breaks already in place, and with the new law taking effect pretty far in the future (you'll only see the benefit of the law come April 2007 at the very earliest) I think I'm going ahead with my purchase at MSRP. It's not *ideal*, but we need a car before 2006, so it's an ok choice for our circumstances.
Estimates I've seen are that Toyota will run through its allotment in the first six months or so of next year, and that will be pretty much be that [there is provision for an extension, but it winds down very quickly after you hit the 60k number].
By contrast, the same source thinks Honda will go 18-24 months before exhausting its allotment, depending on how well the new Civic Hybrid sells. Ford might go 3-4 years; the rest are such minor players that it won't matter much.
So look for some real distortions in the market for the Prius in the next 12 months or so - a potential dry spell from now until the end of '05 [once the understanding of the legislation starts to get widespread], and some furious activity in the first 6 months of next year as buyers of the Prius, Lexus hybrids, Highlander, and maybe early Camry buyers, all compete to get one of those first 60k tax credits allowed to Toyota. By 3Q of 2006, the well for Toyota buyers will be mostly dry, and the car will again have to compete without the extra help of the Federal credits [individual states still have other programs going, of course].
Railroadjames
From what I've read doing that will mean I fall between the deductions credit for a 2005 of $2000 and the credit credit under the new energy bill ($1200 to $2700) essentially in a low position of a $500 tax deduction. This does not sound good.
PS I get more gawks and have given out more rides than in my wife's BMW.
I've showed the Prius to a bunch of folks in my bike club. A few years ago everybody was getting Isuzu Troopers, then the Honda Element, maybe now we'll migrate to the Prius.
Railroadjames(want world peace....Use your turn-signal)
Just heard on the morning TV news that Bush signed the energy bill allowing only hybrids that get over 45 mpg (Prius, Civic, Insight) to get passes from the DMV to allow single passengers in the "diamond" of HOV lanes during commute hours. In Ca it's a $271 fine for violators. I'm heading out soon to apply for mine. The only catch is you must also have a "Fastrak" or toll booth transponder issued by Caltrans (Ca division of highways) to complete the deal. I already have one so let's see what happens. They also said on the news that you can go online and get one mailed in a coupla weeks.
Thanks,
Rich
Did the news program mention that the program is limited to 75,000 permits?
The problem as I understand it is the bill was attached with some other not so good stuff and failed.