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2004-2009 Toyota Prius Prices Paid and Buying Experience
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Comments
1. California is a CARB state that provides the purchaser of a Prius with a substantially better emissions warranty than the Federal Warannty provides, e.g. 10 year 150,000 miles on the battery vs. 8 years 100,000 for non-CARB states. Look into these warranties and check to see if
Mass is a CARB state. A bunch of Northeast states are.
2. The 2006 Prius is available in 8 packages - in theory.
In fact, depending on the particular region, certain packages are simply not available. So, you should check
with a dealer in the area you now live and a dealer in the area to which you intend to relocate to see if the particular package you want is available.
3. California has enacted legislation that permits the Prius to operate in the HOV lanes with a single operator.
I'm not sure, but to qualify for the HOV stickers it's possible that the vehicle be purchased in California. I'm
not sure. A call to Cal DMV should provide you with accurate information. It may even be on their website.
4. If you do decide to purchase in the Bay Area, my suggestion is that you look to the outlying areas. The Bay Area dealers have developed a reputation for very long waits for vehicle delivery and prices well in excess of MSRP. I found a dealer in the Sierra foothills that was
willing to negotiate and they were nice people to boot.
Whatever you do, you'd better get off your duff because the $3150 Federal Tax Credit is going to start to disappear after Toy sells over 65,000 hybrid vehicles.
Also, it's getting late in the game for the 2006 model. Dealers had to submit their last 2006 order on 5/10/06. Their initial order for 2007s will be accepted by the factory after 6/12/06. The factory will go into initial production of the 2007 in August and the 2007 will deliver in October. Because these vehicles are sold as fast as they are built, there will be none to tide the dealers over during the changeover dry spell.
Hope this helps.
My wife & I saw the Al Gore movie, "An Inconvenient Truth" on June 3. It really started us to thinking. On a whim, we stopped by our local (Walnut Creek CA) Toyota dealer the next night! They told us there was a 30 day waiting period. PERIOD! We did a little investigating, including going on the internet. The morning of June 9, we decided this whole idea was crazy. We already had a '98 Honda in good shape. So that was that.
About 2 hours later, the local internet salesman calls us & says they have one of those "rare?" cancellations. Would we like to come down & take a look? We figured, "What the heck?"
It looked pretty good. It was white. Had a #7 pkg. We kinda wanted a #8. They said that they regularly upgrade some Prius' to a #8 by switching the seatcovers to leather, locally. To make a long story short, we signed on the dotted line that afternoon! (Paid MSRP)
We also bought an Extended Warranty for $1300. Have since requested a refund. They said, "No problem." So, now we are shopping...
The MSRP including side bags is $22,955. I know at least one dealer in my area selling them for no more than MSRP. Also, there is a tax deduction for I think $3150. That puts the effective price of the Prius, with more equipment than you can get on any Yaris (since it's impossible to buy a Yaris in my area with ABS and side bags, let alone buy a 5-door Yaris) under $20k before T&L. That is only a few thousand more than the most comparable regular car, the Matrix.
If you really want to drive on the cheap, I know where you can buy a moped, or perhaps a (greatly) used Excel for a couple hundred bucks. The moped would be quite a gas saver.
70" long if either rear seat back is folded (This measurement was taken with the front seats in their normal position).
15" width on the left side (seen from the rear of car).
23" width on the right side.
(You could add another inch or so to these last 2 measurements, if you raised the 'item' about 1 1/2 inch where the item passes through the rear seat back opening. There is a slope inward where the outside wall portion approches the floor of the opening.)
If you move the passenger seat all the way forward & remove the headrest, the seat back can be folded down to the same level as the rear seat. This would allow items up to 8' to be loaded & still be able to close the rear hatch.
Good luck -
When was the last time you saw a stripped Prius on a dealers lot at MSRP? You can get most any Toyota at entry level except the Prius and Camry Hybrid. Even the new FJ Cruiser is coming in at entry levels now. Not the Hybrids. You would be very lucky to find a pkg 4 available in most places. In San Diego that is a $26,054 car. It is the very reason you did not buy a Prius. They do not exist. Or they are so rare it is like winning the lottery to find one.
The situation in California is unique. Anyone willing to travel a little in the West can score a car at will, IF they are willing to also be flexible about color and options. Most people who have stories to tell about long waits are those who are inflexible about what they want. If you feel you have to buy from a California dealer, then you have to be bound by what is happening in that market right now. It is not universal everywhere in the West.
Can you tell us which dealer did you buy your from?
Maybe its worth my while to visit Portland.
Thanks much.
Having bought several cars and trucks in Portland over the years I agree it is worth the flight up to buy. Plus it is a beautiful city to visit. The drive back if you take the coastal highways is a wonderful vacation. When you are pricing here on Edmund's put in zip code 97027 and you will get a list of Portland dealers to contact. Oregon does not charge any out of state buyers tax. They just give you the MCO and you take care of the paper work at home.
Is it a good idea to pre-order? I have heard of stories that some dealerships would sell your car if they get better offer, so you have to keep waiting.
Thanks for any advice.
I just want to think that I did not over pay for this car.
What do you think?
throughout the country although some folks have been
successful at buying below MSRP. Re the trade, the
trade in value is always less than the Kelly blue book
indicates. So you weren't low balled. Also the good
news is that you are within the window for a $3150 tax
credit. The #7 except for leather seats is fully loaded.
You're in for a very enjoyable experience driving this
car.
Thanks for the info. You're right - I need to get on it. Do you mind sharing the name of your dealer?
Best,
G
Replying to: hybridturtleg (Jul 27, 2006 2:40 am)
See the comparison below between the Federal Warranty
details vs the warranty that is mandated for all states
that have incoporated CARB (California Air Resources Board)
criteria into their warranty standards.
Note that Mass is a CARB state so you can get the same
warranty advantages in this state as well as California.
However, I'm under the impression that to qualify for the
hybrid HOV lane stickers, the vehicle must be purchased in
California. A call to California DMV can confirm that one
way or the other or perhaps another forum member can chime
in with the pertinent facts regarding this.
Toyota has capped out their sales of hybrid vehicles under
the Federal Hybrid guideline (60,000) so the tax credit
will be cut in half for any vehicles purchased after
September 30, 2006. So, if you wish to take advantage of
the full credit, your purchase date must be prior to
Sept 30. I believe that Toyota will be stopping production
of the 2006 models pretty soon so you will need to find
one that is in the distribution stream prior to October 1, 2006.
However, there is another way to look at the financial picture. Buying a year end 2006 prior to Oct 1 will save
you about $1575 in a tax credit but the depreciation on
a model sold just before the new year model may equal or
exceed that amount compared to the book value of a 2007 model. I don't know where the actual crossover point would be, but roughly, if you intend to keep the vehicle for just
a couple of years prior to trading or selling, you would
come out dollars ahead waiting for a 2007 model and accepting the tax credit hit. On the other hand, if your expectation is to keep the car 7 years you would probably be money ahead buying a depreciated 2006 model and getting the full tax credit.
The California dealer we worked with was Thompsons Toyota in Placerville.
Good luck!
As taken from the 2004 Toyota Prius Owner's Warranty
*****************************************************
Information booklet (PN 00505-T2004-PRIUS) page 6, "Warranty Coverages at a Glance" there is a bar graph identifying the various warranties (from my 7/03 printing):
New Vehicle Limited Warranty:
Basic: 36 months / 36,000 miles
Hybrid Vehicle System: 96 months / 100,000 miles
Powertrain: 60 months / 60,000 miles
Corrosion Perforation: 60 months / unlimited miles
Restraint Systems: 60 months / 60,000 miles
Emission Control Warranty:
Federal, Performance: 24 months / 24,000 miles
Federal, Performance Specific Components: 96 months / 80,000 miles
Federal, Defect: 36 months / 36,000 miles
Federal, Defect Specific Components: 96 months / 80,000 miles
California (t), Performance: 180 months / 150,000 miles
California (t), Defect: 180 months, 150,000 miles
California (t), Hybrid Battery Pack: 120 months / 150,000 miles
(t) = Also applies to Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont vehicles equipped with a California Certified Emission Control System. Vehicles covered by this warranty are also covered by the Federal Emission Control Warranty.
For the 2005 model year, the following states are covered under the California Emissions warranty: CA, CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT.
Other Toyota Dealers that I contacted who are willing to sell at MSRP:
*Power Toyota of Irvine, $23,141, pkg #1.
*Toyota of Orange, $23,050, pkg #1.
Don't forget the full tax credit ($3,150) deadline on Sept. 30, 2006, www.toyota.com/prius/tax.html
that hybrid sales have been so disproportionately skewed
to the Prius, the total number of hybrid sales for all
hybrids is not as high as expected. Consequently there
is going to be an attempt to extend the full credit date.
Chances for success are unknown.
I suggest you apply for your HOV stickers IMMEDIATELY since
there has been some rumbling to the effect of eliminating
this perk for hybrids resulting from complaints by other
motorists about discriminatory treatment etc etc. The
stickers we just received contain a notice that DMV has the
option of canceling this perk any time during the permit
period which goes to Jan 1, 2008. Pretty strange, considering that we pay for the permit.
region and the distribution for California is skewed toward
the high end. Our dealer in Placerville told us that the only packages they can get are 3,6,7 and 8. I don't know
if Socal is considered by Toy as a different region.
The squeeze for you is coming from a couple of directions:
1. Unless there is a legislative amendment, the tax credit
for the Prius will be cut in half on October 1.
2. Toyota is gearing up for 2007 production and by the end of September dealer stock on the 2006 will probably be pretty thin if not nil.
BTW, the 75,000 trigger for the HOV stickers doesn't necessarily cut off subsequent issuing of the stickers.
At the 75,000 point, DMV is supposed to study the results
from the stickers issued so far. That study might result in
shutting down the program, but not necessarily. I hazard the guess that a substantial percentage of stickers issued are for vehicles that never use the HOV lanes at all.
Of all the Prius I have seen in San Diego area. Only one had the little sticker. I would think most have been issued in LA & SF areas.
The increase is $450, to $22,175, the company's Torrance, California-based U.S. sales unit said in a statement today. The new Touring Edition begins at $23,070 and has larger wheels and a stiffer suspension. The 2007 models go on sale this month.
Toyota's addition of new fuel-efficient hybrids since 2005, including versions of the Camry and Lexus GS sedans and Highlander and Lexus RX sport-utility vehicles, helped it raise U.S. sales 10 percent this year. Sales of the Prius have fallen 5.9 percent. The car remains the best-selling hybrid in the U.S., with 59,270 through July.
The automaker has blamed the Prius decline on limited availability of the cars at dealers and tight supplies of nickel-metal-hydride batteries used in its hybrids.
Prius Price going up
end packages contribute more profit to the dealer for a
car that is already the most profitable (for the dealer)
in the entire Toyota line.
Larger wheels? stiffer suspension? All of a sudden, the
Prius is going to turn into a sports sedan? Gimme a break!
The statistic indicating that 59,270 Prius were sold in July needs verification because if it is correct, the cutoff date for a full tax credit shold be January 1, 2007,
not October 1, 2006. The formula described to me is that the credit is halved as of the first day following the succeeding quarter in which Toyota sells 65,000 of these
vehicles. Perhaps the explanation is that the formula applies to all hybrid vehicles sold by Toyota, not just the Prius model.
But how Prius sales could have fallen 5.9% this year totally mystifies me.
The full credit is good throuh the end of the quarter following the quarter that a manufacturer reached the 60,000 target. Thus the full credit for a Toyota hybrid ends on September 30 unless the law is extended.
One thing to note about these stickers is that they can
not be removed without destroying them. I wonder how one
replaces them if you are having a panel, or for that matter, the entire car repainted. Could take months to
straighten that out with CAL DMV considering how long it
takes to get the bloody thing in the first place.
For those picky folks that can't stand the idea of permanently affixing these decals, there is an alternative.
You put them on one of those Do-it-Yourself laminating sheets which is more easily removed. The down side, of course, is that they can also be removed by some thief.
Probably best to stick "em on and live with it.
That adds the following to a #3:
Vehicle Stability Control
HID headlamps
Upgraded Audio System
DVD Navigator
IMO, the VSC is a definite plus although I have been told that it sometimes confuses the drive train when trying to start ahead in snow. I've no personal experience in that regard.
The HID lamps are nice to have if you plan to do much night driving.
The upgraded audio is nice but hardly critical. The
standard audio isn't too bad..
The NAV feature is absolutely worthless until you need it at which point it becomes absolutely priceless. You need to spend some time learning how to use it. This Nav system is built by Denso and while it does the job, it is apparently not as slick as some of the other systems used. As you mentioned, there is the alternative of an outboarded system which has the advantage of portability. Lots of people like the Tom Tom as a mobile unit.
To get the full federal tax credit, it's important to complete the purchase prior to September 30. In this connection, you have a Hobson's choice. Rushing the purchase will get you the full $3150 tax credit but you will be buying an end year 2006. Wait a month or so, and
your credit drops to $1575, but you are stepping into a
less depreciated 2007 model. But, there will be a 2% increase in MSRP on the 2007 model. The standard Prius
for 2007 will be pretty much unchanged from the 2006 but
they will be adding a touring model with bigger wheels.
Also, for the LA area, the HOV stickers are very useful and there is some rumbling that after 75,000 HOV stickers are issued, Cal DMV will stop issuing them until they complete a study on the effect the program is having on the HOV lanes. Arrrgh, the ifs ands and buts can go on forever!
Last thing - don't be hasty in making a decision regarding
an extended warranty. California is a "CARB" state and the standard warranty you get for the expensive stuff that might break down is very impressive. You can make your decision about adding an extended warranty any time during the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty period.
You can look forward to having a lot of fun with this car.
It is, as you said, a whole new driving experience.
I've read lately that side impact airbags and VSC are very much worth the money!
VSC not for snow necessarily in CA but for the sudden rain on an oil soaked concrete highway at rush hour (been there, was scared!).
The side impact airbags proof came from an E-room nurse who, after seeing the aftereffects wouldn't drive without them, and after watching the crash test video of the Prius, I agree!
standard audio system is not too shabby. Faced with your
time squeeze, I would beat 'em with a 2 x 4 for a better deal on a #6.
Buying the car outside of California has two consequences:
1. I'm pretty sure that only cars purchased in California
qualify for HOV stickers, but a call to DMV can confirm that for you one way or the other.l
2. If you buy out of California, unless it is a "CARB" state, you will lose the significant warranty period extensions that California requires for Toyota Hybrids.
in the California region. The debate .... it's a Hobson's
choice. You do have to buy pretty quickly for the full
$3150 tax credit. But the flip side is that while waiting for a couple of months can cut your tax credit to $1575,
you are buying a brand new undepreciated vehicle. If your
intention is to keep the car for less than 5 years, buying
a new model, rather than what will very shortly be a one
year old model, may be worth as much and possibly more than
the amount of tax credit lost. Also the opportunity to buy a less expensive package will result in additional savings
although this will be slightly offset by a 2% increase in
MSRP for the 2007 models. In your case, I think there is a persuasive argument for waiting. BTW, MA is a CARB state so you will get the benefit of the additional warranty protection provided by CARB.
YES!
Most people do not take the time to research like Edmund's folks do. Good luck in your search. I would go for the TCH. The average owner is getting 37 MPG combined. That is the average of 97 people posting. Not bad for that size vehicle. If you haul a lot of stuff the Prius may be better.
services the walk-in prospect and there is the internet division that works with email inquiries. I certainly can't extrapolate this to every dealership, but my impression is that the internet sales department assumes that the inquiring customer is relatively intelligent and consequently provides straightforward information and
generally stick to MSRP or below. The internet group at the agency from which I bought my Prius (Placerville) was
outstanding and everything was totally up front. They even
sent me the dealer invoice for the car I was considering and what profit increment would be acceptable. We settled
on a bottom line figure modestly below MSRP. They made out like a mink and still treated us fairly. So there are dealers out there that will treat you with respect rather than contempt and make a handsome profit on a sale without raking you over the coals. The trick, of course, is to find them and the only leads you generally get are word of mouth
recommendations and the extremely useful observations you can read in the Edmunds Prius forums. All that being said, at this point in the production year, you gotta fish or cut bait and you don't have the luxury of delaying if you want to fully realize the full tax credit benefit and HOV privileges. The TCH gets a tax credit but does not qualify for the HOV stickers because it doesn't quite get the fuel milage necessary to qualify. For comparison purposes, the TCH does indeed get 37 MPG combines which is not too shabby, while the Prius mileage seems to be in the 47-50 MPG range. At 37 MPG, however, there are some attractive alternatives like the Corolla or the Honda Fit which can be purchased nicely equipped for a lot less money than a TCH or a Prius.
What is the process to import a US vehicle to Canada, is there e a link in the Gov of Canada website?
Thanks for the help