Posted by Pete Heist on July 19, 2004, 2:46 am
Fascinating info...thanks. I'm glad to see such interest in the Prius
to be honest because it means people are interested in doing
"something" to try to save resources, which may mean that that's
profitable (who knew), which may mean that we'll see more of these
cars.
At any rate, this makes me want to consider an Insight or a Civic
hybrid because they don't have the waiting list- unfortunately,
they're also not as hip. Thanks for the pointers...
Pete
> > peteheist@yahoo.com (Pete Heist) wrote in message
> > > I stopped by a dealership today (in PA) to ask how long it would take
> > > to get a new Prius...12-18 months they said, unless I wanted to buy
> > > the demo model. Is that a load to try to get me to buy what they had
> > > there, or is this how long it's actually taking? I'm trying to think
> > > of what other motivation they'd have for saying that if it weren't
> > > true! Thanks...
> >
> > There is this graphic on Toyota USA's Prius page (
> > http://www.toyota.com/prius/ ):
> > "Thank you for your interest in the 2004 Prius. Currently, dealers
> > are experiencing a temporary shortage of Prius vehicles. Click here
> > for more"
> >
> > and that graphical link brings you to (
> > http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2004/prius/limited_availability.html ):
> > "If you are in the market for a new 2004 Prius, we appreciate your
> > patience. There is currently a waiting list at many dealerships across
> > the country. Since the vehicle launched in October of 2003, there has
> > been an extremely high demand for the 2004 Prius with Hybrid Synergy
> > Drive. Toyota is making every effort to increase production to try and
> > respond to the current high levels of demand. We'd like to thank you
> > for your patience. For more information about the Prius inventory
> > situation in your area, please visit your local dealer. "
> >
> >
> > However, I suggest calling to different dealers not just in your area,
> > but wherever you're willing to go to get a Prius. There are some rare
> > dealerships that are getting in cars, and have no/little waiting list.
> > Some other dealerships just sell to the highest bidder, waiting list
> > or no. Some dealerships have a waiting list per salesperson, as
> > opposed to one waiting list for the entire dealership.
> >
> > Either be persistent looking around, or be willing to wait, or be
> > willing to pay an "availability surcharge" over MSRP to get a Prius
> > today.
>
> Michelle knows her stuff. I contracted to buy a Prius on Nov 17, 2003 and it
> was just delivered last Saturday, and not even the color I wanted. Now, due
> to the positive reviews and awards which generated a lot of interest and buy
> orders, many ordering today may end up having to get a 2006.
>
> So you can learn from my mistakes, I did the process wrong...my first
> mistake was putting a non-refundable deposit down at the dealer who sold the
> most older style Priuses in the area, figuring that that dealer would get a
> larger allotment. Most medium and larger dealers are only getting 1 to 2 a
> month. Nowadays since dealers can't guarantee delivery, they shouldn't take
> deposits. Second mistake was not putting my name on more waiting lists at
> other dealers that didn't require deposits. At smaller dealers I entered the
> list in single digits and was offered Priuses in color/packages I didn't
> want as short as 3 months later. One small dealer in Virginia offered me a
> #4 Salsa as a walk-in. Another dealer in NC got a Prius although they
> weren't even expecting any, so it also sold to a walk-in. As the Lexus R400H
> and Highlander hybrids hit the market, the waiting lists should end for the
> Prius, since those other models will probably be in higher demand. I'm
> already #3 on a Highlander waiting list.
>
> Good luck,
> Bill
> Black #9 2004 and Ice Blue 2001
Posted by Michelle Steiner on July 19, 2004, 3:49 am
peteheist@yahoo.com (Pete Heist) wrote:
> At any rate, this makes me want to consider an Insight or a Civic
> hybrid because they don't have the waiting list- unfortunately,
> they're also not as hip. Thanks for the pointers...
The Insight is a two seater; that is a major consideration. The Civic
doesn't get the gas mileage that the Prius gets. Neither of them has
all the modern features that the Prius has; that may be a consideration.
But I guess that in your situation, availability is one of the
prevailing considerations.
-- Michelle
--
Stop Mad Cowboy Disease: Vote for John Kerry.
Posted by Mike Conway on July 21, 2004, 10:01 pm
Sounds like a load of crap, but I'm not in that market...here in
Northern California, the list is holding at about 6 months...we're
currently filling orders that were placed in February and March.
About 90% of those who have placed deposits have been patient enough
to wait out the delivery process.
As has already been suggested, continue searching...and good luck!
Mike C
peteheist@yahoo.com (Pete Heist) wrote in message
> Fascinating info...thanks. I'm glad to see such interest in the Prius
> to be honest because it means people are interested in doing
> "something" to try to save resources, which may mean that that's
> profitable (who knew), which may mean that we'll see more of these
> cars.
>
> At any rate, this makes me want to consider an Insight or a Civic
> hybrid because they don't have the waiting list- unfortunately,
> they're also not as hip. Thanks for the pointers...
>
> Pete
>
> > > peteheist@yahoo.com (Pete Heist) wrote in message
> > > > I stopped by a dealership today (in PA) to ask how long it would take
> > > > to get a new Prius...12-18 months they said, unless I wanted to buy
> > > > the demo model. Is that a load to try to get me to buy what they had
> > > > there, or is this how long it's actually taking? I'm trying to think
> > > > of what other motivation they'd have for saying that if it weren't
> > > > true! Thanks...
> > >
> > > There is this graphic on Toyota USA's Prius page (
> > > http://www.toyota.com/prius/ ):
> > > "Thank you for your interest in the 2004 Prius. Currently, dealers
> > > are experiencing a temporary shortage of Prius vehicles. Click here
> > > for more"
> > >
> > > and that graphical link brings you to (
> > > http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2004/prius/limited_availability.html ):
> > > "If you are in the market for a new 2004 Prius, we appreciate your
> > > patience. There is currently a waiting list at many dealerships across
> > > the country. Since the vehicle launched in October of 2003, there has
> > > been an extremely high demand for the 2004 Prius with Hybrid Synergy
> > > Drive. Toyota is making every effort to increase production to try and
> > > respond to the current high levels of demand. We'd like to thank you
> > > for your patience. For more information about the Prius inventory
> > > situation in your area, please visit your local dealer. "
> > >
> > >
> > > However, I suggest calling to different dealers not just in your area,
> > > but wherever you're willing to go to get a Prius. There are some rare
> > > dealerships that are getting in cars, and have no/little waiting list.
> > > Some other dealerships just sell to the highest bidder, waiting list
> > > or no. Some dealerships have a waiting list per salesperson, as
> > > opposed to one waiting list for the entire dealership.
> > >
> > > Either be persistent looking around, or be willing to wait, or be
> > > willing to pay an "availability surcharge" over MSRP to get a Prius
> > > today.
> >
> > Michelle knows her stuff. I contracted to buy a Prius on Nov 17, 2003 and it
> > was just delivered last Saturday, and not even the color I wanted. Now, due
> > to the positive reviews and awards which generated a lot of interest and buy
> > orders, many ordering today may end up having to get a 2006.
> >
> > So you can learn from my mistakes, I did the process wrong...my first
> > mistake was putting a non-refundable deposit down at the dealer who sold the
> > most older style Priuses in the area, figuring that that dealer would get a
> > larger allotment. Most medium and larger dealers are only getting 1 to 2 a
> > month. Nowadays since dealers can't guarantee delivery, they shouldn't take
> > deposits. Second mistake was not putting my name on more waiting lists at
> > other dealers that didn't require deposits. At smaller dealers I entered the
> > list in single digits and was offered Priuses in color/packages I didn't
> > want as short as 3 months later. One small dealer in Virginia offered me a
> > #4 Salsa as a walk-in. Another dealer in NC got a Prius although they
> > weren't even expecting any, so it also sold to a walk-in. As the Lexus R400H
> > and Highlander hybrids hit the market, the waiting lists should end for the
> > Prius, since those other models will probably be in higher demand. I'm
> > already #3 on a Highlander waiting list.
> >
> > Good luck,
> > Bill
> > Black #9 2004 and Ice Blue 2001
Posted by Michelle Steiner on July 24, 2004, 2:51 pm
mpc82@aol.com (Mike Conway) wrote:
> Sounds like a load of crap, but I'm not in that market...here in
> Northern California, the list is holding at about 6 months...we're
> currently filling orders that were placed in February and March.
I placed an order with Michael Toyota in early May, and took delivery on
July 22nd.
I was actually about 12th on the list, but the people in front of me
were waiting for the 2005 model
did not want a silver model
and/or did not want package 9
So I got a 2004 silver Prius with package 9
--
Stop Mad Cowboy Disease: Vote for John Kerry.
Posted by Michelle Steiner on July 18, 2004, 9:29 pm
mrv@kluge.net (Michelle Vadeboncoeur) wrote:
> However, I suggest calling to different dealers not just in your
> area, but wherever you're willing to go to get a Prius.
Absolutely! At my local dealer, I moved up about ten places in about
three months, and currently 38th (as of four or five days ago). I got
on the list at a dealer about five to seven hours away in early May, and
I'll be picking up a Prius there in three or four days.
Another of the local dealers won't take any more orders; they're more
than a year back ordered, and until they get list down to about six
months or so, they won't add anyone else to the list.
--
Stop Mad Cowboy Disease: Vote for John Kerry.
XML site map
> > > I stopped by a dealership today (in PA) to ask how long it would take
> > > to get a new Prius...12-18 months they said, unless I wanted to buy
> > > the demo model. Is that a load to try to get me to buy what they had
> > > there, or is this how long it's actually taking? I'm trying to think
> > > of what other motivation they'd have for saying that if it weren't
> > > true! Thanks...
> >
> > There is this graphic on Toyota USA's Prius page (
> > http://www.toyota.com/prius/ ):
> > "Thank you for your interest in the 2004 Prius. Currently, dealers
> > are experiencing a temporary shortage of Prius vehicles. Click here
> > for more"
> >
> > and that graphical link brings you to (
> > http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2004/prius/limited_availability.html ):
> > "If you are in the market for a new 2004 Prius, we appreciate your
> > patience. There is currently a waiting list at many dealerships across
> > the country. Since the vehicle launched in October of 2003, there has
> > been an extremely high demand for the 2004 Prius with Hybrid Synergy
> > Drive. Toyota is making every effort to increase production to try and
> > respond to the current high levels of demand. We'd like to thank you
> > for your patience. For more information about the Prius inventory
> > situation in your area, please visit your local dealer. "
> >
> >
> > However, I suggest calling to different dealers not just in your area,
> > but wherever you're willing to go to get a Prius. There are some rare
> > dealerships that are getting in cars, and have no/little waiting list.
> > Some other dealerships just sell to the highest bidder, waiting list
> > or no. Some dealerships have a waiting list per salesperson, as
> > opposed to one waiting list for the entire dealership.
> >
> > Either be persistent looking around, or be willing to wait, or be
> > willing to pay an "availability surcharge" over MSRP to get a Prius
> > today.
>
> Michelle knows her stuff. I contracted to buy a Prius on Nov 17, 2003 and it
> was just delivered last Saturday, and not even the color I wanted. Now, due
> to the positive reviews and awards which generated a lot of interest and buy
> orders, many ordering today may end up having to get a 2006.
>
> So you can learn from my mistakes, I did the process wrong...my first
> mistake was putting a non-refundable deposit down at the dealer who sold the
> most older style Priuses in the area, figuring that that dealer would get a
> larger allotment. Most medium and larger dealers are only getting 1 to 2 a
> month. Nowadays since dealers can't guarantee delivery, they shouldn't take
> deposits. Second mistake was not putting my name on more waiting lists at
> other dealers that didn't require deposits. At smaller dealers I entered the
> list in single digits and was offered Priuses in color/packages I didn't
> want as short as 3 months later. One small dealer in Virginia offered me a
> #4 Salsa as a walk-in. Another dealer in NC got a Prius although they
> weren't even expecting any, so it also sold to a walk-in. As the Lexus R400H
> and Highlander hybrids hit the market, the waiting lists should end for the
> Prius, since those other models will probably be in higher demand. I'm
> already #3 on a Highlander waiting list.
>
> Good luck,
> Bill
> Black #9 2004 and Ice Blue 2001