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Automotive News & Views Toyota in decline in 2009?
3618 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 7:57 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: 210delray (Jan 30, 2009 7:59 am)
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Replying to: lemko (Jan 30, 2009 8:21 am) The Insight II will cost $1500 more than the same-size Fit Sport, and have more features. Even if you value the extra features at $0, someone driving the Insight 12-15K per year could make up the cost differential in 2-2.5 years with $4 gas, 4-5 years with $2 gas, and be consuming less oil all along the way. The Toyota comparison is even more favorable to the hybrid, given the price jump of the new Matrix last year and using the current Prius (priced around $20K later this year) and the current Matrix (the closest model in size) as the basis for comparison. People will make their choices..... The question is, if the Prius II costs $20K and the Prius III costs $25K while making only 8% better gas mileage and being a half second quicker to 60 mph, which will people choose, ESPECIALLY in this down economy? I'm thinking most will choose the current/old Prius, not the new one. |
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anyone here knows what equipment the japanese prius II is going to ditch in order to lower the price? drop the touch screen and use a manual a/c control would save at least a couple grand? I mean yota could've sell it at cost and crush the insight. But price it too low would steal a lot of corolla's sales.
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Replying to: nwng (Jan 30, 2009 10:28 am)
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Replying to: nippononly (Jan 30, 2009 10:56 am)
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Replying to: anythngbutgm (Jan 30, 2009 11:25 am) Having people buy a Prius for what image they want to project is nothing different than a millionaire sports star buying a Ferrari for his image, or a family buying a blinged-out SUV for their image. The difference in those scenarios is that the Prius buyer feels like they are doing something good for someone ELSE, whereas the other two examples are for personal vain or satisfaction, and not to help anyone else.
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Replying to: nippononly (Jan 30, 2009 8:20 am) There is very little possible to 'cheapen' the interior in terms of materials and it wouldn't make sense to begin to use completely new materials. But as anythingbutgm noted this G2 Prius has already paid for itself. It's beyond breakeven so the only costs to build one now are marginal direct costs like steel, plastic, rubber, aluminum and labor...No more marketing and no fixed costs to recoup. This variable-cost-only vehicle might cost as little as $12000 to build and ship so it could be sold as low as $19,995 MSRP and still make money.  What they will likely do is sell the current package No 1, which is what is currentlly sold to the fleets. It has no SKS and no backup camera and currently lists for about $22,000 MSRP. But that includes all Fixed Costs and Marketing charges. The new Gen 2.8  wouldn't have to be priced to cover these expenses, variable cost only.
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Replying to: lemko (Jan 30, 2009 8:21 am) It doesn't matter how good the fuel economy is, for me it's too small and too basic. Many say the same about the Prius too. But this is a huge market in normal times and there are many many strata of buyers looking for excellent fuel economy - but there are some sacrifices that they won't make. Now if the $20000 buyer wants a little more than a strippie Fit/Yaris/Versa such as a Corolla, Mazda3, Insight II or maybe a larger more powerful Prius G2.8 then there are sales to be captured. Toyota is making sure that Honda doesn't hog all the under $20K buyers wanting excellent fuel economy. |
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Replying to: nippononly (Jan 30, 2009 10:56 am) Silver which is roughly similar to this year's Package #4 and which will prolly sell for about $26000. Gold which is similar to this year's Package #6, plus Heated Seats, XM, Tilt/Tele SW, Adjustable Dr Seat, EV/Eco/Pwr Modes, Sunroof with Solar Panels to power a heat evac unit in summer. Price is likely to be in the $30K-ish range at least Platinum.. all of the above, except the Sunroof/Solar Panels, plus 17 AW's, LED headlights, Intelligent Parking assist, Lane Keep Assist and Dynamic Laser Cruise Ctrl w/ Pre-collision System. My guess is $33000. Those are the packages being offered to the initial buyers for pre-orders. When the vehicles begin to hit in large volumes I'm sure that there will be 6-8 packages in total for the wider population. I've been invited to go to DC on Monday to get a preview of the G3 Prius from the Prius Marketing Team and the Chief Engineer. Updates to follow. |
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Replying to: anythngbutgm (Jan 30, 2009 11:25 am) You're right current owners don't need to be sold again. 'Just sign me up.' |
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