Toyota in decline in 2009?

Replying to: mcdawgg (Apr 15, 2009 8:02 am)

Replies to this message:
• gagrice (Apr 21, 2009 6:13 am)
  • nippononly (Apr 21, 2009 6:47 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Apr 20, 2009 8:31 pm)

Replies to this message:
• nippononly (Apr 21, 2009 6:47 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Apr 21, 2009 6:13 am)

for '10 is NOT quite going to compete head to head with Insight, as speculated last week:
 
The redesigned 2010 Prius hybrid goes on sale in late May at a base price of $22,750, including freight. Later this year, a stripped-down base model will go on sale for $21,750, including shipping.
 
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090421/CARNEWS/904219991
 
I wonder what gets stripped out for the base model? My money would go on the power driver's seat as the first item to get stripped. Perhaps the alloys also, in favor of steelies with "premium" wheel covers straight off the Yaris?!
 
Seems kind of dumb to have a "stripper" Prius trim, it will still cost more than $1000 more than the Insight LX, and the Prius is expected by customers to be content-rich.

Replies to this message:
• mcdawgg (Apr 21, 2009 4:29 pm)
  • nippononly (Apr 21, 2009 5:39 pm)
    • kdhspyder (Apr 21, 2009 6:36 pm) and 2 more...

Replying to: nippononly (Apr 21, 2009 3:39 pm)

"The cost is still above the Insight, which starts at just $19,800, but the Prius does offer superior fuel-economy with 51/48 mpg (city/highway) compared to the Insight at 40/43 mpg. The Prius is also roomier as it is technically classified as a mid-sized vehicle as compared to the Insight, which is a compact."
 
If I was in the market for a hybrid (I'm not), I'd gladly pay an extra $1,000 for more room and much better mpg. I'd have to calculate the payback, but the $1,000 could probably be made up in 100,000 miles even at the current cheap fuel price of $2.25 per gallon. Not to mention the size difference, which is really important to me, and easily worth the extra $1,000.
 
Just my thoughts, another way to look at it

Replies to this message:
• nippononly (Apr 21, 2009 5:39 pm)
  • kdhspyder (Apr 21, 2009 6:36 pm)
    • boaz47 (Apr 26, 2009 9:30 pm) and 1 more...

Replying to: mcdawgg (Apr 21, 2009 4:29 pm)

Replies to this message:
• kdhspyder (Apr 21, 2009 6:36 pm)
  • boaz47 (Apr 26, 2009 9:30 pm)
    • kdhspyder (Apr 27, 2009 5:44 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Apr 21, 2009 5:39 pm)

Yes the remaining 09s will be a hard sell but IMO Toyota has the inventory situation under control. The 10s will not come gushing in, that's simply impossible with a new ramp-up vehicle. The various pipelines need to be filled with the new models so I'd estimate that until mid summer there just won't be very many 10s available.
 
There is a huge pent up demand from current owners for the new model so IMO from the commentary on PC the first ones arriving will be 'gone in 60 seconds' to coin a phrase.
 
We're the biggest by far in our area in terms of hybrid sales and we've only got about 20 units remaining of the 09s. The really big ones in CA likely have more but then they have more buyers also.

Replies to this message:
• boaz47 (Apr 26, 2009 9:30 pm)
  • kdhspyder (Apr 27, 2009 5:44 am)

Replying to: kdhspyder (Apr 21, 2009 6:36 pm)

with Toyota reporting sales off 39 percent last month it is hard to believe there are tons of pent up desire for new anything out there. Sounds more like wishful thinking. Year to date cars sales are off 34 percent and trucks sales are off 40 percent for Toyota. From what I hear on some of the blogs it doesn't look all that bright for the whole year.
http://www.hybridcarblog.com/2008/12/how-far-will-hybrid-sales-decline-in.html
 
It also might be harder to sell a Hybrid Prius in California with a 10 percent sales tax added. I would bet the entry level Korean cars will do better considering you don't have to add more than 2k out the door in tax.
  But don't look to California to help increase hybrid sales.
http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrid-sales-dashboard/march-2009-dashboard-did-hybrid- -sales-bottom-out-25712.html
 
In case we want a pro hybrid site?
 
http://www.thegreenmotorist.com/index.php/march-2009-hybrid-sales-figures/
 
"The Toyota Prius is the best-selling hybrid in the United States but the vehicle’s sales were down 55% when compared to March 2008."
 
You wouldn't be giving us a positive salesperson's spin would you?

Replies to this message:
• kdhspyder (Apr 27, 2009 5:44 am)

Replying to: boaz47 (Apr 26, 2009 9:30 pm)