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Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences 2004-2009 Toyota Prius Prices Paid and Buying Experience
1971 messages, Last post on Sep 10, 2009 at 9:17 AM
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Replying to: carnaught (Jul 25, 2008 1:58 pm) I am on a waiting list but have been promised nothing over MSRP. (But I'm skeptical, as my nickname states...we'll see what they offer...) The hybrid market is about to explode within the next two years, and this means competition will be fierce and that means prices will be be better and we'll have many more choices. |
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I see an irony in people complaining about dealer markups on Prius. It was only the high price of gasoline that prompted most of this Prius-come-lately demand. Since it was market force, not environmental concerns, that prompted Prius buying, shouldn't it be market force that determines the price? That said, it does seem that you can still find dealers who have their longterm interests in mind and so they don't anger their customers by overcharging.
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Replying to: bob104 (Jul 30, 2008 11:33 am) This is pure exploitation--yes the issue is larger, but that doesn't justify going along with it. We've sold out big time for dependency on foreign oil--would we be in Iraq if they didn't have oil? (not so sure..) Meanwhile we do have some choices--we can opt for other compacts (I know, gasp) for a year or two till things calm down and we have more choices. Or carpool. Or stick with what you have. Or use a subway/mass transit system if you're lucky enough to have it in your area... I say folks who charge well over MSRP-- as well as folks willing to pay this-- ultimately chip away at and demean and undermine the entire basic fair trade rules implicit in car buying. I think we all can make a difference by saying "wait a minute now...". Are we that bad with impulse control? Do we want what we want now and so be it--no matter what? Where are our values? Where are our limits? I don't know myself, honestly--I'm just asking these questions a lot lately... |
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"A fool and his money are soon parted" The economic case for the average person buying a hybrid to lower their gas bill is pretty rocky to begin with, but doing so when you pay over MSRP is just plain foolish. Some people just have more money than brains . You'd be better off buying a Nissan Sentra for about $16,000 selling price after rebate. This car is about the same size as a Prius and gets great MPG with the CVT. Mark
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Replying to: mschmal (Jul 31, 2008 5:38 pm) Six months or so ago I'd have agreed with you, but now Priuses are actually appreciating rather than depreciating. With gasoline very likely to go up, that Sentra will likely sell like an SUV five years from now. The total cost to own (including amortization, gasoline, battery expense) will very likely be less for the Prius. From: http://www.nextautos.com/hybrid-madness-used-toyota-prius-averaging-higher-trans- action-prices-new-models "The average new 2008 MY (Model Year) Prius is selling for an average of $26,672, while used 2008 models with less than 10,000 miles on the odometer are selling for nearly $1300 more, averaging a sale price of $27,945. Even 2007 cars, with on average more than 22,000 miles racked up, are commanding $26,396 – just $276 from the new cars’ average." |
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Replying to: bob104 (Aug 01, 2008 5:58 am) just an odd time, because we are in the middle of many changes, so the Prius folks are taking full advantage. But if you want to look at the larger picture, and you don't yet own a Prius, you still need to factor in if you are willing to plunk down that much more money --knowing that the entire hybrid market-- as well as the small car market (Honda Fit, etc)-- is going to explode in the next two years. There will be many more choices for fuel economy cars, and with that comes competition and stabilizing of prices.. And the current Prius is do for major re-haul which will then put a halt to the inflated prices of the second generation Prius, although I'm sure it will still get very good re-sale for many years--and if I had one now, I'd likely just hold onto it and not re-sell--a new car means yet more money to fork over... I think the point is you need to keep your wits about you and not get too swept away with the feeding frenzy. Know you have options, and they are about to get a great deal better! You need to know what your limits are in terms of how much you are willing to pay. I'm sorry I didn't buy a Prius when tons were sitting on the lot in February and even March...and you could actually get a good 1-2 grand below MSRP--but now, I just don't know if it's worth it--especially with what's coming around in the corner within the next 12-24 months.... It's a tough choice--I remain on the Prius waiting list and we'll see if a fair enough price is offered at the time (if ever it actually arrives!). I'm fully prepared to say no if after having fully researched close enough alternatives that are just around the corner are $5-$9,000 less... There's a lot more I can do with that money in the mean-time... It's a tough choice, but it's good to know there are options... |
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Replying to: m2mazda6 (Jul 15, 2008 2:38 pm)  I have three questions: 1. Did you pay over MSRP? 2. Did the car include any surprise/ add-ons that you needed to pay extra for? 3. How do you like it so far? I start to read about the 2009 Fit and so forth, and I just don't know if this wait/cost is even worth it. Can you let us know what it's like for you now that you have it when you get some time? Any other new owners who waited a good long bit and feel it was well worth the wait AND-- did NOT pay over MSRP ? Thanks in advance to all who might be able to shed some light so I can keep this in perspective...
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Replying to: bob104 (Aug 01, 2008 5:58 am) I think this is a temporary trend. As these vehicles get closer to their Hybrid warranty expiration dates (8 or 10 years), a new owner with any sense will realize that a hybrid battery pack replacement may be in store. Note I said MAY be in store. Also, the Prius has a lot of electronics to break, and they are expensive to fix. And the vehicles won't work without those components. For example, if the main display goes out on the Prius, it won't work until fixed. If the DVD system (or other radio system) goes out on most vehicles, the car will still run. The other factor is that in 2-4 years, there are going to be LOTS of higher MPG vehicles competing, including more hybrids, PHEV, electric, diesels. The current market has been caught by high gas prices combined with most US auto makers not having viable high MPG alternatives. That is going to change quickly.
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Replying to: stevedebi (Aug 01, 2008 1:26 pm) Yes--That's how I understand it now as well. And I'm sitting here, during this odd sort of in-between time, and not quite sure which way to turn..go with the expensive Prius, or get a decent enough much cheaper compact to hold the fort down over the next couple of years till this all evens out a bit more....I'm opting for the latter... Any thoughts?
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Replying to: skeptical (Aug 01, 2008 11:12 am) I called the same salesman, a very decent guy at Toyota of Santa Maria, (CA), and he said he could sell me a new 08 Prius for a few hundred below MSRP now but I'd have to wait about 6 weeks for the exact thing I wanted, less if I was willing to buy whatever he got sent. There's been a price increase of a few hundred since Oct. I love the Touring, 15,000 miles now, but it gets 42mpg instead of 44 for the Standard Prius. Consumer Reports thinks it's worth the extra $900 as it performs a bit better in accident avoidance and in braking distance. I wouldn't get it due to mpg trade-off and because the tires are much more expensive to replace, maybe $700-800 a set instead of about $400. Check for yourself. I drive my Touring very mildly so I get 45 mpg. If I had the Standard I'd be getting about 47-48mpg. Prius: roomy cabin, convenient and roomy trunk, nice interior, very quiet, great sound system (pkg #6), plenty enough pickup. Only down side is seats with limited adjustability. |
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