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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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What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Hybrid Cars, Sedan


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#1677 of 1971
Re: My dad always told me.... [mschmal] by bob104
Aug 01, 2008 (5:58 am)
Reply

Replying to: mschmal (Jul 31, 2008 5:38 pm)

I'm hoping people will find this response relevant to the topic, since it addresses the overpricing issue:
 
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."
#1678 of 1971
Re: My dad always told me.... [bob104] by skeptical
Aug 01, 2008 (7:46 am)
Reply

Replying to: bob104 (Aug 01, 2008 5:58 am)

It's nice to hear that the Prius is actually appreciating for right now. But it won't keep doing that, of course. It's not going to keep going up and up...this is
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...
#1679 of 1971
Re: Picking it up [m2mazda6] by skeptical
Aug 01, 2008 (11:12 am)
Reply

Replying to: m2mazda6 (Jul 15, 2008 2:38 pm)

Hi, I'm sorry to bug you again, but I need some hope here, s I'm also awaiting a Silver Pine package 2 and it's been almost 10 weeks and I'm still hanging in there, but as folks can see, I am getting ambivalent now and so it helps to hear from folks who have been through the wait line...the dealer tells me my 'number' hasn't changed for two weeks now...argh!
 
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...
#1680 of 1971
Re: My dad always told me.... [bob104] by stevedebi
Aug 01, 2008 (1:26 pm)
Reply

Replying to: bob104 (Aug 01, 2008 5:58 am)

"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. "
 
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.
#1681 of 1971
Re: My dad always told me.... [stevedebi] by skeptical
Aug 01, 2008 (1:40 pm)
Reply

Replying to: stevedebi (Aug 01, 2008 1:26 pm)

"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."
 
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?
#1682 of 1971
Re: Picking it up [skeptical] by bob104
Aug 01, 2008 (2:28 pm)
Reply

Replying to: skeptical (Aug 01, 2008 11:12 am)

I bought an 08Touring#6 in Oct. for $2,000 below MSRP, $28,900 OTD in CA, with carpet mats ($200 retail).
 
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.
#1683 of 1971
Re: My dad always told me.... [skeptical] by bob104
Aug 01, 2008 (2:44 pm)
Reply

Replying to: skeptical (Aug 01, 2008 1:40 pm)

It sure looks like PHEVs will likely become the standard starting in MY 2010. I would guess that there will be a thrall to buy them too. But enough lithium battery to go 40 miles all-electric will add perhaps $7,000-10,000 to the price of a standard Prius. Plug-ins have very high battery expenditure, about 12-14 cents a mile.
    Meanwhile, conventional cars that get mpg in the 40s will be coming on strong too.
    I'd be tempted to wait. Maybe oil will pull back to $100/barrel and the Prius market will loosen up. There's a diminishing return on mpg: 20mpg=600gallonsperyear, 30mpg=400gpy, 40mpg=300gpy, 50mpg=240gpy, 60mpg=200gpy.
#1684 of 1971
Re: Picking it up [skeptical] by jrt101
Aug 01, 2008 (2:53 pm)
Reply

Replying to: skeptical (Jul 30, 2008 10:59 am)

I paid msrp plus tax for a package 6 this Tuesday. No talk of decals, floor mats or other nonsense. I was tempted to but an extended service plan but at 1995.00 I said no. My car has a decal on the rear bumper but I did not pay extra for it and it has rug/floor mats in it... no extra charges. I already have 550 miles on it and it is great. This is great technology... when people first see it they say it is ugly, too small and they can't believe that I bought it. When I show them the way it works and tell them it only used 10 gallons of gas in 500 miles... they change their tune. People do not want to like this car because it is different. I wish it was a bit more of a luxury car... but I love it.
#1686 of 1971
After a two Month wait my Prius is here ... : ( by priuswannabe1
Aug 04, 2008 (6:57 am)
Reply
On May 30th, I put $250 down on an OTD price of $25.393 (in writing) on an option #2. Today I received a call saying that my car is in, but, that the new price is $25, 994! Yikes! I know that I was already paying much more than I should, so for me this increase is not acceptable. I told them to honor the original price or return my deposit. By the way, the dealer is in the Poconos in Pennsylvania.
The sales manager was explaining to me that this car has more options such as floor mats (which were already included in writing) and something about a decal ...

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