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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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Just thinking about internet quotes reminds me of the dealership that advertises as no haggle pricing. I bought my first car using the web in 2001. I've purchased a total of three vehicles since then using the same formula as most of you. In all cases I felt in control and pleased with the results. After spending the weekend researching vehicles (Insight,09 Prius,10Prius) I'm starting to question this practice. This is why. In August 08, I purchased a Honda Accord for the Mrs. I did my research, narrowed our search to two vehicles, then test drove each car. After I made my introduction with both dealers, I explained I was only looking to test drive the car and not to negotiate a price. I told them I'd get back in touch if I was interested. Long story short. The Toyota salesperson was talking real numbers and wanted to sell a car. The Honda salesperson said he could not quote prices. Instead, he walked me into the Internet Managers office and he gave me a printout of the good faith estimate. I was told the internet price was firm. I spent a couple day's trying to work a better deal (through the internet) to no avail. This weekend I visited two different Honda and Toyota dealerships to test the Insight and 09 Prius. I went to the front desk, asked for the Internet Sales Manager. The receptionist told me the line was busy and said he would check the office to see if he was there. I followed him back to a large open room filled with eight computer stations. There were five people manning the stations. When I ask which one was the Manager, I was told this guy, but you could talk to the first available person. I introduce myself and ask for a quote and test drive. The IM gives me the quote, then passes me off to the salesperson. After the test drive the sales guy asks for my name and number. I told him I was dealing with the IM and he said they split the commission and that he needed my name to keep it straight. I smell a skunk in the woodpile! I'm starting to think I would do much better to do my research, decide my price and present them with my take it or leave it offer in person. Sure they will tell me to take a hike but, they will contact me later on with the real lowest price available. It just seems to convenient to say the internet price is the lowest price period. I've read these forums for a long time and it seems that everyone is happy to get the same quote as the next guy. I used to be that guy. Sorry to ramble on so much. I'm just looking for the best way to buy a car today. The web is the only place to research comps, dealership are the place to test drive the car and the sales manager is the only person that can mark the price down. Once we get the lowest internet quote we are led to believe this is the rock bottom price and since the IM always acts laid back we fall into his/her trap and are led to believe this person has input on the bottom line. |
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Replying to: rbk3 (Apr 06, 2009 1:36 pm)
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Replying to: evadoo (Apr 06, 2009 2:25 pm) I understand and concur with your strategy. I've used the same method for past purchases. Yes, it may sound stupid to go into a dealer to negotiate a price. I'm just looking for an edge to take advantage of the excess inventory and I am not seeing the big discounts that I believe should be out there. I am not suggesting for people to skip internet quotes and negotiations. I'm just trying to rationalize it and see what people think. Maybe I'm in left field but I think prices need to drop much lower. After seeing all the inventory of sought after vehicles (honda, toyota) it's not hard to figure out that something has to give. And my guess is prices will come down as the 2010 Prius start to hit the street. The 09 Prius should be discounted 4-5 K right now to make room for the 2010 model. With the Insight hitting the market one week ago, the competition is heating up. The day of paying 5000 extra for a hybrid are almost over. |
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Replying to: evadoo (Apr 06, 2009 2:25 pm) Maybe you were successful in getting the dealerships to offer those kinds of numbers. But I wasn't. They two had offerred 21,650 and 22,200 to me, respectively. Did you finance through the dealership at a high rate? Were there added costs, doc fees? There must be a catch.
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Replying to: taxlawyer (Apr 07, 2009 6:14 am)
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Replying to: evadoo (Apr 07, 2009 6:20 am) That would put the purchase price at UNDER 20k in most states (based on local sales tax rates) for a package 2 prius? How did you get that price? If I can ask....what was your price after everything (all fees) but BEFORE the sales tax was added? (This clarifies the final number.) Thanks.
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Replying to: taxlawyer (Apr 07, 2009 7:04 pm) Message #1852 Re: honda insight / prius pricing [pragmatist1] by evadoo Mar 26, 2009 (7:25 am) I think it answers all your questions. If not, let me know. 
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We drove home tonight in a new 2009 Prius package #2. I was surprised to find it came with a 6 cd changer, backup color camera, as well as a few other goodies that I really didn't expect. Although not anywhere near broken in, it still got 58 mpg. on regular gas, a distance of about 10 miles. The total out the door price was $23,000.00 at King Toyota, in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and that included everything. When we originally called they said they only had white, or gold in stock. Once there it appears they have a lot more. I wouldn't be surprised if you can get a similar deal. This is the first real departure in the type of car we bought in the past, and I'm more than a little excited. |
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Replying to: rbk3 (Apr 06, 2009 1:36 pm) Another dealership quoted me $19,688 via email on an Insight, but that was the week when that model went on sale. I was in no hurry to purchase, and still haven't bought one. Now this dealership is saying he can "rework" the original quote. This was from a guy that had a very easy-going personality when I went for a test-drive; but looking back, he was very deceptive. Those are the ones you want to avoid, unless you know what you're getting into. Once they quote you an amount via email, there is no rule that states you can't go into the dealership to haggle for an even-lower price. Maybe they didn't budge much with their quote b/c it was a brand new model. Daniel
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We just brought home an 09 package #5 in San Diego OTD for $26360. Dealer quoted a price over the phone of $23,923 + tax and registration. We first went to a dealer we'd dealt with in the past (Mossy Toyota) to give them a chance to beat/match it since we'd liked the service received there before. Turns out that was a mistake and the experience wasn't nearly as nice. I was very straight-forward with them and told them if they could beat $23,900 we'd immediately give them a check. When they couldn't we thanked them for their time. The look of disbelief and dejection on their face was surprising. They immediately went into "sales" mode and "warned" us the other dealer (Poway Toyota) would absolutely be tacking on little fees here and there and would ultimately be asking more which couldn't have been further from the truth. We left Mossy enroute to Poway and within an hour and a half we'd completed the paperwork and were driving home in our freshly detailed car. The price quoted over the phone was the same price offered this afternoon, and the guy I spoke with last night wasn't even there. The entire team at Poway seemed to be involved but were in NO way overbearing, just very friendly and happy to give us a great deal. Each dealer will receive a letter, but for very opposite reasons. |
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