Toyota increases 2011 Prius base MSRP by $470

Hope this doesn't turn into 2008. I was one of those on waiting list.

 

I had been closely watching Highlander Hybrid supplies for a couple months. They had been pretty constant at around 20 units, plus or minus a couple, in the Chicago area (around 15 base, 5 limited) for a long time. That number started dropping just over a week ago. Today, I see 7 base and 2 limited. This is according to the Buyatoyota.com inventory search, but Edmunds.com and Cars.com new inventory searches have showed similar drops.

Highlander Hybrids are also made in Japan. While there aren't nearly as many made as the Prius, they also don't sell nearly as well. I wouldn't be surprised if the same trend will apply to inventories, especially with the price increase announcement.

Lol, maybe mine will appreciate!

 

I took delivery of mine 6/2/09, before those items were added--sounds like you were an early adopter as well.

 

Actually, quite the opposite. Mine was made October 2010. But it's a Prius III, and it doesn't have those added features.

 

Yes, I know.

 

yep, i think it will happen to all cars made in japan, but especially fuel efficient hybrids, with gas going over $4 now and probably $5 over the summer.

 

I am sure gas will not hit $5 US/gallon national average in 2011. Demand will crash before it does. Even if I'm wrong it will be temporary at best, people will severely curtail use (relatively speaking, as it is somewhat inelastic) when it threatens $5.

Obviously some major event like Saudi Arabia falling into a sink hole all bets are off.

 

April crude futures closed at $110/barrel. The gasoline you are buying today is based on about $90/barrel. Wait about a week from today (today is Sunday, this past Friday was April 1st), and you will have a much better prediction of where gasoline is headed. I wish we could just pull out our calculators and multiply 110/90 by the current price, but there are many variables that affect price. Crude for May delivery is trading at $107/barrel right now. So, wait about a week, and you'll have a much better idea of what $110/barrel crude translates to at the pump in today's environment (which changes constantly).

Btw, only for fun, 110/90 * $4.09/gal = $4.99.

 

When oil bubbled up to almost $150 barrel in 2008 gas didn't get much higher than $4 and people began to reel once that $4 was hit. Not only will $4 put gas prices square on the headline every day and demand will begin to contract more aggressively but the odds of another recession coming in grow strongly as well, which can also kill demand.

 

We just brought a black 2011 Prius II for $23,050 out-the-door price. We put 12k down and after installment (3 yrs) we will pay around $23,600. Are we getting a good price?

Our last vehicle is a Jeep liberty in 2005 with 0 down and 0% interest, we pay only $22,000 out-the-door price. Prius is more expensive than our SUV.

 

Yes, you got a good price on that right now.

 

I notice on the Toyota webpage they have placed into effect this $470 price increase

 

It's sounding like .. June and August of 2008 - $500 each. One for price increase, one for 2009 model which was a dupe of 2008 model.

 

I checked the page just a few days ago so it is very recent

Some people here reporting they paid MSRP of the older price $23,050 as of a few days ago

 

On a 2011? 2010s with miles on them--base models mind you, are going for over that at dealerships for me around here. I could quite literally take my 2010 that I leased, which has 23k, pay it off at $19,500 and sell it to make a profit.

 

Tonight the AAA price for all 2011 Prius models is over MSRP. There is some discount on the option packages so a Five-AT is $157 below MSRP or invoice + $1799.