Tips for buying a White 2011 Prius in Northern CA at a reasonable price?

Good luck

 

Did you try Dianne?

 

The price difference between a II and IV nowadays can be $7,000. From what I've seen in our market (Bay Area), IIs generally are selling at $23500 and IVs are selling at $30,000. This is in stark contrast to a year ago when you could get a IV for $27,000.

If you're not bent on getting the upgrades I would look for a II. It's basically the best "deal" now because it's the only one they're selling at MSRP. And there are plenty of them out there. Check out Toyota Sunnyvale, Magnussens Toyota in Palo Alto, or Fremont Toyota.

 

“Presuming” that you’re a well qualified buyer with no trade, it shouldn’t be impossible to get a good price on a G3.
First. Get pre-qualified at your bank or credit union.
I use a CU myself, and I give the finance manager a chance to beat their rate by a quarter point after the paperwork begins…when he/she’s trying to sell me the warranty. They never do.
Don’t buy the warranty at the dealer BTW…

OK. Now comes the fun part. You can try cars.com, but I’ve found that their search engine is a little funny about listing all of the cars available within a X mile radius. Some dealer websites also list cars that aren’t really in their inventory. The last time I did a detailed search for a car on line, (for a 2010 G3) I did about 3-4 hours worth of searching at the individual dealership websites and requested some quotes from the models/trim levels that I interested in over the phone.
If you KNOW the car you want…a competent dealership should be able to give you a hard quote over the phone or email for an OTD (out the door) price.
99.44 percent of car buyers out there don’t do this, and it probably accounts for 99.44 percent of the dealer’s new car sales profit.

If you don’t know the trim level you want, or you’re trading in a car, this muddies up the deal considerably…and you’re going to have to shop in person and at the dealership…which dealerships love!
If you’re trading in…...consider selling the old car first.
If you’re not a “well qualified buyer”….consider keeping the old car until you are.

Good Luck!
Let us know when you become a former Prius Searcher!!!

 

I got mine 2 years ago at Toyota Sunnyvale. Best car buying experience of my life. They have a policy of always selling below MSRP, and are one of the largest Prius sellers in the US.

Toyota San Francisco is also a large dealer, and doesn't play the mark up game.

 

I noticed in your original posting you mentioned an appropriate discount. Since the Tsunami in Japan, dealers are not yet giving good discounts, supply and demand, you can ask, but the pre tsunami prices are history (for example I paid 21,175 before T&L) for a 2 in February, list prices are up since then and discounts are almost non existent. Also you will get hit for an extra $250 for the white colour. However you won't have to pay over sticker. Good Luck, even at these prices it's still a good value.

 

The white color is a little harder to get these days than other colors due to the paint process & the problems with the paint plant being able to satisfy the demand for this color.

That said, I have a white II here with bisque interior, and two white II's with gray COMING shortly...

 

Hi Dianne,
I heard of the Blizzard Pearl and Super White. Are these two distinct colors or just they name it differently?
Thanks

 

Gen III Prius doesn't get any white other than the pearl white, at a $220 upcharge for the pearl paint.

 

Thanks!

 

Wait couple of months when the Prius goes back to full production in September.
Here a local dealer had only two in stock a month ago, today they have seven in stock.
When the stock builds back up, like 20, you will see discount below MSRP.

 

I am trying to wait but I am sharing car with my wife now. She's on vacation until middle of August. So I hope by then prices are lower, but if not much lower I rather buy it now.

 

Prius II models

I am already under MSRP and with a $100 gas card!

 

Interesting ... of the 10 Bay Area Toyota dealers I contacted to get a quote on my 2011 earlier in the year. Toyota of Sunnyvale had one of the worst prices (Pre-Tsunami) even compared to smaller dealerships. Round up purchasing from another large Toyota dealership.

 

I would recommend Cory Ellerbee @ SF Toyota. Back in 2007 I was looking for a Tundra, I ended up flying up to SF to buy a truck and drove it back down. I would have bought from Dianne at Carson Toyota here in Socal but they had better incentives in the bay area. Don't know what his inventory or what he's charging but he's honest for sure. Hit him up and see what he says! Best of luck!

 

Re: Prius II models

Northern California dealers still asking $2K over MSRP.

 

Try Folsom Lake Toyota or Roseville Toyota. Both about an hour and a half away from SF. You may want to call Placerville Toyota as well. We got a great deal on my daughters Prius in Placerville but they are a small dealership and may not have what you are looking for.

Roseville Toyota, located at the Auto Mall, is one of the largest dealers in the state. They just received a large shipment last week.

Good luck!