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Prius c Supply Drying Up?

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by Patrick K, Apr 25, 2012.

  1. Patrick K

    Patrick K The Blue Rooster

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    Hello All,

    Went to a local dealership and was told by a salesman that the supply of Prius c's is about to dry up. Said Japan just instituted a new Cash-For-Clunkers program and virtually all Prius c's that were destined for the U.S. will now be held back for an expected huge increase in demand in Japan. I gave him four color choices and he said there was only one Prius C (package two) in Portland and I'd better make my mind up quickly if I want it. Certainly doesn't smell right to me but thought I'd ask if anyone has heard a similar story. Thanks!

    Patrick K
     
  2. dannahan

    dannahan regular dude

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    sales bro. all pressure. go talk to another dealer. in fact deal with it online through the internet fleet managers. easier to deal with. no bull.
     
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  3. akh02

    akh02 New Member

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    They're definitely not plentiful in the Portland area. One dealer told me it would be at least a month until they had one available for test drive. I found a c1 available for test drive at another dealer and put a deposit down on a c3 that was due in May. The dealers around here seem to be doing a lot of scrambling. It will be interesting to see if this high demand keeps going or if it will taper off soon.
     
  4. SquallLHeart

    SquallLHeart The Techie Guy

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    i have no idea about anything going on in Japan.. however demand for the car is still pretty high.. there's no question about that.
     
  5. R11

    R11 New Member

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    Japanese Cash For Clunkers... that's good! :D


    ron
     
  6. Patrick K

    Patrick K The Blue Rooster

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    There was a Cash-For-Clunkers program in Japan in 2009-10 timeframe but can't find anything similar happening now.
     
  7. HaveNoCents

    HaveNoCents Conservative Tree Hugger

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    Nope, during that time period it was sushi for Scions. :)
     
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  8. vinnie97

    vinnie97 Whatever Works

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    Reuters mentions something about some subsidies returning this year in this Toyota financial outlook:

    Toyota raises annual profit forecast, eyes recovery | Reuters
     
  9. Wildfire

    Wildfire New Member

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    When we were shopping for our C a few weeks ago, it was a matter of 4-6 weeks in order for any "new" cars to show up in the area on the next boat. In case there are any cars of the right grade & color combination still in the area, we found that it helps to do a dealer-by-dealer search yourself as some dealerships are not willing to trade with each-other. The Toyota website is great for finding all of those dealerships you would otherwise never find.

    When we were waiting for our LEAF last year, a number of folks were tracking individual ships to and from Japan in order to find out when the next batch was going to arrive: kinda surprised no one is doing that yet for the c's! More than likely, the next batch is already down in Long Beach waiting for options installation and a train ride up to Portland or Kent.
     
  10. rjdriver

    rjdriver Active Member

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    Don't know anything about cash for clunkers in Japan. I do know that sales of the C have outstripped expectations by about a factor of 5. Just in Japan alone. They expected to sell about 12000/month when the car was introduced there in December, and tooled up only at one factory in Japan to make these. There are none being made in the US or anywhere else except the one factory, which is now on permanent overtime to try to keep up with the demand.

    Visited my dealer last weekend with a question, and he said the supply is drying up. He didn't say anything about Toyota hoarding more for the Japanese market, but he said it had become very difficult to barter for one, and that I was lucky I got mine when I did. Dealers who have them are hanging on to them now rather than freely trading like they were a week or two ago.

    Those of us who knew when the C was arriving at dealers, and ordered early were fortunate. Now that Toyota has rolled out it's advertising campaigne, and the word is spreading, I think this was bound to happen. They really need to get a second factory tooled up and online to feed the demand.
     
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  11. LizKauai

    LizKauai First PriusC3 owner on Kauai!

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    No C's in Hawaii. Order today for the June or July mfg. with delivery in Aug. or Sept.
     
  12. moezer2112

    moezer2112 Futurist

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  13. ftl

    ftl Explicator

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    Cars.com shows 759 Cs in stock nationwide at the moment.
     
  14. moezer2112

    moezer2112 Futurist

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    back in early april when i was searching for my configuration of c that number on cars.com used to be around 1300, so there may be some merit to this story.
     
  15. sph101

    sph101 Prius 4

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    759 Cs does not sound like a lot of cars for a country this large...
     
  16. BGGirl

    BGGirl Member

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  17. Kenny_n_Steve

    Kenny_n_Steve New Member

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    It has been a challenge to even see a Prius C in the Twin Cities Metro. When we have seen one, it is tucked away on a back lot awaiting delivery. The closest I've gotten to one was at the Auto Show! At this point I'm not sweating it as it is outside our control. The Prius C is going to be immensely popular. With one final payment left on the 2008 we will very likely order what we want and wait for it to arrive, regardless of how the dealer gets it for us. I also plan to contact all dealers within a 30-60 minute drive and put them all to work!
     
  18. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    Your dealer sales manager should be able to tell you what ship as the info is on the Vehicle inquiry report. Just need the approx date it left Japan at the minimum. The ship thread is a running list as they set sail or arrive at various ports. Its up to date. Stop by and we will look.

    6 month back order for C(aqua) in Japan 120,000 cars. US models are not the same as the JDM models so they not diverting US cars. There just sold out.

    Leafs are made in TN. not Japan aren't they.
     
  19. TC400

    TC400 Active Member

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    I wonder if they were holding back to see how the market would respond? Clearly its responding lol
     
  20. Mr Incredible

    Mr Incredible Chance favors the prepared mind.

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    Think of how big a demand there would be if they hadn't pushed those stupid commercials on the nation...
     
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