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Should I?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Chris11, Jul 17, 2012.

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  1. Chris11

    Chris11 Member

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    I'm not going to wait. I have to buy a Prius and my choice is either a "normal" one or a plug in. And you are reflecting my philosophy of "Buy it if you want it. " :)

    Sorry, I can't rationalize the xtra for the Advanced. I'll bet it is wonderful but if I don't test drive one I won't know what I'm missing. Head in the sand attitude...lol.

    Thanks very much. Oh, the dealer did say they had an advanced that they've now turned into a "certified used" since they had it as a demo. do not know the price.

    And a Pearl base model bottom line from their invoice sent to me is ........

    Sale Price: 31,640.00
    Taxes: 2,562.84
    Document Fees: 150.00
    Licensing: 83.25
    Total: 34,436.09

    do not know how much I can beat them down but a Cashiers Check when they're trying to clear their lot may mean something.
     
    #21 Chris11, Jul 18, 2012
  2. ftl

    ftl Explicator

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    Car dealers lobbied the legislature for an increase in the doc fee from $50 to $150 in 2009.

    However, that article also notes: "[Senator Tracy] Eide said the fee is voluntary and that her bill would make it clear that it’s as much a negotiable item as the price of the vehicle itself. Sales and lease documents would have to disclose in boldface, italics, underlined type or in capital letters that the $150 fee is negotiable, she said."
     
    #22 ftl, Jul 18, 2012
  3. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Paying in cash is actually an outdated way of thinking with vehicles. (works well in real estate) The dealership makes more money if they can provide the financing. Take the financing and then just pay it off a month later. You will be able to get them lower on the car if you finance.
     
    #23 markabele, Jul 18, 2012
  4. Three60guy

    Three60guy -->All around guy<-- (360 = round) get it?

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    I'm telling ya, if you don't at least find out what they want for that demo you would kick yourself. Those things are very difficult to find. True, the advanced is more $ but not knowing how much more in this case because of the demo would be nuts. So there. My story and I'm sticking to it. LOL
     
    #24 Three60guy, Jul 18, 2012
  5. Chris11

    Chris11 Member

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    Ah, very very good information. That just cost the dealer .... hahahahaha. Thanks a lot.
     
    #25 Chris11, Jul 18, 2012
  6. Allannde

    Allannde Just a Senior

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    Chris, The "doc fee" is an authorized dealer mark up. It IS negotiable.

    The added fee for Blizzard Pearl is "legit". This paint is a three coat job (other colors are two coat). Chev charges $1000 additional for a similar premium paint job.

    The Washington State sales tax is the same for the whole state BUT each city and county is allowed to add a little bit. Some don't, some add a little and some add more. A private sale uses the rate of the residence of the purchaser. A dealer sale uses the rate which applies at the location of the dealer. This is by law and is not negotiable.
     
    #26 Allannde, Jul 18, 2012
  7. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    Don't I wish. It is $0.30/kwh here in northern California, with with the tiered rates (more you use, higher the rate).
     
    #27 CharlesH, Jul 18, 2012
  8. jsfabb

    jsfabb Active Member

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    With those kind of electric rates, it's cheaper run a gas Prius rather than a PiP.
     
    #28 jsfabb, Jul 18, 2012
  9. Chris11

    Chris11 Member

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    When we bought my wife's 2012 Camry I simply said I don't pay doc fees and asked if they were going to lose the sale for $75. (That dealer's rate.) They said their computer didn't allow for zero in that space. I said figure it out...lol. They ended up putting in the $75 but knocking it off the sales price. Worked for me and I assume them.

    Interesting on the paint. A local body shop told me a few months ago that black and white were the cheapest to buy and red was the most expensive. Perhaps the "Pearl" has something to do with it.

    Yep, and after you said that I realized we had bought my wife's 2012 in Idaho and they charged us our home county here in WA rate. So that's where I got that idea.

    Thanks for the above information. I think I'll just offer them a flat amount, tell 'em to put it into whatever spaces they want and see what happens. I still haven't made up my mind on whether it'll be a PiP or a regular one.

    Allannde do you happen to know when Toyota stops flooring payments from the dealer? I've heard 6 months but I'm not certain that's correct. That info and what jsfabb provided makes for lower offers.
     
    #29 Chris11, Jul 18, 2012
  10. Chris11

    Chris11 Member

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    Thanks. And for lots of people they probably don't negotiate it anyway. My idea of negotiations is to get my way....hahaha.
     
    #30 Chris11, Jul 18, 2012
  11. Chris11

    Chris11 Member

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    This part of it is MY way of doing business. I said this on another thread.....we have zero debt. Our house is paid off, (admittedly I was $15,000 short on a $90,000 house 25 years ago so we had to borrow it. That was the last time we borrowed money.) We pay cash for cars and pay off our credit card each month. When we travel we reserve the room with a card and then use cash at checkin just so we don't come home to a huge cc bill. It's true about the dealers preferring a finance deal but I'm willing to pay a little more to NOT go into debt. Call me old fashioned.

    I do appreciate your honest advice though, and thank you for taking the time to write it and post it.
     
    #31 Chris11, Jul 18, 2012
  12. Allannde

    Allannde Just a Senior

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    My dealer, Larry Miller Toyota here in Spokane, said that they have reduced flooring costs because of their accumulated investment in the dealership. All that means to me is that I suspect that flooring costs are not the same all the time for everyone. I suspect that attempting to second guess dealer cost is not going to be totally fruitful. You can do as well by making what seems to be a ridiculous offer and seeing what the reaction is. Just remember that the dealer does this for a living.

    We have pretty good electric rates in Washington. Mine is $.0487 per KwH which turns out to be just a tad over one cent per mile.
     
    #32 Allannde, Jul 18, 2012
  13. Daniel Highkin

    Daniel Highkin New Member

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    Our 2005 Prius was rear-ended last week by a Chevy Tahoe which totaled the car. Fortunately, no serious injuries. We're trying to decide between a standard Prius and a PIP. The problem is that if you're already starting at 40-45 mpg and pending maybe $1000 to 1200 a year on fuel, you could cut the cost of fuel in half and it would still take you 6 years or so to make up the price differential from a standard Prius. Still debating what to do here. But the spare tire thing is a turn-off. What do you really do if you're out in the middle of nowhere and your tire gets shredded?
     
    #33 Daniel Highkin, Jul 18, 2012
  14. Allannde

    Allannde Just a Senior

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    First, welcome to PriusChat! You will enjoy it.

    Sorry to hear about the crash. Good that no one was seriously hurt.

    I carry a mounted snow tire except when I need the cargo area for something else which is not often. But I drove my '06 for six years with no flat. The car has TPMS which will catch most potential flats before they become flats. The car comes with roadside assistance and a jack. The lack of a spare does not need to be a deal breaker.

    I really enjoy my PiP. I like driving electric, especially on very short trips. I also like the overall economy because I don't like to burn gasoline. Also, I like the quality in the car. But you will know if it is right for you.
     
    #34 Allannde, Jul 19, 2012
  15. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    You left out the $2,500 Federal tax credit the purchase qualifies you for.
     
    #35 Rebound, Jul 19, 2012
  16. Chris11

    Chris11 Member

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    Howdy neighbor, I didn't realize you're in Spokane. We're up in the large metropolis of Chewelah.

    I just put in the Costco information for the Costco auto plan with Larry Miller. We'll see what they can do although they don't show the PiP as being in their inventory.

    Thanks for the flooring info. And I do agree about dealer's being true professionals... they know all the tricks.
     
    #36 Chris11, Jul 19, 2012
  17. Chris11

    Chris11 Member

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    Sounds similar to my story. A couple of weeks ago I was innocently driving on the highway and some young girl pulled a U turn in front of me. The insurance company decided to total my beautiful 2009. I was pissed but then decided to get a new Prius, either a "normal" one or the PiP. That's where I'm at now, same as you.

    The lack of spare doesn't worry me much. I drove a few Buick Grand Nationals for many years before buying my first Prius. Never carried a spare in any of my Buicks (weight.) Never had a flat. I had 100,000 miles on my Prius...never had a flat. But of course once no spare is available all four tires will go flat at the same time .... hahahaha.
     
    #37 Chris11, Jul 19, 2012
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Another thing to keep in mind is that as you cross the mountains (and it seems like you will cross the Cascades often), the PHV will allow you to fully recharge the battery on the downhill portions so when you get to the next town, you have a fully charged PHV! And you can choose how to ration that power with the HV/EV button.

    On a normal Prius, that battery will reach 8 bars within a couple of miles of the downhill stretch.
     
    #38 Tideland Prius, Jul 19, 2012
  19. Tracksyde

    Tracksyde Member

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    Yes, that's normal. If you build the car on the Toyota website, you'll see Blizzard Pearl is a premium color with an added cost. By 3-coat, I think they mean a base color, a pearl coat, and then a clear.. but that doesnt necessarily mean only 3 coats of paint (although it could very well be only 3 coats also, I don't know).
     
    #39 Tracksyde, Jul 19, 2012
  20. Chris11

    Chris11 Member

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    Thanks. I had heard about it but thought it had expired. I talked to my accountant after reading your fine post, and she is now making certain it's correct. She "thinks" it is but want's confirmation.
     
    #40 Chris11, Jul 19, 2012
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