No Availability Of Touring IN PA

Have you tried any Toyota Dealers in Southern NJ? You might be able to find a Touring at one there. Some possibilities are Cherry Hill Toyota, Toyota of Runnemede, and Toyota of Turnersville. Lawrence Toyota in Trenton is another option.

The package won't matter just for a test drive. Whether you prefer the Touring or the regular Prius, any dealer should be able to get you the package you want. If they say they can't, they're not trying. It might take a little longer if they don't have what you want on the lot, but you will get it.

FYI ... writing in all caps is the text equivalent of shouting.

 

I don't know where you're located in PA, but I've heard that you can get a Touring Prius in NE Ohio (Cleveland area). And with lower option packages 2 or 3 too. And at near invoice or $2000 below MSRP to boot. For me, I'd be willing to drive the 500 miles from NYC to Cleveland to pick up the Touring Prius in the package and at the price I want.

 

takefoto;

For reasons they are unable or unwilling to discuss, dealers in the Central Atlantic Region do not get the Touring model.

From my own experience I know that they are available in the Boston Region; I got mine in Rhode Island. If you check out my Newbie Intro post, it contains a cite for the Toyota regional map:

http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/41972-c3po-crapulous-personal-prius-purchasing-qdyssey.html

By working internet new car listings against the regional map, you can first identify regions that get Tourings, then closest dealers in the region.

Good Luck.

 

I'm in Northern VA and bought my Prius a month ago. According to dealers around here, the "Mid-Atlantic" area dealers are not being allowed to stock or sell the Touring model. (Like others on the forum, I had a dealer even tell me that Toyota no longer makes the Touring, but that is, of course, complete BS.) I'm not sure how the Mid-Atlantic region is defined, but I believe that it includes at least Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, DC, and Delaware. It may also inlcude New York and/or New Jersey.

The closest Tourings I found to me were a few hundred miles away in NE Ohio. I found a couple of dealers there that had the Touring in stock (I was, by the way, looking for a pkg #6, so I don't know if they had the pkg you're looking for) and were more than willing to sell me one. I decided to purchase a regular Prius from a dealer a few miles from my house, rather than hassle with an out-of-state purchase/trade-in, but you may decide otherwise.

Let me know if you want the names of the Ohio dealers I contacted. I may still have that info.

 

NJ/NY is a separate region (NY Region, I believe). It may also include CT. I know there's some Tourings available at some Central NJ dealers. I checked this morning and Brunswick Toyota (in South Brunswick) had one.

The OP could also check Freehold Toyota, Lakewood Toyota and Gateway Toyota (in Toms River). All are about 2 hours from Philly.

 

I was in the same boat as you, only I am in Missouri. I test drove the regular Prius but wanted the Touring. They had to order one and now that I have it, it's a blast to drive. The difference I noticed was the tighter steering. It feels sporty.
Good luck. They should be able to order you one, right?

 

Your dealer should be willing to do a Sea Trade or Port Trade with another dealer to get what you want. If they are not willing, find another dealer.
Package #4 is hard to find for most; I was told 3 months for a black, non-touring, package #4, so I just jumped to package #5. My dealer did a Sea trade with another dealer to get it, it will be in on April 16.

 

I also found that most of the dealers in Northern VA would NOT order the Prius Touring for me. Quite a few of them claimed that Toyota would not let them place orders; a couple simply said that they would not do it. Only one dealer said that he would/could order it, but then he quoted a ridiculous price to do so. After talking to so many who said Toyota won't let them place an order, I suspected that the guy who said he could didn't know what he was talking about. Part of the issue may be that they have a lot of the standard Prii on the lots right now that they need to move. The dealer I purchased from is part of a chain scattered around the DC beltway, and they had over 90 Prii on the lots when I bought mine, and a new truckload pulled up on the lot while I was closing the deal.

 

Wow, that is so weird. I had no problem ordering mine at Olathe Toyota in Kansas. I had to put down a deposit, but got the money back after the deal. It seems it's at the discretion of the sales manager. They do push the ones on the lot, don't they? The first salesman I talked to acted like it would like moving a mountain to get a touring. But the next guy said "No problem."

 

+1 on the availability of the Touring in Mid-Atl. states. That is the same reasoning my dealer told me at the time I picked up my package 4. The touring does not really give me a whole lot of advantage in driving a Prius for a do not intend to drive my Prii like a sports car. Perhaps test drive a regular prius and see what you think. If you really want a more sporty suspension, getting aftermarket sports suspension other than from the dealer will cost you less and will end up with better components.

Have fun shopping.

 

I saw the car you are looking for at Krause Toyota -- Fogelsville PA (outside of Allentown). It is a touring model (white or tan, I saw it at night) with option package 3, I believe. It was there two days ago (Tue March 25). I did not drive it and wound up getting the non-touring model, Pkg 6. I went to three dealers and all confirmed that in this region (PA, NY, MD and part of NJ) Touring models are not available (at least on the floor).

Good Luck

 

Easier said than done:

1. For the $300-$900 price difference between comparably optioned Standard and Touring models, the Touring Edition is a real bargain. It gets you the tuned suspension, bigger and nicer wheels and tires, bigger spoiler, HIDs and fog lights.

2. The only "better suspension" or aftermarket suspension out there now is the TRD Sportivo Shocks and Springs. Those will run you around $1000 plus installation (which I believe requires a new wheel alignment too). And some people don't like them because they lower the car too much and/or they're too stiff for their tastes.

3. For me, I'm not looking for a sports sedan or car per se. I just want the Prius to be an above average handling car. The Touring Edition is. The Standard Prius is not.

4. BTW, if you want to covert to the Touring's suspension only (not the wheels, tires, spoiler, lights), it will cost you around $400 in parts, plus installation (which I believe requires a new wheel alignment too).

 

You could also try Liberty Toyota in Burlington, NJ. NJ is a CAFE state so the warranty is longer here.

 

We got ours in Morristown, New Jersey, and they didn't seem to have difficulty getting it.

 

Touring in Midwest

I got a Touring #6 Spectra Blue in Milwaukee on Tuesday. They had a Pine Mica and Charcoal in Madison. They are not hard to find in the Midwest. You can check each dealers inventory online and contact them online. I had my price worked out before I saw the car online.

The car is like a fun hobby. Full of surprises you discover every day. I need mats because the weather is horrible here and my carpet mats are already dirty. All the mats I see do not mention being for 2008. Is there a difference from 2007? I have tried to read the mat threads but haven't gotten the info I want. Does the ledge on the Exteme Weather Tech mats both anyone who has them? Are the Weather Tech's better? How about size and kind of cargo mat? I want gray for all.

I am getting Venture Shield and tinted windows next week. I am considering side moldings and the stiffening plate. Does the touring need the plate as much as a regular Prius?

This is a great place to learn. When I asked questions in both Madison and Milwaukee dealerships the salesmen said I was most informed person they had met. I learned everything right here! Thanks all for sharing your knowledge.

A couple of guys sent local Madison/Chicago messages but I can't find them to respond. They didn't go into my regular mail spot. Any advice?