help me to decide...

VSC works well in rainy weather and slick roads due to being the first rain. (The first rain brings up oil and goop from the pores of the concrete).

Personally, If I were you, I'd get what I want, being badgered for 3 hours is not my idea of a car I want to buy.

If it costs more and you can afford it, have some patience and wait, or look elsewhere.

ZC1

 

+1

If you don't buy what you really want, you won't ever be happy with what you do buy.

 

everybody with any sense wants one at the moment. supply is apparently minimal. I waited 4 weeks for mine. I agree, wait for what you want. Order a 2009 if necessary. Don't be rushed if you are not sure. I saw a back up camera add on at COSTCO for around eighty dollars, probably not as good, but 1600 seems outrageous

good luck!:juggle:

 

VSC helps keep the vehicle stable in high speed avoidance manuevers. It was not designed just for better safety in snow/icey conditions. So I consider it a must have on any new vehicle purchase.

Backup cameras are kind of an odd option for such a small car with decent visibility. I have never once felt I needed it on the Prius. It's a personal choice thing I guess.

ESC (VSC) informational videos:

Toyota VSC info video

#1 (left hand side of page, 2nd category down)

"Numerous studies around the world confirm that ESC is highly effective in helping the driver maintain control of the car and saving lives and reducing the severity of crashes.[3] In the fall of 2004 in the U.S., the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the international studies, releasing results of a field study in the U.S. of ESC effectiveness. NHTSA concluded that ESC reduces crashes by 35%. Additionally, Sport utility vehicles (SUV's) with stability control are involved in 67% fewer accidents than SUVs without the system. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) issued its own study results in 2004 concluding that universal use of ESC could save 7,000 lives a year in the United States. In June 2006, the IIHS released a second study showing that up to 10,000 fatal US crashes could be avoided annually if all vehicles were equipped with ESC[4] The 2006 study concluded that ESC reduces the likelihood of all fatal crashes by 43%, fatal single-vehicle crashes by 56%, and fatal single-vehicle rollovers by 77-80%.
ESC is described as the most important advance in auto safety since the seat belt by many experts[5] including Nicole Nason,[6] Administrator of the NHTSA,[7] Jim Guest and David Champion[8] of Consumers Union[9] Max Mosley of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), E-Safety Aware[10], Csaba Csere, editor of Car and Driver[11], and Bill Kozyra, CEO of Continental Automotive Systems[7].The European New Car Assessment Program (EuroNCAP) "strongly recommends" that people buy cars fitted with stability control.[12]"

 

Where are you located?

Check ALL local dealers and even places you would like to take a vacation.....smaller towns tend to have a few...