Prius Sales Up Big Time In July

just to reiterate Bob's point. any discussion is only exposing the market position of any product, engineers may design the product, marketing may make some of the decisions as to what the product will contain, but ultimately, we control the bottom line.

if you think for a second that Toyota is the only car company monitoring one of the largest online car sites, you are very very much mistaken.

 

Over 25,000 sold in Japan in July. Old and new models combined, that is.

 

Fixed, you missed the word "GREAT". If the hybrid is a POS, we cannot be hypocritical and wish it sold better. Hopefully they try 10 times better next time.

I like GREAT VEHICLES, hybrid or not.:cheer2: I:amen:I do not support POS, hybrid or not. :laser::rip:

 

Have you checked to see whether you still qualify for C.A.R.S.? I've heard it is possible under certain circumstances.

 

Shift... sorta, probably. Has it been enough? No, not in my book.

By automakers "axing" SUVs, are you saying that they've held off on redesigns? If so, yes, that's happened or in some cases they've just introduced "crossovers" instead, most of which are still classified as "light trucks". But, people are still buying monstrosities such as the ones I list below.

FWIW, per http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MTE5MDl8Q2hpbGRJRD0tMXxUeXBlPTM=&t=1 (link from GM | General Motors: Investors: Sales Deliveries and Production Schedules: Current Release), GM still sold 104K "light trucks" last month vs. only 83K cars. In the last month, they sold 3.2K Suburbans, 4.1K Tahoes, 3.2K Yukons (including XL) and 1.8K Escalades, for example (this is just a subset of their light trucks). Sales on most of these exceed Insight sales.

 

Got my Prius last Friday (July 31) and it was the last one at that dealership. I had gone to two other dealers but came back to them because they had already made a very generous offer for my trade which the others wouldn't match. When I got there, they had just put a sold sign on the Prius II that I wanted but there was a III next to it. When they told me they wouldn't be getting any more in for a few more weeks, and their offer for my trade was only good for a few more days, I decided to get the III. This was Friday night and my sale was probably one of the last of the day. I had to go back yesterday (Monday) to take care of some financial details. Afterwards, I decided to have take a look on the lot and there was not a Prius in sight so I guess they weren't lying to me.

I always have a bit of "buyers remorse" after buying a car...did I get the best price, should I have waited, etc. but I'm very happy with the car and all things considered, I think I got a very fair deal.

I'm not surprised to see the Prius on the top 10 list. Here in the DC area, they're everywhere and seeing so many of them is one thing that got me interested, among other things like Toyota's reputation for quality. I think it's inevitable that more and more buyers will gravitate towards fuel efficient cars, even if gas prices stay relatively low. There will always be some that really need a big truck or SUV but most don't. Day after day, I see most of these huge gas guzzlers with just one occupant. I used to be one of them though my SUV (a Saturn Vue) wasn't a guzzler, the mileage wasn't great either. I even considered the new Chevy Equinox only because it's a similar vehicle to the Vue and it does have impressive mileage for an SUV or Crossover or whatever you want to call it. But the Prius comes standard with features that are options on the Equinox and many other cars. The Equinox would have been more expensive and mileage, while better than the Vue, doesn't come close to the Prius. BTW, the Chevy Equinox for 2010 is a new design and it's pretty impressive.

Finally, when I actually looked at and test drove a Prius for the first time, I was sold. The car has much more room than I thought it would and the cargo space, while not SUV spacious, is very generous and it's not like I'm hauling tons of stuff around every day.

Thanks Toyota for making such an outstanding car!

 

That is amazing considering CARS took effect only the last week July.

 

Hybrids have come a long way and for the Prius to be in the top ten is great.
It just goes to show that if you produce a superior hybrid vehicle, word will get around, and the demand for that product will follow.
Great job Prius team.

 

I think the Prius has now penetrated the public from being not just a fantastic hybrid but a fantastic vehicle. The 50 MPG is just a huge bonus to a solid interior/features/space.

 

I also bought a Prius 2010 package 2 for $22,750 with no sales tax on July 30. Also, used CARS to trade in my Ford Explorer 1995 4WD which was getting about 12 MPG combined.

Actually I liked the Ford Fusion Hybrid much better, but that car was $32K+tax since it wouldn't qualify under WA no sales tax law that just expired.

So for me it was better price and better MPG that sealed the deal.

P.S. My current MPG is 54.4 at around 200 miles, might have been even better, but my prius came with 4 miles on it and a starting MPG of 7 or something ridiculously low like that.

 

I suspect the change in model year cycles for the Prius has skewed the year-to-year numbers. July 2008 was at the end of production for the model yar. July 2009 is about the 3rd month of availability for the 2010 MY. Historically the 2010 wouldn't have been available until September 2009. If the 2010's are built through the same calendar day they will benefit from a longer production year.

 

I'm not certain the "hybrid" qualifier in that sentence is necessary. If the car is a superior product, then it will sell. The Prius IS the superior product in its class.

I think the "50 MPG" mark is more than just a bonus. I think the difference between advertising at 49 vs. 50 is just huge. That number really gets one's attention.

 

You and me both! But I am still banking on Dec thru Feb if not sooner. And if I'm wrong, I doubt I'll be any worse off than now WRT deals. We will see...but it's great to see the new Prius selling so well.

 

I've been wondering about the new Prius owners who come in via CARS. The tax credit buyers came with tales of alternative minimum tax issues and a few late comers who didn't realize it had phased out. The HOV sticker buyers found they had a resale asset but California will be taking that back by making the HOV lanes into a revenue source, an electronic toll road. But I suspect we'll find CARS buyers are crafty folks who were just waiting for the clunker to die (and the kids go to college and the dog to die.)

Although they probably haven't yet had to fill-up, I suspect in 2-3 weeks we'll be hearing their amazement (and relief) at being 'freed from the pump.' I also suspect we'll hear some discussion about the usable space being more than expected. Really, this is all good.

My only fear is that CARS may drive the Prius into 'shortage mode' and return waiting lists and dealer markups. Certainly that was the impression 2005-2008. That experience led me to buying a used, 2003 Prius via Ebay. Regardless, I look forward to meeting the CARS buyers.

That CARS buyers had a running clunker suggests they know how to keep an older car running. Perhaps wishful thinking, I hope we'll also find they are pretty good about keeping records including mileage and maintenance. Mostly, I see them as being great, new Prius owners, who will soon share our admiration of this vehicle.

Bob Wilson

 

bob, keep in mind that Toyota now has essentially double capacity compared to Gen2. So while yes, Prius might be in short supply, there are 2x more Priuses being produced then before, hence such shortages might not be that long lived and they wont be that severe in any case.

Good decision by Toyota to open that new battery factory eh? It was risky decision to make in 2009 and if Prius was not in such high demand, analysts would bag toyota for doing it

 

That's not likely the case. The U.S. and Japan are the best markets for the Prius, due in part to price points.

The Prius is relatively more expensive compared to other vehicles in Canada and the U.K. for instance. In Canada the Camry Hybrid is as popular as the Prius I believe I've heard. In Europe small diesels are much more common and the Prius is actually considered a large car, not necessarily desirable for inner cities.

 

I'm not so sure. Although in general I think people will be happy, in this forum they might be posing their usual newby mileage question.

People see that big EPA number on the sticker, and the first tank comes in low. Maybe they have low tire pressure from the dealer (which the dealer does for softer test rides), maybe some test miles on the car, left the dealership with 7/8ths of a tank instead of a full tank, and for the first fillup they only got in the low 40's mpg and wondering if they got short-changed somehow. It takes a couple fillups before most people (myself included) start seeing their true averages coming in. Then they start practicing Pulse & Glide, upping their tire pressure, and increase their mileage by 5-10% over the next few months. And if they're really committed, the next year it's another 10% and the next year another 10%.

 

Agreed.

 

Bob,

I also bought my first prius (a 2002) off ebay. It was spring 2005 and the local northern va market was crazy. There were a few cars in inventory, but they were msrp. the 2004s were at 19K. I didn't want to pay msrp (i didn't understand but now i do) so i did the sight unseen ebay route, but from a dealer. it all worked out.

If i had bought an 05 new, i probably wouldn't have allowed myself to sell or trade it this year at 75Kmiles for a new 2010 so it worked out. Paid 12.5K for an 02 with 65K miles. Now it has 145K and is worth probably 5K. So for 8K in depreciation and no unusual maintenance i got 48 mpgs over 75K miles and 4.3 years. pretty cheap per mile cost.

so glad i didn't buy the 05!!

 

Great news! I do a little cheer every time I see a 2010 Pri on the road!

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Ive been talking about the 2010 Prius for months at work. I'll tell some how many all-new Prius' I've seen that day.

I took photos of the 2010 to work back in January. How dorky is that?

So, give me a gold star.

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I think it's just beginning for the '10. As people see it and do a 'double-take' ... hmmm, a Prius, but it looks a lot cooler and bolder. They sit in it ... nice seats. Price starting ~ $1,500 less than a 2008 package 2 (remember the pack2 added about $1,800 to the $21.5 MSRP).

Comparing a 2010 Pri II to a base Matrix is very interesting .... $22,750 for the Pri , $19,1xx for the base Matrix. Lot more car the Prius is. The 'hybrid premium' is shrinking!