Howdy, Well, as of last week I'm now on my local dealer's waiting list. I should be taking delivery of my Prius (which will be, optimistically, an '06, or pessimistically, an '07) in a year or so. It's interesting to hear how people have tried to talk me out of buying a Prius. The major argument goes like this: "You'll have to put on 40,000 miles a year to save enough gas to make up for the cost of the car." Or, "You could buy a Corolla — that gets high mileage, too!" My responses: I'm not investing in the car strictly for economic reasons. I'm doing it because: 1) I drove my cousin's Prius and loved it. 2) I'm deeply freaked out about climate change and want to do yet another thing in my personal life to address it. 3) Other cars get good mileage, too, but they don't have the "ultra clean emissions levels" that the Prius does. 4) I am a somewhat "public figure" and I do want to make a "statement." 5) I think it's important to send Toyota the message that this is a much desired product. Finally, thought you might be interested to my dealer's monthly Prius stats. The dealership (a big one) has a waiting list of about 125 customers at any given time. They typically get around 30 new Priuses in each month. His attrition rate (that is to say, the folks who drop off the list because they tire of waiting or cave in and buy a Civic Hybrid) is about 30%. Bye for now!
You'll be glad that you did. I suspect that you could obtain a Prius sooner if you expanded your search to other dealerships, but perhaps things are a tad different in Texas. Your reasons for taking the plunge are very sound, and as such I salute you.
Pretty fly, for a rebbi. My reasons for purchase were very similar to yours, and since I've owned the car, I've been amazed at what a "Prius Evangelist" I've become--seems like I'm constantly answering questions about it and generating interest from others. And just the other day, I overheard my 10-year old nephew talking to another kid about the Hummer H2. He said, "It's stupid to buy a Hummer, because they use too much fuel and if you get in an accident with someone, you could hurt them real bad." It's nice to see that more than just the fart jokes I make are wearing off on him.
Yesterday my wife took her driving test in our Prius. Very easy test - 3 point turn, parallel park, over in 10 minutes. The examiner was much more interested in the car. Also, I am in a 3 person car pool. When I got the Pruis, one famously laconic car pooler said "it only has 75 horespower". The next week he showed up in a new Blue Prius, with no comment.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PaPrius\";p=\"110753)</div> Thanks for the comment about my reasons. I've given this a lot of thought. As for getting the car quicker elsewhere, you may be right. I'm going with this dealer because the salesman is a friend of mine and I want him to get the sale. Also, budget-wise, it makes sense for me to wait a year, anyway, so the timing should be about right.
The other day, this guy is complaining how expensive it is for him to drive his car to work going from Springfield, MA to Boston, MA. I said why don't you get a hybrid, and he says "Ohh NO, it's because of those Priuses gasoline prices are going up". I was like "what the f***" I didn't feel like arguing, just said to myself, another one brainwashed! maybe it's bad that I didn't say anything to him, forgive me, but I just wasn't in a mood.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rebbi\";p=\"110747)</div> CONGRATS rebbi... you'll laugh at your friends when you get your Prius.. it IS Worth the Wait! Bob Andersen
Rebbi Can't believe the wait in Austin...You want one tomorrow??? Come to Port Arthur, it is about 5 - 6 hrs from you. This dealer here has 2 right now, a pearl gray with tan leather+smartkey+cd changer.. $27,005 and a tideland blue with PCK2 -smartkey and a Toyota Luxury Pckge $23,405 both have been on this lot for about 2 weeks , and no takers...if you want help for those call me, it is in my profile. Heck I'll come get you at the airport and you can drive it home.
Yes correct, I don't have the color names quite right, one is the Tideland Pearl (Gray) has the leather and the sks and 6 cd unit.,and the port options too, the other the cheaper one is the Tideland Blue., it has smartkey and the Port options, mats etc..
Very kind offer, but budgetarily, the year's wait actually works for me. Plus, the salesman's a friend of mine and I want to give him the sale. But again, the offer's very kind. Thanks! But the real question is why Priuses are sitting on the lot in Port Arthur, while they're rare as hen's teeth here! (My friend told me he can't even keep a USED Prius on the lot more than a couple of days!)
Tideland Pearl (Gun metal gray, often looking pale green) Seaside Pearl (Blue) Then there's: Driftwood Pearl (bronze) Salsa Red Pearl (Often known as simply Salsa Red) Millenium Silver Metalic (self explanitory) Black Super White