Hi all, I am still in the market for my next Prius. Here's the car I really want: Gen III with Solar Roof Package $24599 + all fees - 750 incentive = $25758 and I'm driving home in my new car. That seems like a really good deal to me. Please someone tell me it is.
You already answered it My best advice is do research, get what "you" think is best deal, and be happy.
Buy that car. Though you might consider talking them down more... you know sound real doubtful about the future value of the Prius and Toyota going bankrupt, etc.
You guys are wonderful. :rockon: I think just by being a community of people who love this car and are willing to share and learn from each other, you provide something so that is valuable to all of us newbies. I have done my research and everywhere I look the numbers are higher, so I'm feeling pretty good (I think). But this is my first new car and I don't want to do it wrong. This beats USAA, AAA, and edmunds invoice price by a longshot and I haven't found a better deal anywhere near me. So, I think I'm gonna make the jump. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and helping me to feel good about this decision.
+1 That is about what I also paid last year for my III with Nav without the Solar Roof during C4C, which was sticker price at the time. Sounds like a good deal to me. Buy your car and begin enjoying it.
So I went to buy my great deal Prius today and the paperwork was for $750 more than I was quoted yesterday. Of course yesterday's quote was scribbled out on a scrap paper and holds no commitment so means nothing. Apparently, the girl who gave me the quote yesterday didn't realize that the incentive was already added into the price, and gave me the extra $750. They just basically said "too bad" and didn't offer a compromise or anything. I am so aggravated and am really just fed up with this car buying process. How do you all do this??? UGH!!!!!
1. Next time get a more formal quote. 2. Invoice is $26501. AAA price around here is $25901. 3. If your homework was done BEFORE going to the dealer you would have realized the offered price was too low and accepted the office. The dealer would have caught the mistake when writing up the sale & you'd be in the same position you are now. 4. If this is the lowest price you can find TODAY then take it. Maybe it will be lower tomorrow. Maybe not. Maybe "your" car will still be there. Maybe not. Know what you want & what you are willing to pay for it then buy it when the situation arises.
You're right. If I'd done my homework beforehand, I would have known. Unfortunately, my intention had been to buy a used Prius and so I had been researching those. I was drawn in to check out the new car by the salesman. So, though it seemed like a good deal, I certainly was compelled to do my research prior to signing the bottom line. And as you suggest, once I had explored the numbers, I wondered how they could sell it for that low price. Te salesperson had said something to the effect of these had been on the lot and they were trying to get them sold, so I naively figured I was just getting really lucky. So, now I'm doing just as you suggest, doing my research, and determining exactly what I want and how much I am willing to pay. Thanks for your input.
It is a neat trick trying to figure out if it was "an honest mistake" versus a deceptive trick to get you into the showroom. You'll drive yourself crazy trying to figure out which is the truth....I'd recommend you don't bother trying to figure it out. My recommendation is to review your original plan and decide if you want to go the used prius route or to go with a new car. Let this incident go (like water under the bridge). You'll be happier for it.
In your case, start over. Above all don't borrow money to buy a new car. Save up until you can pay cash. That alone will save you thousands. Then: Shop by email, phone, and fax. Collect bids on the car you want from as many dealers as you care to ask. Go with the lowest price, or ask the dealer you like best to meet that price. *Get it in writing.* Be prepared to wait for delivery. When you pick it up, while they "finish the paperwork" and the closer comes in to sell you the extended warranty, the detailing, the pinstriping, the prepaid maintenance, and a buncha other crap, smile and say no until they go away. If they screw with you, walk. Lots of places sell cars. Remember that you have the money and they want it. They need to make a reasonable profit but beyond that you control the transaction. It is easier to remember this when you pay cash.
Fortunately, I am paying cash whether I buy new or used. I'm trying the car buying from the comfort of my home route now, collecting quotes, comparing... Here's a question. When you get a quote from a dealership, about how long is that valid?
Depends on the dealer, for some, it was never valid (translation: outright lies/deception to get the person down to the showroom and then "catch" the mistake). Ask them for a written quote and ask them to put in the quote how long it is good for. At least if you have it in writing, they will be somewhat obliged to honor it. The length of the quote is negotiable (pretty much everything is). Could be 24 hours, could be 72 hours, could be a week. It is a dynamic industry, with cars coming and going, news (both positive and negative) that impacts the sales rates of their product. For the quotes I was getting (just this week), most didn't have a negotiated expiration date (because I was only on a fact finding mission), but each of them wanted to remind me that the $750 rebate was ending on 05 April 2010, so it was implied the quote was only good until then. I ended up agreeing to a price last night. I'm waiting for my money situation to resolve itself (which should happen by Wednesday) so I can complete the deal. I've got a deposit on my "soon to be found" car (they have to do a dealer trade, so no sure thing, but likely to happen) and I hope to get it this week. I got quotes (in emails) that I was able to forward along, so that other dealers could compete with them. PM me if you want more gory details.
