Okay...I am going to ask an utterly naive question...but will there be ANY chance to negotiate with the dealership on price, financing, ANYTHING for a Prius that I have put a deposit on...and which will be delivered in about 6-7 months? (I can hear laughter even as I write this post!!! ) Any suggestions as to how to buy this car for the best price...for me...not them....would be greatly appreciated.
Boy, I wish I could get it in writing re: 6-7 months. As someone who's been reading this group for quite a while, and who looked around in the Seattle area, and have had a broker do so as well, I haven't heard of any way to pay less than MSRP for a new '04 Prius right now. On the other hand, you shouldn't have to pay more. (Though some have, apparently, to entice a dealer to get it Right Now.) Financing's a separate matter, and should be independent of the Prius -- completely up to the dealer. (I can't speak personally on this area -- went through my local credit union.) But I can't see it affecting the bottom line. An alternative: a good bet, if/when Toyota increases production for next year, and opens up a US plant producing Priuses in '05-'06, is that we'll return to a more competitive buyer's market. I'm advising friends who are considering a Prius for sometime in the future to wait. Might not happen until end of 2005, though -- or maybe later, if gas prices continue to skyrocket (and stay there.)
With the Prius, you're pretty much stuck at MSRP until they start sitting on lots somewhere - I don't forsee this happening for another year at least. But, you do have negotiating points on other parts of the sale. The Extended Warranty you should be able to get for $980 or so instead of the usual $1600. If they won't give it to you for that, there's contact info for someone who will somewhere on this board. Also, any accessories you should be able to get at invoice price if you get them at the time of sale. If they won't budge on those either, then get them through someone else on the internet ( www.toyotapartsstore.com ).
For what it's worth, before I picked up mine I directed my salesman to the Pentagon Federal Credit Union https://www.penfed.org/index.asp? who had a rate of 3.49% (and yes, anyone can join). The dealership then managed to get me a 3.22% rate for 5 years. If I hadn't pushed the issue though, they would have tried to get me to finance at 5.9% Also, I had success going through the Costco Autobuying program. Actually got my vehicle for $500 below MSRP.
I made a deal with my Minnesota Dealer for $325.00 off from MSRP. I know it isn't a lot, but it is something that I could use to buy accessories. My is due in June Long & Short of it
