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Hypothesis on Prius price - need input from all countries!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by CivicQc, Sep 13, 2010.

  1. CivicQc

    CivicQc The world needs more prius

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    I just formulated a hypothesis that I would like to test. For that I would need your help.

    I hypothesize that the price of a Prius in a country depends in some way to the cost of fuel in that country.

    Please tell me, in your country, state or province:
    1- the purchase price of the most basic model of the Prius available to regular customers (e.g. not special versions for car rental companies for instance), without any additional option, as advertized on the Toyota web site. Please state the currency. Also please add all taxes and fees that the customer would have to pay - basically what would be the amount on the invoice. PLEASE do not take account of temporary special offers, rebates, etc., as those offers are temporary.
    2- the price of regular unleaded fuel in your country/state/province (e.g. during the past month). Again, please state currency if different from 1- above. Also state volume unit (e.g. L, US gallon, etc.).

    I will convert all data to canadian dollars and liters and add a graph to this post, that I will progressively populate with data as members post them.

    That will be approximate (I know) but I am eager to see the look of the graph.

    Thanks to all!

    [​IMG]
     
  2. CivicQc

    CivicQc The world needs more prius

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    Country: Canada
    Province: Quebec
    Prius price (basic model, no options) (without taxes or fees): 27800 CAN$
    Prius price (basic model, no options) (including taxes and fees, but not considering rebates or special offers): 33190 CAN$
    Fuel price: 1.01 CAN$ / Liter
     
  3. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    You are wasting your time trying to compare the price of anything in one country, to the price of the same thing in another country. There are too many variables.
     
  4. CivicQc

    CivicQc The world needs more prius

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    That is exactly what my hypothesis is about - trying to evaluate one of those variables. I believe setting a price for a car is a complex equation. I hypothesize that in the case of the Prius, fuel price is one of the (potentially important) terms in that equation.
     
  5. fjpod

    fjpod Member

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    To make it even more complicated, are you differentiating between state sales taxes and say port or import taxes? I would say you should count an import or port tax, but not a sales tax.
     
  6. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    Cheapest Prius: £19,855 (most expensive is £28,370. $30,600 and $43,700 USD respectively)
    Petrol today: 111.9 pence per litre.
     
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  7. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    How about looking at this the other way round? In which countries do hybrids sell well in and why? Trouble is, the US is the biggest consumer for hybrids yet has one of the lowest fuel costs in the world.

    Does this open up more complex reasons as to why hybrids are more popular there?

    Maybe countries where local air pollution is important have hybrids - US, Japan, Sweden, UK etc, whereas other areas that aren't so concerned don't have them?

    p.s. UK - Base Prius £20,000 ($30,800 US) inc sales tax at 17.5%, petrol £1.13p a litre
     
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  8. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    I've lived overseas, worked in dozens of countries, and have been involved in product pricing for many years. The pricing of a product is very complex, and the number of data points you'll get in this thread will be no where near the number needed to be statistically significant.

    And, as pointed out in another post, more hybrids are purchased in the US--in sheer numbers, and, I suspect, as a % of total cars--and gas is very inexpensive here compared to most developed countries.
     
  9. Paul58

    Paul58 Mileage Miser

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    Country: USA
    State: Georgia
    Prius price (basic model, MSRP, no options) (without taxes or fees): 23,585 US$
    Prius price (basic model, MSRP, no options) (including taxes and fees, but not considering rebates or special offers): 25,876 US$
    Fuel price: 2.59 US$ / Gallon

    In reality, this same vehicle can actually be purchased for under Invoice ($22.966) for $19,406. Add tax and fees and out the door is: $21,405! That's here in Atlanta anyway...
     
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  10. lbr

    lbr Junior Member

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    In Holland the cheapest model costs € 21.840,34
    The price of a liter petrol is about € 1.579
     
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  11. wintechsw

    wintechsw Junior Member

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    Australia- Base Model AU$43383
    Fuel: AU$1.20/litre
     
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  12. Tobbe

    Tobbe New Member

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    Prius Base model(cheapest) 276000 SEK (~39000 USD)
    Fuel price 13,50 SEK Per Liter (~7 USD / Gallon )
     
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  13. vday

    vday Member

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    Greetings from Israel
    Basic Price NIS 152,000 (approx USD 40,000)
    Metalic Paint - NIS 2,000 (approx USD 526)
    Annual registration NIS 2,170 (approx USD 571)
    Max Price of Gas NIS 6.50 / liter (approx USD 1.71) you can find stations with up to 5-7% under the max price
    Danny:);)
     
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  14. Craigmri

    Craigmri New Member

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    WOW!!! $40,000!!!.....$526 for METALLIC PAINT!!!!

    Suddenly I feel very fortunate to about the deal I got on my 2010 I close on tomorrow!

    Are all cars that expensive in Israel?

    Craig

     
  15. vday

    vday Member

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    Well everything is relative.
    Actually compared to other cars (non hybrid) it is a great deal.

    Cars In Israel are generally taxed as follows 84% customs + 16 % VAT Together that makes about 213%. Cars then get a reduction of taxes depending how green they are of anywhere from zero to $4,000.

    Hybrids pay only 30% customs instead of the 84%.

    In short most cars cost more the double the US price while the Prius is "only" about 70-80% higher. For example a Corolla goes for about $31-33K. If the Prius was fully taxed it would cost $52-53.
    Yes you are fortunate - on both purchase price and gas price.

    Danny:)
     
  16. davesrose

    davesrose Active Member

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    I'd say the realistic price with taxes is $22,500 for most of the US(kbb is down for some reason, but I think I remember the MSRP around that).

    The real problem is gas prices....they not only fluctuate but are quite different in any given area: even in GA. When I'm driving up 441 to visit family in NC, I find some prices that are equivalent to Atlanta all the way down 10 cents cheaper then Atlanta. Then NC can be anywhere from close to GA prices to 20 cents more (NC generally has higher taxes on gas vs GA). Sometimes the cheapest prices are in Clayton, sometimes they're at a particular BP station that's inbetween Gainsville and Clayton. Heck, even now that I'm living intown....my local gas station (a Chevron) tends to be 10 cents more then the Quicktrip I normally frequent (and now that I have a Prius, I'm averaging about $17 for a refill!).

    I think one has to look at MSRP of all cars in that area vs fuel prices of that area. Diesels are not as popular here in the states because the cars are more expensive (there aren't that many being sold) and diesel gas prices are higher (about 20 cents per gallon more then regular gas). My relatives in Austria have diesel cars, though, because they're the same price as their petrol equivalents as well as diesel gas prices being the same as regular gas.
     
  17. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    Since you're not looking the actual purchase price, you can goto Toyota's website for each country that interests you to get the MSRP. For gas prices, you can search "UK petrol price". Just pick a city and then search for either "gas prices" or petrol prices". You don't really need forum member's input.
     
  18. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Yep. There are WAY too many due to stuff like taxation levels on the car and fuel, currency exchange rates, differences in equipment levels, etc.

    One place where I know ALL cars are INSANELY expensive is Singapore. I know they have a "certificate of entitlement" but don't know the details (nor really care to learn it either). At Toyota -, I see a price of 120,998 Singapore dollars which Google says is $90,526 USD or $93,314 CAD.

    To show this isn't a fluke, for example, http://www.nissan.com.sg/lookfor/370z/370z_price.cfm shows the cheapest Nissan 370Z is 193,800 Singapore dollars == $145,005 USD whereas in the US, the cheapest 370Z starts at $30,410 USD.
     
  19. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    I lived in Amsterdam years ago, and cars had a 50% luxury tax (all car, not just expensive ones) plus 17.5% VAT. Northern European countries were even higher, with some having a 100% luxury tax + VAT. Add to that the cost of gas, and you understand why so many people in the Netherlands ride bikes. Fortunately I had a company car & gas credit card.