preorder Prius C? how? when?

If I weren't 6'5" ... I'd be all over it.
Especially since (like the v) it lacks the fly-bridge:



.

 

generally, statistics in the auto industry show that first adopters buy higher end models, these are people that like new stuff and are prepared to pay more for them... as year or two or three pases, product mix goes towards lower end models, as the buyers change and now you have savvy shoppers, shopping for the best deal.

so thats why first production is always geared towards higher end models.

 

I believe the 120,000 on order in Japan has something to do with it. We should be happy to see one in 3 months!

 

I have always thought that two heads were better than one.
I'm not that far from you.

 

Odd that you wouldn't ask me why one each gets allocated per dealership

 

This past Tuesday (Feb. 14th), I put down a $300 deposit for a Prius c Four at a dealer. Yesterday, I also received a call confirming that one was located, and that I will be able to take delivery on it during the first week in March. The official launch date (per an email the dealer gave me) is March 12, 2012... I am beyond excited to get my hands on one, considering how back-ordered they are in Japan-- let alone get one exactly as I had hoped (color and all). I couldn't take delivery soon enough!

My advice is to do what I did. Research your area's top volume dealers and have them check their allocation. Many may be receiving only one as a dealer promo, but they may be able to order or swap one if you're willing to put down a small deposit.

 

Selling in Honolulu since 02/17. I should have bought one but I hesitated and when I went back a few hours later - the colors I would have bought were gone. The Summer Rain was gone when I first got there in the morning. A few hours later of the 5-6 available II's in the morning - only two were left. They also had several I's. Ordered the color I want - $500 deposit but I wish I had made up my mind in the morning. I could be driving one right now.

 

Similar process was explained to me, and it does make sense if you realize that when a dealer sells one from their allocation, they've already proven their "live" market to Toyota. That allows them to order another to replace it. It's also been explained to me that the geographical area of each dealership determines which levels would be initially received (I, II, III or IV).

So, if you want a higher model with more options, target your search in an area known as somewhat pricier. For hot cars like the "c", just remember that if you want one sooner, rather than waiting for the demand to go down, you should also expect to pay sticker price (instead of working from invoice pricing up).

The window sticker data I received on my order does not have actual prices yet, but you can figure it out from data online (for levels), and then add prices for included options as well (which should be very close to the same options on different models through the "Build Your Toyota" links). MSRP for each trim is already final, so that should help. March 12th is the official launch date per an email direct from Toyota.

 

From what I understand, the incredible back-order in Japan for the "c" is what is behind most dealerships receiving only one. For example, here in New England, there are 72 Toyota dealers. There are only 68 being delivered for the initial launch. That means that not every dealership will be receiving even one. And it was also explained to me that a dealership CAN mark a car to not be available for sale if they decide to use it for demo purposes only (but the code would be tagged in their computer system, so most salesmen should be able to identify that as the case if it were).

My best guess is that if there were not such a high demand already for these models (and since the plant in Japan can only produce a max of 30,000 cars per month-- including other brands also produced within that factory), then dealers might otherwise be receiving more than just the one on average. But, as was noted in another thread, once any single dealer sells their first, it opens them up to ordering another to replace it.

It does seem ridiculous to think that they would send only one initially, but I think it's because they, unfortunately, did not anticipate the demand being nearly as high as it obviously is... Which makes ME wonder why they don't convert a factory somewhere else to help. I'm sure it's not that simple, and I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering... But it does still make me scratch my head a bit.

 

Guys, dealerships receiving just 1 has nothing to do with the Japanese demand. They get different cars than we do anyway.

Each store gets 1 car. Everyone is allocated 1. That's the first time. For us, that was early Feb. Next allocation, early this week, I got 12 more, for a total of 13 coming. Once the cars start being shipped to dealerships, in middle March in CA, my pipeline should be filled with about 30 total I think, because I will have 2 more allocations of cars by the time they start emptying the pipeline to the stores.

By the way, allocations and c's eared are based on PRIUS and hybrid sales. That's who will have lots of cars - stores like mine (who sells a TON of Prius and v wagons and Camry hybrids and Highlander hybrids) ... not just a large volume store, because of their large volume is Camrys or trucks, they won't earn too many c's!

One poster said: you sell one, you get one ... and that's not at all true. It's balanced by how long the car's in stock, how fast you sell what you have, what your daily supply is - it's a complicated calculation, frankly. If things go well together in my office, ie the chem lab, and certain things sell as fast as possible with a large allocation, I can get as many as 3x what I just sold. Or, I could get 0 based on what I am sitting on for stock... so it's not as easy as stated.

Dianne

 

My dealership was getting two Prius C's in, one was a trim level III and one was a trim Level II in Silver, which is still available in Central KY for $100 deposit.

 

Berlin (accent on the first syllable) City Toyota in Gorham, New Hampshire is getting 2 c's. One is Black. I didn't ask what levels. I was just over there last Sunday to pick up my wife's new Prius.

I'll see if I can find out more details about their inbound c's.

Anyone out there know if we get Yellow as a color here in the U.S. The picture below is from Toyota Japan (www.toyota.jp) Click on it for larger view...

 

No yellow in USA.

 

That's too bad. Looks like the only color we don't get from those I saw on the toyota.jp site.

Thanks, DW.

 

It's very cute in yellow.
Toyota - that would make a WONDERFUL Special Edition car - like the Release Series in Scion!

 

Agree!

 

The prices they quoted in the video did not include destination charge so expect $700 to $800 added to that price per my dealer.

 

Test drove, signed and finalized the deal on my Prius c Four (red w/ ALL the options) yesterday... Taking delivery tomorrow (Wed. 3/7/12) at 8:00 am!!!