Downpayments on Prius

The dealer I bought mine from isn't even taking any more deposits--just putting people on the list. Last I heard, it was 45 long. I put down $500 when I ordered mine in Dec. $1000.00 is unreasonable.....find another dealer.......

 

Mine isn't taking deposits either.

 

I'd worry more about the length of the list than the size of the downpayment, unless you simply can't swing the $1000. Find another dealer with a shorter list. There's really no such thing as a TWO YEAR waiting list at this point (they'll be shipping 2006 Priuses at that point, and who knows how much production they'll have?), so the dealer is really saying "don't hold your breath, because we can't predict."

But people on this board have found short lists (or even available vehicles) by calling dozens of dealers.

 

Two years??? Screw that. Sounds like they want to take your deposit and hope that you'll forget about it in two years.

 

two years???
I seriously doubt that Toyota will be this short on cars that far into the future unless they are severely restricted by import quotas. If Bush is re-elected i see that as a very strong possibility :-(

My dealer didnt set a deposit price per se. so i just gave him $200. I think that dealer you have may have experienced to many people losing patience with the wait resulting in him asking for the higher deposit. And i dont blame him, if the wait is even 6 months, i would be hesistant also. Plus i seriously doubt his overall enthusiasm for the car

 

first dealer was no deposit, just put me on the list. second dealer is $500 and i gave him a CC# but no transaction was ran on it. just a formality i guess.

-drew

 

No downpayment was required from my dealer, (Kolosso Toyota in Appleton, WI) however I have been a loyal customer of his dealership for over 35 years so they kbow me well. Also my salesman (Bill Kolosso) was one of the owners and not a member of the regular sales staff. He is very knowledgable about the Prius; his wife drives one.

 

dealer required a $500 deposit, waited 40 days. sounds like they want the interest from your 2 grand over 2 yrs!

 

I paid $500 deposit and waited 2 months. Most people are reporting a $500 deposit. A few dealers are holding a check without cashing it, but those are the exception, I think. The two year quote is probably just to cover himself; you probably won't have to wait that long, but the $1,000 is excessive for a car with no delivery date in sight.

 

my dealer asked for a 500 dollar deposit check.
he gave it back when I got my car.

cas #7 Driftwood (ordered 12/24/03 received 4/7/04)

 

no required big deposit here, just minimum $100 refundable reservation fee (though it is considered a deposit to be credited towards car purchase price). waited 3 months (delivered on promised month).

 

When I "ordered" back in Nov. I had to give a $1000.00 deposit and told a three month wait. Two weeks later they change it a year wait! I did get my car from another dealer and had no problem getting back the $1000.00.

 

Neal: I agree with the others who advise you to find another dealer. Two years is ridiculous. Why let him sit on your money and interest for two years on the off chance you'll get a car??
Is the money refundable? Most of us put up 500 bucks, refundable, and I had no problem getting my money back from both of the dealers with whom I was listed. I ended up getting my car at retail from a dealer three hours from my house in Moses Lake, WA. All I did was put 200 bucks down on my credit card with the dealer over the phone; 20 minutes later, I had a faxed copy of the receipt with the VIN number on it. Try multiple dealers and check out small towns in your state; sometimes they have unclaimed cars due to Toyota's strange allocation methodology.
Bob

 

$1000/ 2 years?! That's insane!!!

My dealer called me and said $300 and he's got a car ready for my in 1-2 weeks time! I'll keep you guys updated!

 

When it comes to buying a Prius, you have to first throw every previous car buying experience out the window. This is a unique sitituation. If you really want a Prius, you have to roll up your sleeves and pick up the phone and start calling every dealer that you are willing to drive to. Go to toyota.com and find their dealers list and call. You will have better luck with dealers in the more rural areas. Be flexible if you can with package and color. Ask for the manager otherwise you might get the "new guy" and then you are waisting your time and money. Ask the right questions like " do you have any cars that are on your lot or in transit that are not spoken for." Deposits are always negotiable. I only gave a deposit when I knew I had a car in transit and even then I asked that they not charge my card until it was at the dealership. If a dealer wanted a penny over MSRP I immediately took them off my list.
Happy Hunting!

 

I wrote a check for $500. Got my car in a little over three months, at which time they gave me the un-cashed check back.

 

I left a $500 deposit in November '03 at the one dealer that I ultimately got my car from in March. They said that they would live up to their promise of getting me the exact car that I wanted if I would hang in there and that's how it worked out.

 

***UPDATE***

I talked to my dealer and he said he has one reserved for me and it will be in early next week. He's going to call me at the end of this week to verify when it's coming in. NO DOWN PAYMENT! 1 WEEK WAIT!!! Beat that! WOO HOO!!!

 

Congrats you lucky bastard :cussing: