Went to Bernardi Toyota in Framingham, MA today 6/2 to factory order an Absolutely Red 2012 Prius C Model 4 with just the optional carperted floor mats and cargo mat - MSRP in MA is 24,215. Dealer GM informed me that in "this region", I assume he meant "New England", the only model 4 I could factory order is one with $850 sunroof package. Is this true - U.S. regional differences? I walked out after a nearly 2 hour bargaining session because of this.
Looks to be true. When you go to the Toyota site and use the 01701 Framingham zipcode the Prius C/4 defaults to Sunroof or Alloy Package which also has the sun roof. Try configuring on the Toyota.com website using your zipcode.
When I ordered my black C3 with alloy wheels, the RI dealer warned me it might be a long wait. Said he could get me a black 4 with moon roof almost right away. I figured he was just trying to up sell me, but as the weeks went on each time I called, he said the same thing, and once he actually had one on the lot. And it was never just a plain 4, but always with a moon roof. Could be Toyota just made more of them that way, so that's what was floating around. In the end, it took three weeks to find my car and it had to come from Maine. When I first came to the dealer in March, he told me that it was not possible to factory order a C. That they were in short supply, and all the dealers could do was wait to see what came in their allotment, and trade back and forth between themselves to get customers what they requested. I read a lot here in this forum of people saying they were able to place a factory order, so maybe the situation has changed, but I don't know how. The C is just as hard to get now as it was in April when mine was delivered. I think the dealers are just tracking their allotted cars back to earlier in the chain and making deals with other dealers just before the cars leave the factory. That's how they are able to tell you what ship your car is on and when it will dock, and give the illusion that you are factory ordering.
Yes, it is true, in some regions you can only get certain things. You can buy out of region to get what you want if the sunroof is something you're not willing to pay for.
I had to wait about three weeks for a Pc3, black w/o moonroof. I'm guessing most folks either want a moonroof or will cave in and get it if they have to wait.
That is so funny because I had to wait longer for mine because I wanted the moonroof and I had several dealerships tell me that if I would give up the moonroof, I could get my C much quicker!
Just a follow-up, I just put down a deposit on a Model 4 w/sunroof for $23,681 with Prime Toyota in Saco, ME.
