My 06 Came In Today - w/the Wrong Options!

it was Toyota of Olympia's policy to not sell over MSRP...that was in effect when i got mine when the supplies were much smaller and the lines were much longer. might try them, but they have had a waiting list the whole time they've had the gen 3's. maybe that is the result of selling them at MSRP

 

I had never heard of ordering a specific Prius either. You get on the list and wait for the best match to come in to your dealer.

Andy

 

While everybody is right that rcard0 was just "on the list," you can indeed "order your own Prius."

Shortly after putting in my order for an '04, I got a letter from Torrence, CA (Toyota Headquarters in the USA) that specifically said that you could order a Prius with any options package plus extras (noted on the website). The order would be done thru your dealer. Dealers have confirmed for me, albeit somewhat grudgingly, that it can be done, but... and it's a big but!... you'll never know when it will come in.

The order has to make it thru all the "orders" bureaucracy in America and then back to Japan, where the car is built. And back then, and I'm pretty sure now too, the manufacturing plant (plants, now, right?) were going full bore just to make the random Prii they needed to meet each dealer's allotment goals. How would Toyota Japan find time to make YOUR special car?

I was pretty lucky. I wanted my '04 with package #8, and almost NOBODY had allocations of that. It ended up that a Southern Virginia dealer had a #8 come in as a Toyota-Rent-a-Car. Their policy was to deal with a buyer to have them rent the car for the 3 or 4 months and then get the title. Cash changes hands up front. I'm so happy with my "Electronic Geek Options Package" that I'm torn over whether to keep it for another couple years or buy an '06 (and sell the '04 when the next catastrophe drives gas prices to $4/gal!)

Aerich the Rocket Scientist
Washington D.C.

 

Well, I'll tell you guys, my wife has the 05 TL, and it's a rocket. Her lead foot still gets her around 30 mpg on her (mostly highway) commute. It's a great car.
I will hopefully soon trade my F-150 (18mpg) for an 06 Prius Pkg#8. So, sloopg, do like us and be a prius/tl family!

 

I had a similar situation with Daytona Toyota here in Central Florida. I put down a $500 deposit on a 2006 package 6, silver pine mica on October 8th. The sales order specified no dealer installed options, January delivery and that the deposit was fully refundable.

When I showed up there 10 days ago they tried to get me to take a package 3 becasue "They are not allocating package 6 vehicles". They even offered to install as many of the package 6 options that they could to upgrade the vehicle but I really wanted them all. The sales manager promised to have a firm delivery date the next day to me so I could plan to sell my 2002 PT Cruiser.

Needless to say I have not heard a peep from Daytona Toyota so today the wife and I went to DeLand Toyota where we happened to run into the sales manager. Within 5 minutes he had found a Super White Package 6 for me in Jacksonville just off the boat yesterday and it will be here on Friday for MSRP and no dealer installed options (they said it couldn't be done;-).

Moral of the story is if you live in East Central Florida, go to DeLand to by your car.

Regards,
Steve

BTW: they have the new 06 brochures now, pretty sweet!


Before you ask, I wanted the package 6 because I really only drive to work and back so I don't need navigation and I have never liked leather furniture or upholstery, only jackets and gloves. Can't wait to check out the JBL stereo, backup camera and high intesity lights!

 

Out of curiosity, which dealer was it?

 

You sure can - that's what I did. You just have to find a dealer who will do it. I was on lists with 2 who would not, then called a third after getting jerked around. If you can "build to order" on the Toyota website for your zip code, you can order that for your area. Again, you just have to find a dealer who will do it. Call around. I ordered mine in Dec. and got it in Jan.

Sorry to hear of your troubles - hope things work out.