Reasonable Price for C3?

Got our C3 for $21,000 OTD. Alloy wheels, carpet mats, 3M window tint. Toyota of Fayetteville.

 

Hi Chris, does it come with Navi? how did you get such a deal? Could you teach me some in detail?
Thank you from W Texas

 

Yes, it came with Navi. The dealership here is a high-volume dealership, and they move a lot of units each month which tends to make it easier to get a good price. In short, they want to move units rather than milk every dime out of each and every car.

Additionally, we bought a 2012 at year end, and Toyota does their Toyotathon pricing at the end of the year. The MSRP on the one we bought was $23,800. If we had been trying for a '13 we wouldn't have gotten it for $21k.

As far as research goes, I always print out the report from NADA.com and from Edmunds.com
Both sites will help you find out what the invoice price on the car is, which is important. Even if a dealer sells you a car at invoice, they're still getting a $300-$500 holdback from the factory on each unit sold. The beauty of Edmunds.com is that it gives you TMV (true market value) pricing. It uses your zip code and essentially gives you a rolling average of what the car has been selling for in your area. In our case, we got the car for $980 under TMV, but again, it was year end on a '12.

I try to go into it as educated on the value of the car as possible and I take my research into the dealership with me so that I've always got my numbers at the ready. I've never, ever paid MSRP for any car, ever. I always try to get it for invoice price or better. So far, so good.

 

Thank you, Chris!! I do really appreciate your detailed reply. In fact, I've never succeeded in buying cars at great price. Your explanation really helps. I knew the end of year is a great time not only for Toyota but for other makers. Now, it's January. I've been searching their inventory on their web a lots within in 150 miles range. The cities near my small town (lubbock tx) are all quite small. None of them would be a volume seller. Do you think should I wait until the end of the January to contact them and negotiate? Big city is too far from here (5 hours driving to Dallas). I feel worried because I don't want to get ripped off again.

 

Since $21K includes everything, that is a very amazing price. Like you said, I looked upon edmunds. It says TMV is $21,333 in my area. Plus, any dealers would say that the invoice price from the site is not right (inapplicable) because the car is equipped with such such goodies.. In your case, alloy wheels, tint and such...

 

There are more '12 models to choose from now than there will be by the end of January. If you're wanting a '13 it's irrelevant whether or not you negotiate now or at the end of the month. If it was me, I'd call a volume dealer in Dallas and see what kind of deal I could work out and then play that deal against a local dealer and see if they'd match it. Just do your research and make up your mind how much you're willing to pay-- and stick to it. That being said, I have friends who have driven to Dallas to buy a car. It's five hours from here, too. That's just a day trip if you've worked out the deal in advance. Take a buddy along to help drive and go for it.

Knowledge is power, especially with car deals. You don't have to take a deal you don't like.

 

You can add the alloys wheels as an option on Edmunds.com and it will update the TMV accordingly.

Another place you can go is Consumerreports.org... You can pay $15 for a detailed report on any car you want to buy, and they'll give you the invoice price of the car along with the invoice price of every single option available. It'll tell you what you should expect to pay for the car and gives you a great starting point for negotiations. CR's car reviews may be off, from time to time, but the purchase report is worth it's weight in gold.

 

I like to get 12 instead of 13 if I can get a better deal. In fact, I do see a lot of the standard PRIUS than Prius C in this area West TX. Yes, there are quite a few 2012 regular PRIUS. So I'm thinking negotiating the standard PRIUS would be smarter idea? I don't know....just a lot of thinking ...nothing productive!

 

It's worth a shot. I know the dealership here is buried with '12 lift backs. So, you'd probably have plenty to choose from in TX.

 

it'a about FROM 5 to 1 TO 10 to 1 ratio. I will try the liftback first! Thanks Chris!

 

Knowledge is your main power, as stated above. Decide which model you want first. Then study it. I never go car shopping until I know exactly which car, and options, I am going to purchase. I chose the C model 2 because I found they were the most prevalent on the lot of the C models. I bought my own aftermarket wheels and did the tint at local shop. Heated leather seats were installed by a local detail shop. I saved money over the model 3 and got only the options I wanted. Fog lights are next and I am done. What about Amarillo? Maybe they have no large Toyota dealers. Best wishes on your purchase. I wont say good luck because you dont need luck, just knowledge.
Dan

 

I'm one of the newest member in the block but I am already familiar with the distinctive signature "Dan". Thank you for your comments and encouragement. Although I would love to go to dealers and take test drive and everything, my situation doesn't allow me to do that. Just that time of life with an infant and a toddler.

I've heard many good things about C, but at the same time I also think the liftback might be a good choice as well. Since my kids will grow and I like to keep the PRIUS (don't know which) for a long time, a bigger footprint might be more suitable for my family's need. The thing that makes me hesitant is the fact that C is not a very small car. The truck space is decent and leg rooms are alright as well, right? Some people on web say C is more enjoyable to drive as well as more like a regular vehicle, not a hybrid. The seats of C are better than the regular. Somebody said it's quieter (?) on flat terrain. Not sure if those are true. So C is cheaper and in many aspects is equivalent or even better, there is no reason not to purchase C. You see where my confusion comes from...

I would appreciate your comparison analysis between C and the standard with regard to my needs OR if you give me some advises on my purchase, that would be great. If you can't, that's fine too because I already feel thankful to you.

PS: My current plan is to contact dealers in W Texas area (maybe a few including Amarillo) around from 20th of January to see which model (C vs. Regular) they are willing to give me better deals specially on 2012 models. I have no idea how effective my strategy would be... BTW, I believe in every single word of yours "K is P"

 

Brytface, it should not matter but are you male or female? Some sales folks may not "deal" with a girl like they might a boy. Just a fact of life at this time. Main thing is do all of the homework that you can before going to the dealer. If you are emailing dealers they don't know if you are male or female and do not know what you already know about the vehicle, unless you tell them. I learned in about 1990 that I could be in control of my new vehicle buying .Remember it well.
There are many folks on this forum more enlightened on the Prius than I am. We love the C. It has a lift up hatch back door. That was a must for us. The V also has this feature. Not sure about the other models. We have 16 grandchildren. Have been known to have 3 at a time in the back seat. Not a problem for local runs. 2 good sized kids can ride in back seats with no problems. The area behind the rear seat is not large. If you purchase the 2 or above model the rear seat folds down, one or both seats. We like that and keep both folded for lots of hauling space. The car drives and handles well, in my opinion. This is not a sports car but does a good job, for me, on the road. It has the child seat hooks in the rear seats. We use them often. Also it has child rear locks that we always use, even with older kids. They don't like it that grandpa has to open their door but that is just how it is. The child locks are hidden so they don't know how I do that.
Just a nice little car that saves us a ton in fuel costs.
Dan

 

Dear Dan,

Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. I'm a male in late 30's, college instructor working on my phd. Since I came to US more than a decade ago, I have done everything by myself...actually no one around me who guides me this and that...I had to learn (every single) thing only by trial and error so your comments really help. In fact, wife would drive C on high way for a long daily commute if we had one. How do you think of the ride quality and feeling of safety or security? I used to own civic 2006. It was alright for high way driving, but excessive road noise really bothered me. Civic's seat supported my back pretty ok although it wore out quickly. Fortunately, we have a flat plain all the way around in W TX Your assessment on that issue would be appreciated!

 

Brytface, I can only give you my opinion on the ride. Lets say I got used to it not being a more comfort built vehicle. One thing we did was have heated, padded, leather seat covers installed. That made a big difference in how I felt. I like the position that the driver's seat will put me in while traveling. There is more space behind the back seats than I had earlier thought. I went out and looked at it after my previous post. I believe it to be a safe as any car of its size. Airbags are everywhere. I am good with the ride. We took it on a 1700 mile trip right after we bought it. That let me get used to everything. I find myself looking at the car everyday from my living room window, liking the looks of it more and more. The aftermarket aluminum wheels helped my thinking a lot. I just can't do hubcaps. Again, notice the "I" statements here. Many others know more than me about this car. I like the car. My wife loves the car. Wind noise, it has some, but does not bother me. What really makes me smile is when I do have to stop for fuel.
If you could only get away for a test ride you would be able to have some kind of feel for this vehicle. The front seats slide way back, in case you are tall.
You are on the right track, looking at this vehicle. I doubt I would have purchased this car if not for this forum and the folks that give honest information about the C.
Dan

 

Price depends on the day of the week. ost dealers sell most of their cars on the weekends. They don't want to sell a car for dirt-cheap on a Friday when they know they might sell it for more on a Saturday. But after 6:00pm on Sunday the prices go down. Expect better prices earlier in the week.

Also do on-line searches and don't expect the best quotes to come back right away. What you find is if you wait a week you might find a dealer who finally has decided he needs to sell the car. In fact the first quotes that come back in hours are always high. Then after the sales guy is not busy and has time to work in the office he ail send back your quote. he is the guy likely to offer the lower price. Wait for him to not be busy. The on-line sites are where the deals are but you have to wait or week or two.

 

I own a "C". The car has a tight suspension and almost "sports car" like, you can take a corner way-to-fast and the car does not lean over. I happen to like it that way but if you are looking for a luxury car type ride the C is not it. The standard hatchback Prius is much better in that way. Even better is the hybrid Camry. If "ride" is what you want take the Camry Hybrid out for a test drive. The "C" cost far less and gets better gas mileage. One other thing about the Prius C is that I expect it will last at least 200,000 miles and have low maintenance costs.

 

CAlbertson, thank you for your comments. My preference is toward firm side. My question was on how stable and quiet driving dynamics C has....Some reviewer mentioned C has better ride quality than Honda Fit or any others in the sub-compact segment.

 

I think the ride is a personal preference. I come from hot rod cars with air shocks, and pick up trucks riding on air bags. I am happy with the ride of the C. It is fairly short so it wont ride like a big car. This thing may be in the subcompact category, I don't know, but you will be impressed with the room up front. You can not see the end of car while driving so you wont know if it is short or long car, except for the stiffer ride. I rode in a Smart Car. Once you are in and rolling you just cant tell but what you are in a larger car. I am impressed with how they stuff all of the stuff under the hood. Overall this is a well engineered hybrid. A growing family may want to look at the V. My neighbor just bought one and they love it. I dont care for it but it is not my car. They may not like my car.
I paid cash for this car but I really did not get any better deal than if I had financed it, other than no interest on a loan. They get their money anyway so the dealer does not care, unless they can get you into their financing so they get their kickback. I think a person should shop for financing and have it already taken care of before going into buy the car. If they can beat your interest, let them finance it. Interest rates can be "dickered" with. I know, I used to do it.
Do your best to drive a C, at least the level 2, before making the deal.
Dan
only thing I do not like about this car is no automatic headlights

 

I bought the car at the end of the month and learned that the salesman and his manager needed one more sale for the month for their bonus. I suspect he discounted part of his profit to get a larger bonus. Lots of negotiating revealed that he was near his monthly bonus quota.