How Much For a C2?

The quick summary: I used TrueCar.com to obtain a discount from MSRP on a 2013 C3 of better than $1100.

For those that like gory details, I'll lay out gory details:

I don't have the temperament for haggling. But I don't want to be a sucker either. I'll be happy to pay the average price, but I don't want to pay more.

Perusing this and other threads, I saw that the Prius C can be had below the standard MSRP + delivery charge. But how could I do it? As a non-haggler, I figured I should look for an Internet price, which I'd then hold the dealer to. Any funny business and I'd go home. That gives me a clear target and a solid basis to decide whether to pull the trigger.

The TrueCar site has been mentioned elsewhere in these threads. It sounded interesting.

http://www.truecar.com/

I tried it. I asked for a Prius C "Three". It said it could point me to three local deals. (I'm in Southern California, so there are a number of dealers in the region.) One offered a discount of about $1400 from MSRP, another of about $1100, and another much smaller discount. If I'd give my name and phone number and address, it would identify the dealers and print out a certificate, which they would honor.

I don't casually give out my name and address and phone, but I checked web references and found TrueCar to be legit. It has its fans and detractors, but it clearly had potential.

I filled in the web form and got the certificates. As I was printing them out, the phone was ringing. Calls from all 3 dealers. I was okay with that; my conversation was simple: You'll sell me this car at this price?

The answer to the question in all cases was yes, but with a small qualification: I had specified a particular color, but the car in the dealer's inventory had a random color. So this led to a choice on my part -- did I want to take the car they had at this price? -- and, if not, a question to the dealer: Can you get a car of the color I want, and if so, at what price?

The dealer with the $1400 discount was a "take it as it is if you want it" situation. Fair enough. I decided to check out the rest.

I told the dealer with the smallest discount about the $1400 discount. He was clearly flexible, but he didn't have the color I wanted either. He said he'd check around, maybe get back to me. So we left it at that.

The dealer with the $1100 discount also had a different color in stock from what I wanted. But he seemed readier to dig up the color I wanted from some other dealer's inventory. He indicated he could probably get it, and he asked if I was ready to buy at that price if he could. It sounded like he was ready and willing to make it happen, so I visited the shop. I took a test drive, and he went to check out the inventory networks. He couldn't find a target car while I was there, but told me he'd call me the next day. He called back having found the car at another dealer; asked if I was ready to buy. I asked for the out-the-door price, just to make sure there were no jokers in the deck. He gave it to me straight: The TrueCar price, plus sales tax, plus about $300 in registration fees. It sounded right, so I told him to go ahead. He told me to come down, and he sent someone off to get the car. Once these dealers start to operate, they're anxious to close the deal. Since I thought it was a fair deal, I was okay with that. They got the car, the paperwork was as promised, we closed the sale. Wow, I bought a car.

They recommended a warranty extension, and I took the literature for it; will consider that at leisure. I think you have six months to decide. They warned me the price might go up if I wanted to sign on later, but it was an expensive package, and I was doubtful that I wanted it. By the way, this was an official Toyota extension they were selling, not a third party.

In summary, TrueCar gave me the benefits of haggling without the haggling. So I'd say it's good for some of us. It was good for me, anyway.

Timeline: I submitted TrueCar on Monday. I visited the most likely dealer on Wednesday (would have been Tuesday, but I was busy). He got the car on Thursday (he would have done it on Wednesday, but they couldn't locate it immediately), and we closed the deal. If you go the TrueCar route, first check the prices (you can do that anonymously); then fill in your contact information if you're ready to try to make those prices an immediate reality. Based on my experiences, things will move quickly, and you've got a fair shot at making it real.

I haven't identified the dealer or salespeople just to keep this story generic. Would be willing to post them if anyone wants to know. As you see, my sense was that everyone I talked to was reasonable and helpful.

By the way, I'm hearing reports of more serious discounts on remaining 2012 inventory in some parts of the country.

 

That's a great deal for a 3.

 

I leased my 2013 Prius C "two". Thirty-five payments @ $237.72. Amount due at lease signing: $2828.47. Residual value: $13,420. Initial vehicle valuation: $18,944. Seemed like a reasonable deal at the time. Hamer Toyota, Mission Hills. Only had to walk out twice.

 

I paid $18.5k with a college rebate on a 2012 C2 a couple of months ago. That price includes additional "fees" but not sales tax. Also traded a car in which alters the numbers further. It seemed like a good deal at the time.

 

Didn't qualify for the current rebates (recent college graduate or military member). That said, I managed to play multiple dealers against each other and came away with a C2 for $17,670 ($19200 delivered) in Maryland. It has the floor mats (didn't know this was supposed to cost extra).

My technique consisted of checking cars*com for the lowest 5 dealers rates within 100 miles, e-mailing each separately to get a quote, then passing the lowest back amonst each. I then got a quote on my trade-in from carmax and used that when they tried to low ball my trade-in value.

 

I got a White 2013 C2 on lease, I put $3,300 down and my monthly payment is $180 for 36 months.

 

Assuming that's a lease?

 

Wow, some of you make me wish I could replay my cards again...QQ

Got my 2013 white c2 for $22k OTD price minus $500 military and another $500 dealer rebate and it was $21k all together...only other great thing was it was from the toyota dealer in town, so was just a short few minutes drive there and back, although I did spend almost a whole afternoon going back and forth with the dealer on knocking down the sticker price from $21k to $19,9xx.,

 

and I guess I did get the color I wanted =D

 

that's what the word "lease" means, yes. (sorry I couldn't resist)

 

Deserved. Read right over it.