1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Efforts (frustration) with attempting to purchase

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Jim Perry, Jan 23, 2016.

  1. Jim Perry

    Jim Perry Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2016
    15
    5
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ/Larsen, WI
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    We winter in AZ, just south of Tucson. I started the process by going through the Costco program. It seems unless the dealer has a car in their inventory (sitting on their lot) all bets are off with this program. My wife and I have been making separate efforts. Here are things that have happened:
    - first dealer made an error that would have been in our favor but they did not have a car we wanted
    - another dealer (Phoenix) is marking the damn car up!
    - another dealer has added on a $895 "Desert Protection Package" thinking we must be morons
    -another dealer would attempt a dealer trade but would charge us have the car shipped on a transporter
    - we want a 4 Touring in Red with Moonshadow seats; there are no cars like we want in the 6 state Denver region, either on the ground or in transit
    - all of them seem to have the Convenience Package that we don't want (but at this point would accept)

    It might make sense to order one but the wait is up to 3 months. I am tempted to tell them all that we will buy a used Prius from a non-dealer until such time as they get real (as in reasonable). I understand this is a new model, but given gas prices, there cannot be the demand that they are inferring.

    And does anyone else think the white center console is ugly?
     
    kc5dlo likes this.
  2. swich2mac

    swich2mac Go Hard or Go Home!

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2009
    319
    38
    0
    Location:
    Franklin, TN
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    It's not ugly.... it's butt ugly!!! ;)
     
    kc5dlo likes this.
  3. guammax

    guammax Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2015
    6
    6
    3
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    [And does anyone else think the white center console is ugly?[/QUOTE]


    It grows on you. Was starkly objectionable the first day, less so the second. Neutral and not an issue now after 4 days. You've really no choice unless you get it tinted at a custom paint shop.
     
    krmcg likes this.
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,527
    8,429
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The fact that dealers don't have these on their lot to offer "Costco pricing", just means there's more demand than supply. You can't force the issue with supply and demand. If there's a 3 month wait time on orders, there's no reason they would want to offer you a car at a discount, they'll just sell it to the next person in line.
     
  5. Bisque

    Bisque Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2010
    40
    27
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Let's not confuse 3 month wait with 3 months of built up demand. The dealers are just now getting their cars. Some have a few some already have over 50. At this early stage the dealers don't know what demand will be. Also I imagine Toyota are allocating their first few months of manufacturing towards satisfying global rollout. It may be that they won't start building custom orders for a couple of months. After that it takes about 20 days to cross the ocean a week at the port etc...

    Obviously, if they don't have what you want there is an imbalance of supply/demand of at least one. On the other side though, given they have cars on the lot, those cars aren't in demand by you. Perhaps more supply than demand as far as others are concerned too.

    The dealers rightfully expect lots of interest, being a brand new model only a week or two old. There's supposedly also a Super Bowl commercial happening this year.

    Go to toyota's home page, click on "find a dealer", enter your zip, click "Search", click on "View More Dealers", then click "View large Map"
    It shows me 43 dealers. You can search new inventory at each of them to see how many cars they have. Again some have 1 or 2, a few had over 50.
     
  6. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    1,391
    543
    0
    Location:
    Santa Monica, Ca. 90405
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    If you can, wait six months. I'm betting there will be a big change in dealer attitude and prices will be realistic, assuming gas prices stay low.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    very true. when new generation cames out, it's hard to get deals, and one is paying more for the privilege of beta testing. totally not worth it, except for the fashion statement part.
     
  8. BigFan

    BigFan Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2009
    156
    66
    3
    Location:
    New Jersey, USA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    It is not so bad after applying the black console applique accessory.

    20160121_Console AppliqueKit_text.jpg
     
    #8 BigFan, Jan 24, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2016
    bisco likes this.
  9. Jim Perry

    Jim Perry Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2016
    15
    5
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ/Larsen, WI
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    How is this applied? Is is a film?
     
  10. fsu23phd

    fsu23phd Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2010
    185
    114
    21
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    There are plenty on the way, they are arriving en mass now. Give them 2 weeks, I bet you will get a call back.

    I actually wanted a volt, but they won't come to nc as a 2016, and I'm impatient. So I just got a 2016 Prius. So I know how you feel.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,708
    39,243
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Looks to clip on. I believe Dianne Whitmore was offering these pieces for around $55, while the official price was around $200. I hope there's a consumer revolt on this, idiotic.

    Maybe pull the white pieces off and plasti-dip??
     
  12. BigFan

    BigFan Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2009
    156
    66
    3
    Location:
    New Jersey, USA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Actually she states HERE that it is $55 for the base model and $199 for cars with "Tech adds". I am not clear on why this pricing difference. Also note she refers to the applique as "FACTORY OPTIONAL", which to me implies it is not a dealer installed accessory. I will check with my dealer to see if they installed the applique. I agree that this looks to snap over the factory white console. If I did not know better, I would have thought the black console was part of the original build (i.e., it does not look after the fact).

    BTW, I just confirmed with my dealer that the Console Applique on my Prius 3 came from the factory (i.e., not dealer installed). As an accessory it can be order/installed by the dealer (or owner). It is currently on sale in the PruisChat marketplace for $299 (so, less expensive if it is factory installed)
     
    #12 BigFan, Jan 24, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2016
  13. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2005
    3,156
    440
    0
    Location:
    Eastern Europe
    You have to be a bit patient to get the discount you want (through Costco), car is just out.
     
  14. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2011
    3,318
    1,104
    0
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Don't feel like the lone ranger on trying to find the right one. I am trying to find a 2016 "3" with the ATP package. The few 2016's here in Houston are not what I am looking for. Have one dealer hounding me now trying to sell me a 2 ECO. I am NOT interested in any car that does not have a spare. This inflate thing is a joke IMO. What is one to do if your tire is shredded, surely that inflate kit is not going to do the job. What does one do then, wait on the side of the road for a wrecker? And then when one finally shows up, how much damage will be done getting the Prius up on the wrecker, hopefully a flat bed and not a hook... Like other's have said above, it might be a good idea to wait a few months until the dealers get saturated, then buy if you really have to have one.

    Just sayin...
     
  15. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,390
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four

    It grows on you. Was starkly objectionable the first day, less so the second. Neutral and not an issue now after 4 days. You've really no choice unless you get it tinted at a custom paint shop.[/QUOTE]
    I was neutral at first, and have come to appreciate it.
     
    fsu23phd likes this.
  16. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,670
    15,664
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Excellent advise as there should be a 'new car bump' until May/June.

    Bob Wilson
     
  17. nategold

    nategold Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2008
    117
    38
    0
    Location:
    Arlington, MA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Herb Chambers Toyota in Boston will do the Costco Buyers thing. They are the only dealer in the area, and we got a great price for 2 cars.
     
  18. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    644
    560
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    It was real easy to buy at Westboro Toyota (Metrowest Boston area)

    They had my 4 Touring with factory black appliqué, wheel locks, white pearl, floor floor matts, and the convenience package listed on line for $1580 below sticker.

    The have a "no haggle" price, and I couldn't get them to throw in a ball cap to close the deal. Went back on Sunday and they wrote up the no-trade cash deal as represented, but asked $395 for a doc fee. I acted upset to see if they would give me that hat, but they would not budge.

    Took delivery last night, no surprises.

    The dealership also gave a written guarantee (as they give all thier customers) to extend Toyota's power train warranted up to 100k miles, and extend Toyota's no-charge maintenence by an additional year.

    This might not have been the best deal, but it was far and away the easiest one I have ever concluded.
     
  19. richiro

    richiro New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2016
    24
    18
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco, CA USA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Yeah.. they're only starting to come in now - so inventory should increase very quickly here (obviously. they want to sell a LOT of these).
    I've never had success with the Costco buying program - most dealerships just have you come in and do the traditional negotiations. If ou don't mind that an are good at that (I have a great trick that works every time, worked for my friends on the first try too - let me know and I'll let you know what that is - but you have to be willing to talk to MANY dealerships, even out of area dealerships, and work it... but step by step trick works).

    I didn't want to work that hard this time so I tried the Consumer Reports "price and purchase program" (through TrueCar) and it worked! You build/price the car at Consumer Reports (they just put up 2016 Prius) and it tells you what a good price is (with a bell curve of what the reported prices in the area are). Then they report to you up to 3 nearby dealerships (by zip code) that are "participating" in this program and their quoted pre-agreed prices. Just select the ones you want to talk to and it sends those participating dealers a request to look at inventory.

    From there each dealership you sent a request to sends back a confirmation on the price agreed upon at TrueCar (some will say 'no' or change it.. most are pretty close). From there you just make an appt and bring the printout with you and that's the price. (For me in NORCAL, the price was about 1000-1500 below msrp). Not perfect, but then again these are revamped and better Priuses and JUST came out - there will be no big-time deals yet for these.

    Trick is to repeat the above cycle with a few zip codes you're willing to travel to and get prices from all around, pick the lowest price from a dealership you are okay working with - and it's done.

    It works great. And you don't have to be a consumer reports member - just find somebody who is who can logon for you to do the build/price --- they don't require proof of membership when yo have the printout with you. :)

    Good luck! It was hard to wait for it here too - BUT OH SO WORTH it!
     
  20. vince22

    vince22 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2011
    205
    249
    0
    Location:
    califorinia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    thanks, great info richiro, just tried this Truecar pre-agreed price, but my costco members price is $900 less than truecar, at least i have second choice now without any hassle from stealerships.