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How I bought a Prius Prime Premium in December 2016, while living in Colorado.

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Terry Nyberg, Dec 29, 2016.

  1. Terry Nyberg

    Terry Nyberg Junior Member

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    Sorry for the cross post, but this might be helpful is you live in an area where Primes are not available:

    First the bad news as told by a broker and two Denver Dealerships: Toyota is only consigning a total of 100 Prius Primes for all dealers in the Rocky Mountain sales region (WY, CO, UT, NM, AZ, NV) this model year. On top of that, The Rocky Mountain sales district will only be allotted the Prius Prime Advanced - the most expensive trim-line until a larger roll-out occurs, probably after October 2017.

    My 2nd Gen Prius has 215,000 miles. The video screen is kaput, the real lift gate handle is detached from the gate, the large plastic skid plate protecting the engine is being held together by Gorilla tape, and so on... It was time to get a new car.

    With Trump coming into power, announcing Energy, EPA, FTC (and State Dept) cabinet appointments who will clearly be committed to a fossil fuel future, and the Repub congress being who they are, I was worried that green tax credits for buying a Plug-in EV/HV vehicle is likely to be an early casualty of this administration and congress... SO I wanted to buy a PHV before year's end (2016).

    After being told by local dealers that all Primes would be on an order to build basis only, wth delivery not guaranteed (based upon consignment by Toyota), and most asking for a $2000 - $3000, premium on top of MSRP, the cost to the Prime Advance would run about $38,000 in Denver, which is unaffordable to us.

    I searched for Prime Premiums using Auto Trader and found a number of them, on-lot, in California, Oregon, Washington and Texas. Every dealer I spoke to wanted a Mark-up of @about $2000-$3000 from MSRP except one dealer in Texas, who would sell for MSRP, but required a hefty deposit with no guarantee they would be able to order, receive and deliver that actual trim line/color/options I wanted - with a 6 to 8 week delivery time.

    On a whim, I searched "any distance" from Denver on Auto Trader and found a Prius Prime Premium at a small town dealership in New Hampton NY (Johnston's Toyota) , selling @ MSRP with either a $1000 credit or 09% financing. We contacted them and arranged for the sale of the car by phone and e-mail. I contacted transport companies and got a estimate for $865 to $1200 for haul the car from NY to our driveway.

    In the end, My wife and two daughters have winter break off from work, university, and high school. We were able to get $100 airline tickets from Denver to Laguardia, so we decided it would be fun for the girls and mom to have a road trip/adventure to NYC and then to New Hampton to pick-up the car and drive it back to Castle Rock, CO. The weather was perfect, and they did have an adventure at just a little more than the transportation cost. We decided the 1900 mile wear and tear on the vehicle was worth it.

    Off the Lot Purchase Price, including door edge guards, all weather floor and cargo liners and rear bumper appliqué : $30,188
     
    #1 Terry Nyberg, Dec 29, 2016
    ruby, m.wynn, drash and 6 others like this.
  2. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    In 2012 we had quite a few heading East for PiP's when they were new, and lower cost here.
    Of course CO has the best state rebate for Prime ($5000 right?) so that's a stimulus for those in CO. Needless to say we have a several in CO anxious to get those Primes.
     
    #2 wjtracy, Dec 29, 2016
  3. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    I have been told by both local dealers in Colorado and New Mexico to expect Primes from ~ February. In the end, dealers say what they think customers want to hear and anything that turns out to be true is probably a coincidence.

    There have been Prmies in AZ and NV for a couple of weeks now though, so I'm not worried. Worse case I'll take a trip a bit westward for a purchase.
     
    #3 EV-ish, Dec 29, 2016
  4. Terry Nyberg

    Terry Nyberg Junior Member

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    Yes, but only The "Advanced" trimine. I was told that there would be a 6-8 week delivery window, so that would match up with Prime being "available" in Feb.
     
    #4 Terry Nyberg, Dec 29, 2016
  5. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    I reserved a base prime in my neighboring state of NM and was told to expect Feb delivery. Time will tell and my deposit is refundable if I decide something else in the meantime.
     
    #5 EV-ish, Dec 29, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2016
  6. Will_Prius16

    Will_Prius16 Member

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    #6 Will_Prius16, Dec 29, 2016
  7. bodgm

    bodgm Junior Member

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    I'm in Colorado and have been looking and really need the tax breaks this year not next. Might end up doing the same thing. How much is the State tax break? Thanks! Can I come look at it? I live in Aurora?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #7 bodgm, Dec 29, 2016
  8. Terry Nyberg

    Terry Nyberg Junior Member

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    Here is the tax credit Calculation for plug in vehicles in Colorado:
    STATE OF COLORADO

    1. HB 13-1247 restructured the method for determining electric vehicle tax credits in Colorado, but it also extended these credits through the year 2021. The new formula is very simple for calculating the credit amount you would receive for your electric vehicle, and is as follows:

    (Purchase price or sum of lease payments X battery capacity in kWh) ÷ 100 = State credit amount

    Nissan Leaf Example:

    ($21,300 (base price of Leaf after $7,500 federal credit) X 24kWh) ÷ 100 = $5,112 Credit
     
    #8 Terry Nyberg, Dec 29, 2016
  9. jmarkd7

    jmarkd7 Member

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    I needed the tax credit this year, so I drove from VA to MD. Not as far as you!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #9 jmarkd7, Dec 29, 2016
  10. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    There is about zero chance of concluding an out of state sale in the next 36 hours.

    However, from 1/1/2017 the Colorado dealer can apply the state credit at the time of sale. You would still have to wait a little for the federal credit but no where near a year. Just amend your W-4 from the start of the year. That is faster than waiting for the 2016 tax year return to process ;-)
     
    #10 EV-ish, Dec 29, 2016
  11. bodgm

    bodgm Junior Member

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    Thank you. I called Costco Auto program and they said the nearest place to give pricing on a Prime was in Albuquerque. I'm thinking about it!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #11 bodgm, Dec 29, 2016
  12. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    The window is closing for 2016. Show up at the dealer when they open with a bank check for MSRP and a credit card. Otherwise, SOL!

    Bob Wilson
     
    #12 bwilson4web, Dec 29, 2016
  13. repnatl

    repnatl Junior Member

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    So basically 2017 prius prime aren't readily available till almost 2018? That's piss poor planning from toyota. Bad enough we don't get the prius plus, awd or turbo prius in the states still smh.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #13 repnatl, Dec 31, 2016
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wait, what? turbo prius?:eek:
     
    #14 bisco, Dec 31, 2016
  15. SeaPea

    SeaPea New Member

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    So when you buy out of state, what credits do you get and how does the sales tax work?
    I assume you're still eligible for the federal credit, but what about the $5,000 CO credit?
    Do you wind up paying double sales tax, or just where you purchase it and then the registration tax here in CO?

    Thanks for the post! We really want a Prime and would be willing to fly to pick one up.
     
    #15 SeaPea, Feb 16, 2017
  16. Terry Nyberg

    Terry Nyberg Junior Member

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    I am a resident of Colorado, so I get to claim a tax credit on my Colorado tax return as I purchased a plug in vehicle during the tax year. We got a temp tag for a new car purchase from NY when it was purchased (after all, there is such a thing as interstate compacts and interstate commerce clauses in tax codes) , but paid CO and county sales tax and registered car in CO as a resident of CO.
     
    #16 Terry Nyberg, Feb 17, 2017
  17. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    I recently bought a car from CA and shipped it to Colorado. The CA broker was inexperienced so I cannot say for certain things played out in the simplest manner possible, but he followed what he thought was CA law by shipping me the car without temporary plates. I was unable to obtain temp CO plates prior to receipt of the car locally because of a county ordinance that requires a VIN inspection of the actual car. It was something of a catch-22.

    The police person who performed the VIN inspection on the car once it had arrived was unfazed by finding my car without plates so it seemed like a timely attention to the matter was enough to stay out of trouble. Common sense prevailed ... this time. And the car was not involved in an accident or moving violation while it was errr .... exposed.
     
    #17 EV-ish, Feb 17, 2017
  18. Terry Nyberg

    Terry Nyberg Junior Member

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    Sales tax is calculated based on your county of residence - where the car will be registered - don't let an out of state dealer tell you you must pay their state's sales tax (other than temp vehicle transfer tags) . Since we are residents and file state tax in CO, we qualified for both Federal ($4502) and State tax credits. We had concluded all these transaction prior two signing a sales contract at the NY deal ship. We bought out car at Johston's Toyota in New Hampton NY. They were very helpful in setting-up the transaction via phone calls and e-mails. The drive back to CO was 1900 miles!
     
    #18 Terry Nyberg, Feb 20, 2017
  19. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    The rules vary by state.

    E.g., if you buy a car in CA and drive it off the lot you *must* pay CA sales tax. The only way to avoid it is to ship the car out of state. Colorado will still charge its taxes, regardless whether CA collected. I gather there is some procedure people can try to recoup the CA taxes but I have never read of it actually happening. Another quirk about CA: a dealer is not allowed to supply temporary plates to a car that is being shipped out of of state.

    CA might be the most annoying -- I have no idea. Only thing I can say for sure is that it is a mistake to presume that the rules of one state are the same for another.
     
    #19 EV-ish, Feb 21, 2017
  20. illoomination

    illoomination New Member

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    Terry - Just came across your post... don't know if you will get notice that I responded well after you first posted. I'm in Colo Springs. Sort of the same Colorado woes regarding the Prime now... went to Denver today to drive a 2018 Prime Premium, price 30,600... with an added 2,000 for some odd reason, making it 32,600. Then saw your post and contacted Johnston Toyota in NY, got a call back... same car is 26,600 there due to a 4000 Toyota rebate not happening in Colorado (obviously). My question is, we are looking at both the Federal and the Colo rebates for this vehicle. Did they both apply for you, or did you just get the Federal since you bought it out of state? Thanks in advance!
    Paul
     
    #20 illoomination, Dec 13, 2018
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