Hello Everyone, I am looking to purchase a 2007 Pkg #7 Prius in Arizona. Since there are 4 dealers in the Phoenix area, my plan was to use a shotgun approach and get on their waiting lists. Each dealer has told me they would sell me a Prius at MSRP and all I would need to do is give them a $500 deposit which is fully refundable. Based on the current wait times, I was going to do this around the end of July. Typically 2007 models become available end of Q3 early Q4. I just wanted to know from your collective buying experiences, if what I am proposing to do would be a good approach? Should I expand my search outside of Phoenix (i.e. Tucson, Vegas or even LA?) Thanks in advance for your insight and advice! Igo2Xs
Sounds like a good approach, but be aware that the 06's didn't start arriving in the US until Thanksgiving week in California and until early December in the southeast.
I do believe you will lose out on the $3,100 Tax rebate by waiting for the 07 model .... If I am wrong someone tell me now!!!! quick!!!!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(B Rad @ Jun 2 2006, 12:24 PM) [snapback]264675[/snapback]</div> I agree. If Toyota sells over 60,000 hybrids by the end of June as expected, the tax credit on any Prius purchased after September 30 will fall from $3,150 to $1,575. Of course market prices (on 2006s) may fall as the tax credit is phased out, but I wouldn't count on them falling this much or count on big improvements on the 2007.
Thanks everyone for your responses thus far. I guess I should have been more clear in my initial post. I'm honestly not so concerned about getting the $3k tax break. Since it's already pretty late in the '06 model year, I figured I would be better off just getting an '07 in any case, especially considering the wait times to get a car. I think my next step is to get some more info about which dealers in the AZ area are most reputable and easy to work with. I hope that's not too much to ask, but in the car business sometimes it is hard to find honest people. I am curious to know if anyone else has had success using the approach I am considering. That is rather than put all your eggs in one basket (only put a down payment at one dealer), get on multiple dealers wait lists? Thanks again for all the great info! --Igo2Xs
I did this in LA and it worked very well. In fact, within a week, 2 dealers called me with a Prius that matched my request.
if you do decide to play the odds, make sure your get the refundable part in writing. most deposits are non-refundable and say so on the paper you sign. though with the ease they could sell the prius if you change your mind, they will probably not cause a fuss and refund it. but still, better to play it safe.
