We have been driving ours since 2002, so of course the wait was 15 minutes with emails from dealers with cars to sell flying in like spam. Of course that doesn't help you, but I have directed many people to look around per the excellent advice found here at Prius Chat. Even here in tiny Connecticut, cars were found. Some dealers are tight assed and others want to do business. Just gotta go out there and find them! Good luck, Prius Paul www.Cafepress.com/HybridStuff
Steve, Call Glen Toyota in Fairlawn, NJ - they have '06s on the lot. Take a flight here and drive one back to Texas. Good luck! On a side note - Maybe the dealer is somehow related to GWB? :lol:
When I decided to purchase a Prius, I first went to a dealership in the Houston metro area and was not impressed. I was told the wait was 6 to 9 months minimum and some times longer. Loving Toyota in Lufkin, TX was recommended by a friend. The hubby and I went in and talked to the sales rep and within a week, we put a deposit down on the Prius. That was in March. I was a little too specific on what I wanted and that ended up biting me in the butt. I was told 3 to 4 months. Toward the end of June, still no "dream car". I had then decided on two alternate colors, but before I could call and tell my sales rep that I had decided to branch out he called. They had gotten the exact car I wanted in my second color choice. I was exstatic. I had my car in the allotted time and what I wanted. I also found out from my dealer that they had several buyers from the Austin area coming to them to purchase their vehicles, so u might what to giving them a shot. Wouldn't hurt. They are a great small town dealership and I felt very comfortable dealing with them. I was never pressured into anything I didn't want. Great Dealership. As for the dealer in Austin, I would tell them to take a hike. Friend or no Friend. I learned along time ago, that doing business with friends is hazardous to my health. Good luck!!!
...the wallstreet journal says it may take between a month to 3 months to buy a USED prius. but your case is ridiculous... i got my the same day only because they had my color, and the package seemed good. It had been on the lot for no more than 48 hours too and the guy said we get them for people and then we get some to sell, but usually the one's we get to sell are gone before weeks end... ..they were "given" 3 to sell for month... ...If i could have re-bought my car, i would have waited till i had more money and got the package i wanted after i researched though... Man! one year! The new model has to come out soon!
Wow. It sounds like I was a lucky one. I walked onto a dealership in Peoria, Az. and bought mine that day. 2006 package #5. -Taath
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(McShemp @ Jul 19 2006, 01:43 PM) [snapback]288737[/snapback]</div> Sorry I abandoned my original post — I've not been online much lately. To make a long story short, I called a couple of other, relatively local dealers and decided to go up to Round Rock, TX. (a "bedroom community" of Austin, where, just for reference, Dell Computer is headquartered) to a dealer that will take a $500 deposit and says wait times are typically 8 - 12 weeks, which I can live with. Take care, Steve <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jul 19 2006, 02:18 PM) [snapback]288780[/snapback]</div> Minus the indecent exposure suggestion, I've decided to find another dealer! :lol: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jennjay @ Jul 19 2006, 02:26 PM) [snapback]288786[/snapback]</div> I don't think it's his fault. I think it has more to do with the dealer taking "waiting list requests" rather than an actual deposit. Or, they're just not very serious about selling Prii. Take care, Steve <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Three60guy @ Jul 19 2006, 02:29 PM) [snapback]288789[/snapback]</div> Your last point is a good one! Thanks! Steve <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TX Husker @ Jul 19 2006, 02:55 PM) [snapback]288815[/snapback]</div> Interesting! I'm heading over to Classic in Round Rock, tomorrow, to put down a deposit. It's about 30 minutes from where I live but considering some people go out of state to get their cars, it's not much! Interesting observations about Champion! That's the dealership that's kept me waiting for 13 months. The whole thing sounds flakey. Take care, Steve <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Erik @ Jul 19 2006, 03:05 PM) [snapback]288829[/snapback]</div> The dealer I'm going to use will also allow you to apply the deposit to the purchase price, and there's no markup over MSRP. Thank you, Steve <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DougSlug @ Jul 19 2006, 07:03 PM) [snapback]288965[/snapback]</div> Yeah, I've learned a little about the whole distribution region thing and it's weird. All 3 local dealers I've consulted are, apparently, in the same region, which includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas (or so I was told.) Why, then, they should have such radically different wait times is beyond me. Take care, Steve <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ajs @ Jul 19 2006, 08:35 PM) [snapback]289026[/snapback]</div> I think I've found a reliable, local dealer, but that's a very kind offer. Thanks! Take care, Steve <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Snooze Button @ Jul 20 2006, 09:17 AM) [snapback]289281[/snapback]</div> Nothing very exotic: Package 4 in any of the lighter colors.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RichBoy @ Jul 28 2006, 11:47 AM) [snapback]293795[/snapback]</div> Well, "clueless" is a bit harsh, I think. I'm actually a pretty savvy consumer and a bargain-hunter by temperament. But there were several reasons for my holding off until: financial situation, and wanting to give my friend the sale. But finding out that after all this time I was still "#73" on the waiting list put me over the edge. SF
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rebbi @ Jul 28 2006, 11:39 AM) [snapback]293822[/snapback]</div> If I want something and someone tells me I'm going to be put on a waiting list, I will go somewhere else - friend or no friend. I walked into the dealership and drove out about an hour later with one of the THREE Prius' on the lot. There are quite a few dealers with cars on the lots, so I cannot comprehend why ANY dealer cannot get cars in a reasonable amount of time - THERE IS NO GOOD EXCUSE - so stand up for yourself and go get a Prius somewhere else!
I placed an order for a 2006 Prius with the local dealer, being told that the one I wanted (Bright White, option package #6 HK) would likely take 8-12 weeks to get in. They called me a week later to tell me that my car was now in stock. Sadly, the salesman was an incompetent. I wasn't quite ready for its arrival so soon and had some financial work to do to be able to complete the transaction. Through the salesman's incompetence and poor advice, I reluctantly let it go to get the next one in. The sales manager has apologized profusely for their screw up. I decided to trust him as he seems quite competent and genuine in my dealings with him. I decided to consider accepting a different color (Wheatfield Pearl...) as well as my original choice to facilitate getting a quicker delivery, whichever was available first. He assigned my sale to a different salesperson, and promised me a car in the next shipment, due between Aug 5 and Aug 10. It will be a Wheatfield Pearl model. If they screw up again, I'll go elsewhere despite the fact that this dealership has a good reputation and is extremely convenient for me. It would certainly be preferable to just go to a dealer and buy the car I wanted without all this nonsense. Grr.
I don't understand why anyone would wait so long to buy a car. There are dealers everywhere, and lots of ways to locate a car. Its just a car, after all, be flexible with options, color (even price, if you really want it?) I used a buying service, carsdirect.com, and got the car the same day I registered. Dealer was 50 miles away, but he had three to choose. I didn't get the color I wanted, but the correct option package, and MSRP (+ dealer added moldings and pin stripes $500). The day I finally decided that it was taking too long, I had the car the same night. I played the registering game with my local dealer, and after 2 weeks, went online on my own. Lots of options, why wait any longer?
Hello my friend. There are 4 Prius(s) sitting on the lot in Tulsa Oklahoma at Riverside Toyota of Tulsa. Through the 31st of July, you can get them for $500 below MSRP. I bought my Prius via email and traveled to their dealership to pick it up. I worked with Robert Blocker and he made the entire buying experience smooth as silk. Just thought I would throw an option out there...especially for folks that are on waiting lists in and around Oklahoma... Bryan
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rebbi @ Jul 28 2006, 08:39 AM) [snapback]293822[/snapback]</div> Not much of a friend, if he is jerking you in that manner. I hope he is not a congregant.