So, the transmission case cracked on the 1998 Honda CR-V with over 200k on it. $4k to fix a car that's worth about $1.98? Nah. Since my wife's commute is close to 80 miles per day and her carpool disintegrated, we started looking at a Prius for the HOV lane capability and gas mileage. After 3 dealers with no new stock, we found one with 2 used 2005's that cost more than MSRP on a 2006. We took one for a test drive and loved it. If we were going to have to buy a used one, we figured we might as well see what was out there and try to find a color/package that we liked. We decided to visit every Toyota dealership on Long Island. Let the adventure begin! Many frustrating hours later, we drag our tired butts into Neil Toyota in Lynbrook, New York an hour before closing time. I begin my well-worn spiel about looking for a new Prius but knowing that there is a 3-4 month wait and 'Do you have a used one?'. The salesman says, "No, but Toyota sent us an extra one this month and it just came off the truck." You could have knocked me over with the proverbial feather. An hour later, the wife and I are smiling ear to ear. Yes, it's a base model. Yes, it's beige (Driftwood Pearl? Desert Sand Mica? Dust?) Yes, it was over MSRP. Yes, we know we got banged on bogus junk like "Fabric Protector" (a $4 can of Scotchguard ® applied in 10 minutes by a minimum wage earner marked up to $249?!?!?). Yes, the salesman lied to us and I felt like I needed a shower after shaking hands with the finance manager. But we went from looking at a 3-4 month wait to driving one home that night. Woo-hoo, we got one!!!
Sometimes you have to tolerate the little things to get to the rewards. Congrats and welcome to the group. Start by getting familiar with the "Search" function at the top of the page and then start asking questions. Above all else, have fun!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Aug 8 2006, 08:04 PM) [snapback]299990[/snapback]</div> WAY more important than the search button here (sorry Tony) is THIS, which links to Google advanced search, specifically for PriusChat... Welcome!
Welcome to PC! You got hosed a little by your gracious dealer, but that gets you a couple of extra points here as a cult member. :blink:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Agontyr @ Aug 8 2006, 03:21 PM) [snapback]299824[/snapback]</div> Good for you. I get tired of hearing from whiners waiting X no. of months for a car. Just do it, already. I got mine the same day I decided to do it. Welcome to the NO-Wait club!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Aug 8 2006, 08:04 PM) [snapback]299990[/snapback]</div> Isn't that true! Especially with the transmission case issues with the CRV, you needed a new car quickly and you got one. Congratulations and welcome to the club!!
you may have paid a little more, but many do. your honda had great mileage, but start figuring up the gas savings, they will add up. besides, it wont take long for you to realize that even the extra bucks you paid are well worth the money. the gas mileage is really only a small part of the Prius experience.
I, too bought mine in one day. 1st dealer said 1-2 months, second dealer had one in stock, not spoken for and gaqve me $6000 more for my trade BTW I have the driftwood pearl...I wouldn't call it dust. It wasn't my first color choice but if I couldn't get blue, I didn't have a preference one way or the other which is why I was able to walk in the door and buy it off the showroom floor.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Aug 9 2006, 01:05 PM) [snapback]300257[/snapback]</div> Well, I have to say that I very well might have been waiting months for a car if I hadn't walked into the dealership when I did. The car had literally just come off the truck. 1 mile on the ODO. When we walked out to look at it and take it for a test drive, there was another salesman showing it to some other people. Having been to 9 dealerships in 1 day, seen a total of 3 Prii (all used, one already sold), and being given wait estimates of 3 months to a year, we were already thinking of out of state dealerships and dreading the whole process. The day after we drove ours home, the salesperson at the dealer where we had seen the used ones called and let us know that one of them had sold already and if we wanted the other one we should come back. Sure, it was probably high-pressure tactics from a car seller, but I drove by there this morning and there were no Prius on the lot. If I'd been one of those waiting for months and months, I might be making some noises that sound remarkably similar to whining
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Agontyr @ Aug 9 2006, 02:49 PM) [snapback]300340[/snapback]</div> You might also have missed the tax break (if you qualify)! So congratulations!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Agontyr @ Aug 8 2006, 03:21 PM) [snapback]299824[/snapback]</div> Don't despair - it's not so bad. I was talked into (or really my wife was) this option when we got ours 6 months ago. What sold her was that the waranty claims that if anything gets on the fabric and they cannot even professionally clean off, they will change the fabric (really? Re-uphoster the seats?) Anyway, two weeks ago, in the hottest weekend here, my daughter going to her friends house for get-together decided to bring Torani Syrup to make Italian Soda. She left her bottles in the back seat and the raspberry syrup was not capped properly and leaked out leaving a pool of deep red gooey syrup. She absentmindedly forgot about the spill (typical teenager) and we did not find it will a couple of days later (when her little sister sat on the mess.) So, here's my chance to test their warantee claim - there no way that red mess will come off. Nevertheless, I thought I should at least give it a shot - using a rag soaked in hot water to dissolve the now harden up sugar paste and then continue to wipe with a damp warm wet rag. Wow.. guess what - everything came off - without a trace.. I'm impressed.. So the stuff worked. At least for now - but who know how long it will last.. The stuff is probably industrial strength Scotchguard..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Aug 9 2006, 12:05 PM) [snapback]300257[/snapback]</div> Me too! Just called my "Car Store" at Technology Credit Union and Holly had my (father's) name on one the same day (Altough it doesn't get off the boat til today!) Waiting anxiously for the dealer to now call my dad to pick it up! Jann
