From what I can tell (reading the forums, emailing/calling/visiting dealerships, researching... :blink: ) I can buy a base Prius for $20k (what is that OTD?) Except I don't have $20k. And just last month (ok March) Toyota offered 0% (or 2.9% over 5). And there were more incentives - tax, stickers, etc. But now there isn't. The best rate I've found is 6%. And in 1.5 years the new improved Prius will come out. And I know what that does to my resell value! :angry: So what am I suppose to do now? Do I wait and hope the rates will decrease? Is there a magic word to use at the dealership? Do I buy a Civic, Corolla (where's the vomit face?), Yaris, used Scion XA... what?!? I also want (perhaps need ) the navigation system but I can't justify another $3k-$4k (plus interest on that) when I could probably spend less than a $1k for an aftermarket system. I was pleased to read I could hold off on the extended warranty and purchase here for $1k. Are there any other features I should want or need?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ram @ May 2 2007, 08:01 PM) [snapback]434428[/snapback]</div> I looked at it like this, had older vehicle only getting 13 mpg tops 177k miles on it was upside down because of a previous big arse truck v-10 getting 8 mpg dually p/u so I know prices wont come down in the yrs to come someone has to pay for the technology and gas sure as sh*t will not go back down. so why not buy now I told the wife. and it is now saving us 225 a month in fuel alone and cheaper ins. rate dropped by 96.00 a year we bought a package 1 has b/u camera carpet mats pretty basic but like you said an aftermarket gps works just as good if not better. it just isn't built in so what. if you have a poor fuel efficient vehicle now and it is getting older everyday the trade in price goes down too. so if affordable do it I think the trade in of a prius in a few years will still be there.
We have a base prius, no backup camera (don't need it), no smart key (don't want it), etc. It's a super car. I would totally buy NOW. Sales are slipping, inventory is up. You are in a good position to get a great deal. Go for it!! Dave
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ram @ May 2 2007, 09:01 PM) [snapback]434428[/snapback]</div> I'm almost in the same situation as you. I don't plan to buy a Prius until November 2007 at the earliest. I might even wait until the next version comes out. From what I have read, the next version of the Prius might be a plug-in, run on lithium ion batteries, or both. If so, something tells me a plug-in hybrid or a car running on lithium ion batteries would probably be pretty popular, meaning, the dealers might not want to back off the MSRP of the vehicle, or possibly charge over the MSRP (ala the PT Cruiser from 10 years ago). Also, there is the possibility that the next version of the Prius could be bug-ridden, and Toyota might not iron out the bugs for 2 or 3 years. IMHO, waiting to buy the next version of the Prius might not be a good idea.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ram @ May 2 2007, 09:01 PM) [snapback]434428[/snapback]</div> I don't believe interest rates or gas prices will fall over the next few years. Are you talking to the Internet or Fleet Managers? Check out www.carbuyingtips.com and do your best to figure what the invoice price is. Perhaps making offers at invoice may help if there is some slow moving inventory out there.
