As I struck out with Ft Myers Toyota, I was poking around the inventories for other dealers in the area, and I was pleased to see that the Southeast inventory (allocation?) had jumped from 300-something to 900-plus overnight. My excitement was short-lived as I saw that, to a number, every car available after the 29th had an MSRP of $29,000 and up. It wasn't a price increase, but all these cars now came with non-factory leather upholstery (I'm guessing it's aftermarket, seeing as how I asked for cloth but still saw leather as an option) and headrest DVD systems. Yikes. Finding a car with anything other than package 2 has been impossible, but suddenly they all are coming with these options. Maybe I misjudge the market, but these options make little sense to me on a car strongly oriented towards economy. I'm guessing that with the resurgent demand for the Prius, this is a cynical gambit to lard the cars up with high-margin options the buyer probably doesn't want but will take to get the car. I guess the window is closing for me on this car, as I'm not about to spend $2000 for rear-seat entertainment when I can count on one hand the number of times I've had a back seat passenger in the last five years. Good grief, are we ever going to get to the point where buying a car will be a rational transaction between grown adults?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BaconGreaseKid @ Jun 21 2007, 10:10 PM) [snapback]466177[/snapback]</div> Last month, the exact same thing happened, and I posted on here almost the exact same thing you did. What happened last month was that for the first 24 hours or so, all of the newly available cars in inventory, as you noticed, had pretty much every single option available- even Package 2 cars were showing almost $30,000. I knew that could not be right, and it wasn't- after a day or so, all of the cars went back to showing the usual options at the usual prices. I never could figure out exactly why this happens, but my guess is that when they are first loaded into inventory, they show every option just as a default, then are updated to show what they actually have... Keep checking, and I am sure it will happen this way again, because you are correct- no matter how high the demand is for the Prius, they are not going to sell many Package 2 cars for $30k..........
Perhaps my sympathy is a little tempered by the 6 month wait I had to get ANY Prius. Go to the dealership, order what you want in the color you want, and 6 weeks later, woohoo! Unless you really really need a car RIGHT NOW......
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BaconGreaseKid @ Jun 21 2007, 11:10 PM) [snapback]466177[/snapback]</div> Those inventories do a "magic show" after awhile. Look again in a coupl-ah days. So - you left Ft.Myers Toyota. Did you ever check with Alan Jay in Sebring or Earl Stewart in W. Palm Beach? Not being pushy - just want you to get your car! I'm very sorry about the FMT troubles - but having dealt with the SM, I know just what you're talking about. Sigh. I understand that I "may" get my car by next Thursday. Maybe. Hopefully. Yeah, sure. . . . . .
I had the totally opposite problem. See, I LOVE options. I'm addicted to them. I guess since as my Aunt says "Your generation was born with computer chips in your head sweetie." I had a hard time finding the pine mica color fully loaded. There are tons of base prii out here in Orange County. Why not just fly out here and have a nice cross country drive in your new prius? haha just joking. Kinda sounds like you're dealing with dumb dealers. I've never had a problem bullying a dealer to get me the exact car I wanted. When I bought my last car they sent a flat bed to Fresno (probably 300+ miles away) to pick it up so I could have it that day. Maybe you need to wear a push up bra next time you go to the dealer? Kidding - Again. Good luck!
I think that, unless I needed the car *now!* I'd just order what I wanted and then pick it up when I arrive. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BaconGreaseKid @ Jun 21 2007, 10:10 PM) [snapback]466177[/snapback]</div> I feel like the opposite is happening; Toyota is discovering that what they *thought* was an economy car is in fact something more. That it's attracting people who are interested in it for its economy, but who are not necessarily on a strict automotive budget. The Prius market is vastly different from that of, say, a Yaris or Honda Fit, or other entry-level automobiles.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BaconGreaseKid @ Jun 21 2007, 10:10 PM) [snapback]466177[/snapback]</div> SET (South East Toyota, the importer) is notorious for PIO (Port Installed Options). The car is still a package 2 with other stuff (or junk) added on.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(drw @ Jun 22 2007, 12:13 AM) [snapback]466195[/snapback]</div> 18 years on the Internets and you'd think I'd be better at searching by now. I did try to find a similar topic but I seem to have a unique talent for crafting the worst forum searches possible. And yes, it was exactly as you said, the prices and options magically reset overnight, so that they're now rational again. If I sound overheated, it's not my intention. My family was spoiled when buying cars in recent years my having found the zen master of car salesmen in Mike Grados of Sunset Dodge in Sarasota. He was the antithesis of the usual high-pressure clown: polite, witty, low-pressure, and thoroughly knowledgeable about his product line. He knew what the credit union pricing meant up front, so the deals were mercifully short and free of either Kabuki or tragic opera. And he never had to "ask his manager" anything. These recent dealings have been an unpleasant bowl of icewater down the shorts by comparison. So I get home today and there's a message on my answering machine from the FM Toyota salesman asking "if we could still deal." Interesting, as they were down to one Prius on the lot when I passed on my way home tonight (there were four this morning), so I'm assuming the car I want is gone. I also had a survey letter from the general manager asking what he could do to earn my business. There must be fine shadings of meaning in that question I'm missing.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sassy Pamela @ Jun 22 2007, 02:08 PM) [snapback]466447[/snapback]</div> If I could spare the time off from work I would be doing it already. Unless the California deals posted here are pure fantasy, even with travel expenses and a nontrivial expense to have it shipped here (I'd rather not drive it myself), I'd still come out considerably ahead. In all seriousness, I was informed today I'll be going to Providence, RI, on the 29th for a one-day onsite visit to one of my employer's other divisions. I was going to go down to New York afterwards for two days, then come home Sunday. Maybe I'll go car shopping the the area instead?
