New owner (almost)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(teeterst @ Aug 6 2007, 04:39 PM) [snapback]491507[/snapback]</div>

I know the feeling... my salesman told me today that mine is coming any day now... expected tomorrow at the dealer, but maybe a couple of days after... i'm going from a highlander to a prius... what a difference in gas expense... i hope.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(teeterst @ Aug 6 2007, 02:39 PM) [snapback]491507[/snapback]</div>

Are you going to hold us in suspense...or tell us now...what color is your new Prius going to be?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(WA98296 @ Aug 7 2007, 10:01 AM) [snapback]491793[/snapback]</div>

And Don't Forget We expect pictures of your new baby!!

 

Hello,

I was going to start a new thread, but this one is already exactly the same topic, so I decided to join it.

I am looking at becoming a new Prius owner very shortly. I currently drive a 2006 Audi A6 S-line, which I love. The Audi is a fantastic car, but is very expensive to operate, requiring 92 octane gas (which, in Southern California, runs me about $400.00 per month). It is a high performance luxury car, and a great choice if that is what you are looking for.

I have just always found the Prius really appealling. In the past week or so, I started to think seriously about selling the Audi, buying a new Prius, and pocketing a large "cash bonus" difference between the value of the two cars.

Luckily for me: 1) My parents own a brand new 2007 Prius (Silver Touring #6), and 2) My mom just had foot surgery and can't drive it for a while. As a result, I have had the pleasure of driving this Prius around for the past four days, and I find that even though it doesn't have some of the "bells and whistles" that my Audi has, and lacks the pure performance, I am just falling in love with the Prius.

At this point, I am 99% sure I am going to buy one. I wanted to ask here if anyone remembers when the new model year Prius are released by toyota though. If I buy a new prius this coming weekend, and then next week, they release 2008 models, I will be very dissapointed. So I am looking for some specific feedback on this.

Also, curious if there is anyone else here who traded in a luxury performance car for a Prius and what your long-term experience has been with the change. I have found that I am literally becoming "addicted" to the Prius The Audi is sitting in my driveway, but I haven't driven (or wanted to drive it) in the past several days that I have had the Prius. IT would be great to know if this sort of thing lasts for months

Thanks in advance for any information!!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JunsGrayPria @ Aug 6 2007, 07:07 PM) [snapback]491583[/snapback]</div>

Sounds like quite a few of us are going to be happy Prius owners by the end of the week. My salesman called yesterday and said my Barcelona Red beauty is on it's way. I'm guessing Thursday or Friday. Have a great weekend getting to know your new toy!

 

My magnetic grey should be in Fri or Sat this week.

 

I seem to remember reading the 2008's will start arriving in August which is any time now.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Aug 8 2007, 08:52 PM) [snapback]492822[/snapback]</div>

I heard something similar. I am now walking a fine line between:

1. Selling my current vehicle before the 2008 model of IT comes out,
2. Acquiring a new Prius early enough to qualify for the final round of tax credits (expires in September I believe)
3. Acquiring a new Prius late enough to get a 2008 model.

All this, and the color/package I want appears to be very difficult to find. Well, I always enjoy a challenge

 

I also waffled between waiting for a 2008 Prius and buying a 2007 now. After seeing that there did not seem to be any changes for the new model year, including color changes or additions, I chose to take advantage of the reduced prices on the 2007 models.

Longo Toyota in El Monte had 53 of the 2007 Prii in stock, and one of those was exactly what I was looking for, a Driftwood Pearl Package #6. I drove up there today and spoke with Willy Lam in the Internet Sales Department. He was very professional and I was impressed with the dealership in general. We reached an agreement and my new baby is in the parking lot (I am at work) right now.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JG in SB @ Aug 7 2007, 11:48 AM) [snapback]491875[/snapback]</div>

I went from a Lexus RX300 to a Prius. There are a few differences, but the Prius is a joy to drive. The things that I have (sort of) missed are:
1) Electric seats with memory settings. So far I have been the only one to drive my Prius, but I had to reset the seats after vacumning it yesterday. Kind of a pain, but nothing major
2) Sunroof - The weather here has been lovely and I miss my sunroof. (rolling down the windows has worked, though)

The only other thing I will miss is the Lexus service. The Lexus dealer here is wonderful - loaner car waiting for you in the service dept, remembering your name, great waiting area, etc. The Toyota dealer is not as "plush" but I am hopeful that I won't need to use the service dept for a while.

Good luck with your decision.
Jennifer

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sonny Jim @ Aug 9 2007, 01:33 AM) [snapback]492870[/snapback]</div>

That is exactly what I got on July 18th. Driftwood Pearl package # 6. I wanted the Silver Pine as first choice, but got a call from Dealer that a Driftwood was available. I absolutely LOVE IT. I can not find a single negative thing to say about. I added a trailer hitch and last week hauled 800 pounds on the trailer and it was like i wasn't towing anything. I just refuled for the second time yesterday and my first trip on this tank, 25 miles to work with average 50 MPG. Just elated. Good luck to Sonny Jim.

Richard

 

Last I heard on the 08's was that they wouldn't actually be delivering at the dealers until the end of October or first of November - that and losing the tax credit (I believe you have to take possession before the end of Sept to qualify), and watching my previous vehicle depreciate another couple of months, I decided to go with the 07 (which came in yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!). I'm loving it but now I'm in the learning curve trying to get "things" set up on my mag gray baby - ah, but it's fun

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(telstar @ Aug 9 2007, 12:57 PM) [snapback]493162[/snapback]</div>

Hmmmmm. That would be at odds with this press release from Toyota North America:

http://pressroom.toyota.com/Releases/View?...YT2007073094918

Of most interest is the quote: "The new Prius arrives at dealerships in August".

Maybe Toyota are too optimistic in their press release? Or maybe the floor salesmen at Toyota dealerships would prefer us to purchase that 2007 model TODAY and rack it up as a sale/commission rather than having it stay around and become a clearance inventory item for them in a few weeks. I also wonder if the apparent scarcity of these cars, only a few short weeks after they were giving a $2,000 price reduction to move excess inventory, might just be related to the fact they they are phasing down production of '07 Prius models. It is pure speculation, but if true, it does match with at least my own observations in the market right now.

Don't get me wrong, the 2007 Prius is an awesome vehicle. I love them and I would be purchasing one this weekend if I was not aware of the apparent imminent release of the '08 model.

On the other hand, your point about your current vehicle depreciaitng for another month, and the tax credit expiring at the end of September are very important considerations for anyone in my situation. My accountant told me today that if you file under the Alternative Minimum Tax, you don't receive the tax credit though, so depending on whether I would file that way this year, it may remove that tax credit criteria from my decision process.

The next couple of weeks should prove very interesting indeed. In the meantime, congrats on your beautiful new Prius. I think you will find it pretty easy to figure out. I started driving my mom's 07 Prius last Friday and it is all second nature to me now, only a week later. Man is it is fun car to tool around in!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kahne1 @ Aug 7 2007, 07:05 PM) [snapback]492128[/snapback]</div>

I'm waiting on a Barcelona Red beauty myself. Heck, they could be cousins! Mine's a Package 4, bisque interior - should be about a week or so away now. Still waiting for the sales guy to call with the VIN (please don't anyone call it a VIN number. that's what the "N" in VIN stands for... pet peeve...) Going from a fully loaded '99 Camry XLE V-6 (256 HP, but I average only 19 MPG in the city) to a Prius (115 HP), one of which I test drove and easily hit 75 mph on the Interstate next to the dealership.

Pictures. I want to see pictures!

 

Word on the street is my new Prius is in and I will be picking it up Friday at the dealership. Its mag grey ( rental car grey) touring package 6..Will add pics tomorrow (friday)

 

Following up on my previous post:

After doing a lot more checking around and talking with various dealers, it seems highly unlikely that the 2008 model Prius is actually going to be arriving in August.

The information I have obtained is as follows:

<blockquote>Normally, the brochure for the new model year vehicle arrives at the dealership a few weeks in advance of any vehicles. No 2008 Prius brochures have shown up anywhere I have talked to.

VIN's for incoming allocations of Prius at all the dealers I have talked to still show all 2007's. Some of these are six weeks out.

While I originally suspected that dealer's were BS'ing me in order to get me to buy a 2007, this is not the case. A few that I talked to said they would happily pre-sell me a 2008 if they had any 2008's shown on any incoming allocations, but they don't. I am a all-cash buyer, and these folks know I am talking with multiple dealerships. They know that their choice is: a) pre-sell me a 2008 that they know is available, or b) try to BS me and let someone else pre-sell me a 2008. I can't think of any good reason why a dealer that has the ability to pre-sell me a 2008 today would choose not to and risk losing a guaranteed sale to another dealership.</blockquote>

Instead of allowing my current vehicle to depreciate for 6 to 8 weeks longer while I wait for a 2008 Prius that is essentially identical to the 2007 model, I decided to buy a 2007 today!!