Is paying MSRP or more the ONLY way to get a Prius?

Well, I think the key is to do what is most comfortable for yourself. If you aren't comfortable paying above invoice, then perhaps you should wait to buy a Prius until they come down a bit.

The other option would be to look at CarsDirect.com and see what the going rate is in your neck of the woods.

I would also recommend looking up the dealers online and getting a price quote via the internet. It may take 3-4 days to get quotes from them, but I got a quote $1500 below invoice and that is much lower than the dealers were telling me in person.

They were saying they sell so quick they won't haggle. One offered me $200 below MSRP on good faith since my family has bought cars from them before. I was insulted, so I consulted the internet and got a better deal.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tekn0wledg @ Aug 21 2007, 10:57 AM) [snapback]499820[/snapback]</div>

The best time to buy a new car is the last day of the month. The best best time is the last day of the year.

Just go in and tell them you'll pay MSRP, nothing more. And then you have to wait around. Just hang out on the lot until closing, usually around 9pm. Tell them your offer stands. Especially on the last day of the month or year, you'll probably get the deal if you're patient enough.

We paid more than MSRP for our 2007 Prius last October. They were offering a special on financing, a 60 month loan for 5.99% which we got. But since my wife was buying with her money, I didn't try to talk them down at all, which I regret somewhat. BUT we've been enjoying the car so much, we have no regrets at all. The more I drive the car, the more glad I am we didn't buy a Camry, which we were originally planning to do.

 

Where are you located? I might be able to help you find a good dealer.

 

1st Know exactly what you want and what you need.

Use the Toyota Internet sites for your local dealers.

Stick with what you want.

Get the newest Invoice price and go from there.

Some dealers will call back with "what can i do for you/" approach-go somewhere else.

When you go to the showroom they can (on their computer) show what is due in and where it is.

Let them order what you want. It will take a few weeks or less.

and.......lastly , if you finance...shop for financing before you show up at the dealer.

 

It seems more difficult to get a deal on the Prius in the Midwest compared to the West coast, but you should NOT pay over MSRP (those days are long over). I haggeled with 3 salespersons and 3 internet salespeople and only 1 was willing to haggle with me to deal below MSRP. I got 700 dollars below MSRP, but that was back in February. I believe now it is a little bit easier to haggle than then though. You could consider calling the dealors in a nearby market (think of the next big city down the highway).

 

Sorry to hear about your predicament, but it is not an unfamiliar situation in the Midwest. I was glad to pay MSRP, but then I was willing to wait for a special-order car.

Even so, when I actually found dealers with cars on their lots, the cars were already sold. I arrived at one dealership just half an hour after a car was delivered. It had been "sold", but the buyer had not waited and purchased a Prius at another local dealership. So, they offered it to me on the spot, but the "deal" they gave me was MSRP if I brought cash by the end of the day!

Well, I waited another month or so before my ordered car arrived. I forked over the MSRP, but then bought the extended warranty at a big discount (not the PriusChat discount, but only $50 more). I would love to have haggled to get a lower price, but no one wanted to talk. The response was always MSRP or more. When it was more, I wrote off the dealership.

We ended up buying from the same dealership that sold us our Sienna two years ago. We've been pleased with their service department, so it seemed to be a good fit.

I wish you well in your search, but I suggest that you won't find a new '07 in the Midwest. Our local dealer has been keeping a list for 2008s for about six weeks.

 

I had the same problem a couple of weeks ago when I decided to buy mine... I live in Northern California so things might be different... but I got the best deal through Costco. If you go to Costco's website (try this link Costco Auto ), they will hook you up with a dealership in your area. That dealership will find the Prius you're looking for, and give it to you BELOW INVOICE (invoice is lower than MSRP). Also, since you won't be financing through Toyota, you get a much lower APR rate as well. I got my '07 with package #4 for $800 below invoice and 5% APR (instead of the 9% Toyota was gonna offer me). The only problem you may run into right now is that the '08 model will be on the lot soon, therefore the dealership may not be able to find the exact color and package you're looking for in an '07 (they have not been given the prices for the '08 model yet). Hope this was helpful... let us know how it goes!

 

Our local dealer gave us the Costco price we had been quoted.
Make use of every avenue, and don't be afraid to go out of town, or out of state! You may be able to save a lot more than it costs to get to a distant dealership, if they have the car for you at the price you want.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(carolbrady @ Aug 21 2007, 01:53 PM) [snapback]499818[/snapback]</div>

i ordered from consumer reports the 2008 prius price service..regular prius $20771 dealer invoice, touring $21506 dealer invoice, the report also includes all the dealer prices for options, i also got in touch with the costco rep at palm bch toyota and he stated that they charge $1000 over their invoice, if i were in your shoes i would tell the dealer i know the prices and will go thru costco or another area if necessary, they have quotas to meet so they need to move as many units as they can..dont let them fool you, i had 2 dealers call me today stating they will get me the 1st to land with the options i want and at the price i want to pay.. the ball is in your court.
hope this helps
john

 

Do a search on this forum for "Seattle" and for "best prices in SFO." You're not there, but it will give you some idea of what others are paying for Prius. There are Prius owners who have gotten well below MSRP. You can also try GreatCarPrices.com They charge to find you a car, but it might be worth it. I'm still looking for a fair price for #2 package--e.g. say $1500 over the invoice price Consumer Reports quotes. I don't think Costco does much for you with the Prius. I really doubt they actually price it from the "invoice up."

This is frustrating. I wish it were easier. I am willing to go across the State (Washington) or even to California, but I have so little faith in what I might be promised, that I take the trip and find little "surprises" when I get there. The last few weeks have made me cynical, but I REALLY want a Prius--and only a Prius. That of course is part of the problem. Plus, I'm no good at negotiating. Next step is to send the supreme negotiator in the family (spouse) out to a dealership with a check.

Good luck.

 

Have you looked through the "prices paid" thread on Edmunds? http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0a4a16 if that link works. Maybe you can get some ideas there.

I just paid $22700 in Portland, OR for an option 2. I did emailed a few dealers and did the round robin thing to try and get them to beat each other. I have the feeling they would've come down a couple or few hundred more had I been patient and kept hammering away at them. They didn't answer super promptly, had to wait a day or two or three for some.
And that price is for a market where we get $1500 tax credit from the state in addition to the federal credit.

I'd say work the internet thing and maybe even call the internet folk to get them to know you're serious and you want a reply faster?

 

I guess the key words you mentioned are "not in a hurry." This was also my way of thinking when I bought my 05 Prius. Use the internet to your advantage. I read a lot of very good tips from other chatters.
When I bought my Prius I was also having problems with supply. It is a very popular car. I waited and waited looking at cars.com and autotrader.com almost every chance I got. Patience is a virtue. I finally saw this ad for a private seller with the price I am willing to pay for a used Prius.
It seems like you are willing to buy used which I think okay especially if you are like me. It is smart because you can let somebody take the "depreciation hit" which is between $1500-$2000 just by merely driving the car out of the dealership lot. On the other hand you still need to be smart and do your homework and know all the other things that affects the cost of the Prius you wanted (i.e. accesories, trim, smartkey etc..) Check out kbb.com (Kelley Blue Book Value) so that can at least have a "baseline" price. Edmunds.com also can help you get more educated. It's worth the extra homework to save the extra bucks!
Good luck and have a nice day!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(carolbrady @ Aug 21 2007, 10:53 AM) [snapback]499818[/snapback]</div>

It is the end of the model year and supply is tight. Toyota is pretty good about not having an abundance of the previous model year's cars on hand when the new ones come in. The dealers are taking advantage of that situation.

Wait until the '08s are here. If any '07s are still around, they will be discounted. Once enough of the '08s have been distributed to dealers, in a month or two, dealers will start wheeling and dealing as they do every year.

Be patient and you will be rewarded.

 

I posted this on the other thread you started yesterday. Have you given them a call?
They had a NL in stock a few days ago and was willing to discount off of MSRP


I shopped all of the dealers within 200 miles of me and I only found ONE that was reasonable via email and the phone. I have a car to trade in and he offered quite a bit more for it on trade plus a discount off of msrp.


I have decided to wait on the 08's. He is supposed to call when he gets info.


Bob Hecht
Dan Hecht Chevrolet and Toyota
Effingham Il. 62401

Toll free: 1800-342-1892
Web page www.danhecht.com
E-mails. [email protected]

If you talk to him, tell him a guy from Southern Illinois gave you his name.

I assume you are aware of the $1000 rebate from the Illinois State Treasurer???

We are going to order an 08 tomorrow.

Our 05 is going to be for sale next week. It has 36000 miles with package #4.

We are taking our son back to UVA this weekend without the HCH so my wife can drive it till the 08's get here.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(carolbrady @ Aug 21 2007, 01:53 PM) [snapback]499818[/snapback]</div>

Read through the advice at www.carbuyingtips.com and search through inventory at www.cars.com and good luck finding what you want.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(carolbrady @ Aug 21 2007, 12:53 PM) [snapback]499818[/snapback]</div>

Just got my Prius a week ago. I paid MSRP (Lombard Toyota, Chicago area), but got screwed on the trade-in. My name is Sarah, and I am a chump Every dealer I called either had only one in stock, or nothing at all. I love the car, though! Fortunately, you are more patient than me, so I imagine your chances are better for getting a good deal. Good luck!

 

My search is going really well in the Seattle area, not as good as the California deals. But, I'm getting the value I want for my trade-in (all communication via email) and about $22,600 for 07 Prius Package 2 with the colors I want. If I didn't have the trade-in, I can easily get it down to $22,200.

I suggest you contact the internet team for all the dealers you can in the local area.

I have had very good responses (real offers that show value) from:

* Wendy Cliffton, [email protected] (Everett)
* John Stone, [email protected] (Renton)
* Susie Hutchinson, [email protected] (Auburn)
* Rebecca Hall, [email protected] (Lake City, Seattle)

I can also recommend the staff at Magic Toyota in Edmonds and Heartland in Bremerton.

That's a lot to choose from.

Al

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(carolbrady @ Aug 21 2007, 12:53 PM) [snapback]499818[/snapback]</div>

carolbrady

NO!!! TeknOwledq hit the nail on the head with advice to use the Internet and only deal with the Dealer Internet Sales Managers. With the number of Prius now being manufactured and delivered, the pendulum of supply and demand is swinging back in the buyers favor. I am currently out for quotation on a 2008 Prius Touring Pkg #6. Most of the replies I have received back state they are still waiting for updated pricing info on the '08s. However, one Dealer has quoted a price and its $1500 under MSRP.

I recommend trying to deal with larger Dealerships as their allotments from Toyota are larger and they don't need to make as much money on each individual car they sell. You can find in-state and adjoining states Dealerships on the Toyota web site. Look at their Prius inventories (Available and In-Stock) which will help you determine his volume of sales and delivery of Prius stock. Good Luck on getting your new Prius and DON'T buy over MSRP!!

 

If you use the search feature, you will find the best price mentioned for 2007 Touring Package 6 is $26k (probably someone in California). The best mentioned (that I have found from reading priuschat) around Seattle, is $27k.