I just posted, prior to this, an update of what to expect in Southern CA for Prius arrivals in March. But, for March production and for APRIL 2004 arrivals, the mix changes. The BG goes bye-bye. Then, we get 70% package 9 (BC ), 15% of the package 3 (AF ) and 15% of the package 6 (BI )... and the color mix remains as I stated earlier. That said, I have to go on record here as saying that if you want to know your spot in line -- well, with the changes and folks willing to take "whatever" just to get a car, how the hell can I tell anyone anymore where they are?! Packages drop and add and drop again. Hard to take orders for a ghost car that MAY re-appear! Buyers, if you get the call (from me), you get the call. If you get the call from another dealer and the car "fits" -- go get the damn thing. Forget about me, or loyalty. Go get your car. I'll always be OK with that. If Toyota doesn't learn from this experience and make all of the Highlander Hybrids orderable online by everyone... grr! They say they did Prius this way to bring it mainstream but this is not the best example I have seen of bringing a car mainstream because that would mean that ANYONE could get one, and to the contrary, hardly anyone CAN get one at this point. If the Highlander is handled in the same way, then this will be a total exercise in futility and we will all have learned NOTHING. Toyota -- you listening? KAIZEN is not just about building. It's also about the entire process we are faced with, including selling the cars you build for us. KAIZEN! Make this a better experience for everyone, and soon. Make the Highlander Hybrids an online 3-4 month process to everyone gets their cars in a time frame that is sensible, planned, and not a crap shoot! Dianne
Beautifully put, Dianne. We can only hope that someone is listening enough so that the decision makers at empire Toyota are learning by the Prius marketing example.
I think that the Prius would have been the coolest way for Toyota to test how well an online ordering system would work for them in the future since their target audience is a well educated, internet-savvy group of people. It is interesting how they're changing the packages that are going where, but I guess someone that gets paid a lot than me is making these decisions for some reason - maybe we'll eventually understand why. The biggest problem about the new generation Prius is that is marketed itself - you make a car this cool at such a great price there's no need to place a marketing focus on it, but they also had to set up the future unveiling of the Lexus hybrid and the HH by generating as much buzz as possible for the new Prius. But too much buzz and underestismated predictions have led to the situation we find ourselves in. Hopefully soon they will make some sort of an outreach to the Prius owner and future owner community to apologize for their miscue.
Wow, I was lucky getting the BG during the only month the're giving them in Black, the least likely color. Yikes.
:iagree But then......................... "....someone that gets paid a lot than me...." ".....underestismated...." Should we leave it at just "internet-savvy"? :jester:
I graduated college with Kaizen; he was the brother of Kato Kaelin. Kaizen always seemed to know what was right but he talked to everyone before making up his mind.
Yes, Dianne. But please understand that it's Friday, the end of the week, close to dinner time here, and I don't even drink. :wink:
Probably a good idea! In fact, I'm considering making my own. I mean, if someone can make biodiesel in their garage..............
