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Where to buy a Touring in the NJ, PA, or DE region?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by PriusSmith, Apr 30, 2008.

  1. PriusSmith

    PriusSmith New Member

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    The local dealers tell me that the Touring models are not being shipped to this region. How far do I have to travel to buy one?
     
  2. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    You can try entering different zip codes into the "Build Your Own" part of the Toyota Prius website page, and see what zip code areas allow you to build a Touring Edition and the option packages available.

    FYI, I just entered a NYC and a Long Island zip code, and the website wouldn't allow me to build a Touring.

    But, I also entered a Cleveland zip code, and the website allowed me to build a Touring Edition and package #3 and package #6 were available.

    I suspect that in the Northeast, the Cleveland area (which is about 500 miles from New York City) may be your best bet to get a Touring and to get one with either a moderately optioned package #3 or the highest optioned package #6, and at a good price.

    Good luck.
     
  3. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    Short answer: You can't.

    Long answer: Here is a map of the Toyota sales regions:

    http://www.sponsorwise.com/images/sponsors/52/regionalList.pdf

    At least in Dec '07 when I got My Touring, they weren't available in the Mid-Atlantic Region. They were in the Boston Region.

    By working the build-your-car zip-code gambit back against the map you can determine where a touring might be available. Then its back to the internet to find a dealer.

    Worked for me. Good Luck.
     
  4. NJPriusA

    NJPriusA Junior Member

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    You have our sympathy.

    We live in New Jersey and our search last fall for a Silver Pine Mica Touring Package 6 consumed countless hours between October and December via the internet, e-mails, faxes and phone calls - and maybe most helpfully, this forum.

    When we had wanted to place an order through a local dealer, we were warned off by the regional sales rep that it would take at least five months to get a car - and even then there were no promises because Toyota doesn't ship that car to our region. We placed the order with that warning, with a notation on the contract that the deposit would be refunded if we didn't have the car in 12 weeks.

    We continually stayed in touch with our local dealer, while also checking availability with dealers in Texas, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Georgia and other parts of New Jersey. All to no avail. (Usually, the car we would see on the Web as available actually turned out to have been sold.)

    The local dealer where we placed the order was aware of our independent attempts and would have given our deposit back if we found what we were looking for. They knew that we were trying every suggestion provided on the Prius Chat Forum and we told them that based on the posts, there was an untapped market for Tourings in New Jersey. We even put a deposit down with a dealership out of state who thought they could find one for us. (They returned the deposit when they couldn't find one.)

    We remained continually in touch with our local dealer to stress that we wanted to buy the car through them if they could locate one. Just before Christmas 2007, after three months of trying everything we could think of, and after another call of frustration from us, our dealer really made an effort to locate the car. They found one in Indiana that was scheduled to arrive at a dealership there within the week. We agreed to pay trasportation costs to get it to New Jersey. We were able to drive the car home on January 7 and have been delighted with it ever since.

    From your post, it seems that the bottom line is that Tourings are still very hard to come by in this region. But if that's what you want, just keep plugging away at it. I think it came down to pure luck for us - our last call triggered another round of effort by our local dealer to locate the car out of state. Maybe we caught a lull time around Christmas/New Year.

    We don't know how set you are on one color or package. Many might not agree with our color or package choice. But the wait was worth it to us and might be to you. Don't know whether our tale helps or not. But good luck. If you get what you want, we hope you're as pleased as we are with your car.
     
  5. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    PriusSmith,

    My post yesterday was very brief, but not meant to be curt or dismissive.

    My "You can't," was meant to say, "You can't in the normal course of
    business at a Toyota dealership in the Mid-Atlantic Region, or without a
    whole lot of work and time invested."

    The situation is not that you can't get a Touring model at this time.
    They never have been shipped directly to dealers in the Mid-Atlantic
    Region -- even though I think that they arrive by ship in Bayonne, or
    Elizabeth, or somehere in northern NJ!.

    NJPriusA's post shows one way to get a Touring where you are. At this
    time, I can only believe that it will be more difficult now than last Dec.

    My story on getting a Touring, I too am in the Mid Atlantic zone, is here:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-...s-purchasing-qdyssey.html?highlight=crapulous

    A different approach. I was under some severe time constraints. I
    essentially gave up on my local dealers and went it alone. At one point I
    was seriously considering getting what I wanted from Arizona, and flying
    out to drive it home! I was greatly relieved to find what I wanted in Rhode
    Island.

    The dealer in RI said that only 5% of all Prius are Touring. Don't know if
    that's correct. But whether 5%, 10%, or 15% you're in for some work to
    get one where you live. I think the effort I had to make was worth it.

    Best of luck.
     
  6. neon tetra

    neon tetra Member

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    I just got one in Jerz, but it was a mission & a half.

    I tried several dealers & finally one was able to locate 1.

    took about 3 weeks, and in that time I noticed that Toyota removed the touring model from the 'build your own' section of the website.

    You might have to look somewhere away from the area. I called a place in Florida that found the 1 I wanted, but they were charging almost $1000 OVER MSRP, and I think I would somehow end up paying more taxes/fees. Plus obviously the travel (which I wouldn't mind so much b/c I have family & friends down there).
     
  7. PriusSmith

    PriusSmith New Member

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    Well, I'm a lucky man! I found a dealer with three Touring models on the lot. Yea it was about 100 miles north of our home, but it was the car I was searching for. We're now proud owners of a 2008 Barcelona red Touring package #3 :).
     
  8. Somechic

    Somechic Member

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    Where did you end up finding one, if you don't mind me asking?

    Try Cherry Hill Toyota in Cherry Hill, NJ (Camden
    County). I test drove a Touring Edition there about 2 weeks ago.
     
  9. PriusSmith

    PriusSmith New Member

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    We purchased it from Toyota of Morristown. I also test drove the one in Cherryhill, but was told it was gone when I called back.