Ok. I saw an ad on craigslist for prii on the lot ready to go. Turns out it was from the dealership (Fred Anderson, Raleigh, NC) that I had had a deposit in with, but which ended up trying to jack up the price with options. I ended up getting my deposit back. As far as my wife is concerned, they're out of the running, but..... They have a 2008 package two, seaside pearl (exactly what I was looking for), I was a fleet/rental vehicle, and has 17,000 miles on it. Assuming that it is certified by the delership, it would be $24,900 (the same price I was quoted for a new 2009 from another dealership). It has a clean history and I'm going to go look at it tomorrow. Here're the other details. I have another dealership in SC (Toyota of Greenville) that has told me that they will have an allocation in another week or so. They're not doing a waiting list, they just call folks that are a match when they have the allocation. They say that they have control over options and accessories and that they get the allocation when the car is still on the boat, and that if I don't want ToyotaGuard or other $$$ accessories, I can get it without. Then again, that's what Fred Anderson told me originally too. I'm also on the list with a dealership in Winston Salem that says they have control over the options too. So.... If it was you, would you buy this car (at new car MSRP) or would you wait for the new one at MSRP? Jack
Can anyone give some reasoning? I've been waiting for a new one from three different dealers since June, and don't have any guarantee that the ones I'm waiting on now won't pull the same stunt the last one did. I really can't afford to spend an extra 2000 on options I don't want that Southeastern Toyota really seems to like to slap onto cars sold in this area, so even though it's used it's really tempting. Jack
I would wait for the new one. You will probably drive this car for many years, and I think it's worth the wait to get a brand new car with no miles on it. Think of it this way -- you can have a Prius now, but as both cars are relatively the same price, taking possession of the used car now will cost you 17,000 and the wear and tear of the first owner. I had a chance to buy a used one with 12,000 miles for the 2008 MSRP price but I got cold feet and decided to wait. I'm really glad I did! I love my brand-new, pristine, 2008 Prius and its new car smell.
Just my opinion but here in SE Florida, there are new cars for about $2000 over MSRP. NOT normally a great deal. In your case the 17,000 miles costs you over 10 cents for each mile AND that car is a 2008 not 2009. Also half the normal 36,000 mile warranty has been used. Lastly, dealer certified means?????? "It don't mean a thing." and you really don't care as long as Toyota will stand by the 36,000 warranty. Just my .02 worth. We'll still love you whichever way you go.
I would wait. You've already held out for 3 months. All indicators seem to be that the shortages are coming to an end now that the '09s are flowing, and prices are returning to MSRP. If you are that impatient, I think you'd be better off going to a dealer farther away that already has '09s on the lot and driving it home. Knowing how most people treat loaner/rental cars, I'd need a lot more price incentive to consider one. I bought a salvage vehicle, so obviously I can be persuaded otherwise, but at the time I saved about $10k off kbb. To me that was worth it. I don't think this is. Rob
Wait. Don't buy from that dealer. After all, he's violated the craigslist TOS... and tried to jack you around once already.
I think you should wait a well. You will be getting a new car that you will probably have for a long time. With the new car comes the 36,000 mile warranty, with the certified one, you only have 19,000 miles cause it already has 17,000 miles on it. Also, I think you should get from the other dealer cause this Fred place seems to be jerking you around.
Simple and to the point. Why pay the same price for a car that someone else's butt has been for many miles? Why pay the same price for a car with less warranty? Why pay the same price when YOU don't know what has been done to the vehicle in the previous 17,000 miles? After all, do you really want to trust that a dealership that has already lied to you once will not do it a second time and hide something that was done to the car? If you wait, and I understand that the waiting is difficult, you will be happier in the long run, even if you end up paying a few dollars more (not the thousands you're talking about though.) I had the chance to purchase a Prius the other day, but it was not the color my wife and I want (she was with me). We drove off, discussed it, and decided we did the right thing even though we want to get our car and are beginning to have that annoying ITCH. If you are anxious about taking off the options that SouthEast Toyota slaps on the cars at the dock, I suggest you get a copy of the price that was quoted to you and take it with you when you go to the dealer. Before you go to the dealer, verify that the car you are traveling so far to get does not have those extras you don't want to pay for AND request they send you an email stating that the car does not have them. You know, since you ARE traveling so far to buy the car. Just my thoughts. Good luck. Sam
it's not worth it to deal with the dealerships here in the triangle. if i were you i'd call up dealers in VA because they're outside the reign of SET. if the price is the same, i'd wait for the new one. i'm frugal but not as a rule cheap- i'd sooner get the better deal for the same price even if some waiting was involved. we got on the waiting list in 11/04 and passed on several used ones offered to us for more than the cost of the new one we got in 3/05. if i may assume you're financing, used car loans usually have higher interest rates than new car loans so it would also cost more in the long run. that's my take on it, and i've been there.
Having driven and been driven in many rental cars, I have a built-in bias against purchasing them. Yes, they're maintenance might have been kept up, but they've been regularly abused by their drivers. Unless there's a real advantage here I don't see, I'd wait and get a new one...
