I have been on the waiting list now for about four months. Last week I spoke with a good friend who is high-up on the Toyota line of command here in Torrance, California (Toyota Headquaters) and he told me, quite honestly, to simply wait until mid year 2005. My friend works with the Prius product only. For a few reasons -- He claims that the waiting list by next year should be defunct. Toyota has increased production ten fold so in the near future, the Prius will be as common as the VW Beetle. Yay! Also, in the next few years, the Prius, along with the highlander will be built on U.S. soil so there will be very little transit lag. Options: There are supposedly a few new colors, though he did not speculate whether these new colors were interior or exterior but in discussion, he made it sound like the grey interior was what was going to be available on many of the other current colors. Price and Availabilty: Who's going to pay over MSRP for a car that I can find if I simply shop around? (Speaking in terms of next year + a few months, of course). Don't forget, Toyota will have their Toyota US bank at the end of next year too. Let the hype simmer down -- even though the Prius is an extremely EXCELLENT automobile that WILL change the automotive industry, as it has already, when availability increases, demand will decrease. Remember, Toyota's goal is to sell as many as possible. A few minor changes in this model over the next two years: I am told that the Prius will certainly have the autodoor locking (when shifted into drive, doors lock) and conversly for shifting into Park, doors unlock -- this feature will be "activated" in the next 24 months or so. The "Sport" Prius (upcomming model) will have seating that has Neoprene centers with sides done in suede. Heated seats are not going to be an option and should never be available on the Prius - as well as power seats and leather. After speaking to my Toyota friend last week, I got the call from one of the dealerships that I am wait listed at. A silver #9 Prius has come in - my color- my car - but I TURNED IT DOWN. They said that I HAD to buy the extended warranty and the car would remain at MSRP. Regardless of the fact that I would have purchased the warranty anyhow, I don't like to be forced to purchase anything. I will simply wait until next year - time always changes things and after speaking with my Totota friend, I feel confident that "All good things do come to he who waits..."
There are always reasons to delay purchase. Toyota (and most of the other consumer goods specialists) constantly improving their products. This alone is not a good reason for delay. It's always wise to wait, but think about opportunity cost (tangible and intangible)...
Great Info! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. All this seems to go with my thinking as well. Toyota is in the business to sell cars, they are probably just as unhappy as we are having waiting lists to sell their product. (But I'm sure it IS much better than the other way around.) I also see them ignoring the leather, power seat options since that would go against the whole design of the Prius. (Much to my dismay.) I find it VERY interesting that they are going to look at building them here though. One of the reason I think the Prius are so great is their build quality. Mine had no sample defects. And I've yet to see one that did. Hopefully that will continue when the line is brought over. My thinking would also be that they create a new Prius model built on the same line that could be a bit smaller (maybe no back seat or ones that fold away?) that could go against the Mini's. Same engine and stuff would make this a lighter, probably even more manueveable. (I'd think Jittery on the highways though.) Given what the Scion is doing, I'm thinking there will be different models as soon as the current Prius model runs it course and they are building them in the US.
I wish more people who don't need a Prius right now would wait till next year - then perhaps I could get one sooner. My old car had a tree fall on it in November, and the Prius I ordered back then should finally arrive the first week of April. While it would be great to be able to wait for new features/options/colors/etc., sometimes one does not have a choice. If you wait, there will always be something newer/better coming out. As with purchasing computers, houses, etc. my philosophy is to look around for a good deal (if time permits), buy what you think you'll need, when you need it, and don't look back.
Interesting News. Waiting is fine for some purposes. I'm one who loves the car buying experience so much, I enter into it only when I must. I've a car that's turning unreliable that I'm trying to replace. So in my case waiting for the '05 is only an option if the car I'm replacing doesn't die. Otherwise I have to find a different vehicle. Most likely not a Toyota(1). Then I revisit the issue in 5 to 10 years when the new beast gets unreliable. cas (tideland/seaside any color but brown actually AM 24 Dec'03) (1) see my dealer told me the car i ordered had shipped, arrived in LA on 23 Feb. But they don't know where it is.... they don't know what to do about it.... but now they think they'll call toyota on monday and get me answers...
I prefer to wait until the second year of a model so they can shake out the initial redesign issues. Having the long wait time for the '04 kind of helps since I know I'd be waiting at least 4 months anyway. Should be able to order an '05 a couple of months after the '04 would arrive and hopefully get it in a few weeks.
