According to Green Car Congress, Toyota will be lowering the price of the 2009 Prius soon. Don't know if this is just in Japan or if it will happen in the U.S. as well. Green Car Congress: Report: Toyota Will Cut Price of Existing Prius to Counter Honda Insight
This does not come as much of a surprise. Just one week ago I saw our local dealer had 11 new 2009 models on the lot. I'd never seen more than 3 or 4 at a time before. When you combine this with the fact the 2010 will be coming out in only 3 to 4 months, you can see why they may need to drop the price on 2009s. The troublesome thing is the "hefty price tag" associated with the 2010!
2.5 million yen are US$27620 so calling this "hefty" seems to be a bit of hype but we'll have to wait to see what it buys. My interpretation is that the current version will be stripped down somewhat and end up in less affluent markets and perhaps US fleet sales. Whether the MSRP rises or falls the selling price has to soften or fall because gas prices are still low, the automotive market is contracting, and for the first time in years there is serious hybrid competition. There is a $500 rebate on the 2009 Prius that expires on 2/2/09.
I wouldn't pay more than invoice for any car right now (could probably get below invoice even). The San Diego Dealer has had about 100 Prius's sitting on the lot for the last few months. No one is buying.
Bad move in my view. If they keep selling the existing car, but with a price a couple grand lower, it'll harm both the reputation of the model and the resale value of existing cars. This is the sort of strategy that got GM where it is today.
Toyota is not lowering the price of the exiting 09 G2 Prius. They will introduce a strip down version of G2 at a lower price point to counter the Insight as a 09 1/2 model. It will not harm the reputation of the model. The resale value is still base on supply and demand.
Think they'll really remove $2000 worth of features? They could remove the A/C, power windows, etc., but this doesn't seem likely to me. Time will tell.
The current 2009 base price is $22000. Its not a stretch to think that Toyota will drop the price to $19999. They may remove features, they may not. A price drop like that will hurt resale values but no more then the 10% it represents, less if they remove many features from the base model. If they do this it WILL hurt demand for the new Insight and they will continue to totally dominate the hybrid market.
Here's one possible list: Replace aluminum wheels with steel wheels: $400 Remove MFD: $800 Replace air conditioning auto temp control with manually controlled system: $400 Replace stereo system with less expensive model that has face plate controls, uses four cheap speakers, no iPod aux input, no Bluetooth cell phone support, etc.: $300 Lower quality of cloth upholstery fabric; change interior door panels and instrument panels from padded finish to hard plastic: $100
I went to my dealer today to pre-order a 2010. I will be # 13th on their list. However, they are selling a package #6 2009 G2 for $23,095. Very tempting. WRT the 2010 I had lots of questions and got the same answer - "We don't know". I got more of the same answers as the DC car show yesterday. The only clear answer I got on the arrival of the G3 Prius was late Spring, "like June 20th", they said. Guess we just have to wait until May for the pricing info. Sure does make that 2009 a tempting thing to buy.
I am now a two prius family! Bought a new 2009 mica blue pkg for $21,538 on Friday. That was $3000 off the MSRP. I will now patiently wait for a pleathora of phevs in about 2014. Lower price and proven technology by then. I'm sure with the overall sales drop Toyota is scrambling to clear inventory for 2010.
Out the door or plus tax? What package is it? Do you know if that dealer has other such good deals? Who is the dealer? May need to buy a 2nd one for the better half
I am curios to know what people have bought their new 2009 prius for with in the last month or two for a package #5 (less the leather trimmed seats and steering wheel), with carpet floor and cargo mats, and cargo net, in the new york, pennsylvania, ohio, massachusetts area.... your best MSRP discounted price before taxes....have an offer of $26,000.00 before taxes etc and was wondering if i can do or expect a better price...thanks for any help and info....bob
I bought a package 4 for $24,581 after factoring in the $750 rebate on 01/16/09. It had the carpet floor mats, cargo mat and net. That was before taxes and DMV fees. MSRP was $27,023. This was in northern WV about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh, PA.
Yesterday I purchased a 09 with package 6, $22888 and out the door for about $25,000. I paaid more in 2006 for my package 2 and I had to wait for 5 months for it
