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New Prius V / sitting on lot for 3 mos.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by JJWax, Sep 17, 2009.

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  1. JJWax

    JJWax Junior Member

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    Hi all, I have put down money to hold a new Prius V in Southern California. It's being driven from another dealership to the dealership I negotiated with. But...now looking closer at the Vehicle Inquiry Report, I see that the car arrived at the original dealership in June, so I'm now imagining it baking in the sun for three months on a lot in a different part of the state (apparently the Prius IIs and IIIs are much more popular there, thus why the V sat for a while).

    My questions:

    1 Does the car having sat there for three months, when most of these cars seem to fly off the showroom floor immediately, concern any of you?

    2) I've heard that Priuses that sit for a long time can sometimes develop battery problems?

    3) Should I be concerned that this was made early in the production run of the new Gen IIIs? I know this car that I'm getting does not have iPod connectivity, for example. I'm going to ask the dealership to install the iPod kit before I take delivery. Were there any other quick production adjustments that you know of to fix other little problems they found once the Gen IIIs hit the market?

    Or (quite possible) am I overthinking this and should stop worrying? :) Thanks very much in advance for your guidance!
     
    #1 JJWax, Sep 17, 2009
  2. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    I have a problem imagining an unsold Prius for 3 months including the CARS program period. I'm thinking dealers bodyshop and or waiting for parts. You have the VIR you said, what ship did it come in on?
     
    #2 JamesBurke, Sep 17, 2009
  3. rrolff

    rrolff Prius Surgeon

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    It seems cars are now landing after the CFC buyout...

    Not sure if you know - but Costco gives a very healthy discount on the V - almost $2K (MSRP $28K, Costco - $26.1K)
     
    #3 rrolff, Sep 17, 2009
  4. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

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    I have one of the earliest Prius built based on the VIN (serial # is within 002500 to zero). As anal as I am, I honestly can't say I have experienced any problem
     
    #4 cossie1600, Sep 17, 2009
  5. JJWax

    JJWax Junior Member

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    Thanks all for the quick responses! The data I have:

    Vessel: INDIANA HIGHWAY

    My serial # is above 002500, but not by much.

    And re: Costco...this is actually thru their buying program! But the only discount offered is $250 off MSRP, and honestly that seemed pretty good since I generally haven't found what I want avail in SoCal at all (V, Winter Grey ext, Dark Grey int, w/ Nav but w/o Adv Tech) and I have yet to find a dealer in LA willing to go much below MSRP.

    More thoughts welcomed and appreciated! Oh - and the reason given for why it stayed on lot for so long, even with C4C program, is that it's in a lower-income part of the state...the IIs and IIIs are much more popular there than the Vs.
     
    #5 JJWax, Sep 17, 2009
  6. DeanFL

    DeanFL 2010 owner - 1st Prius

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    My V is #1628 - zero issues.
     
    #6 DeanFL, Sep 17, 2009
  7. dmvp

    dmvp Member

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    #2820. Zero issues, besides the cargo net...but that has nothing to do with production.
     
    #7 dmvp, Sep 17, 2009
  8. dmvp

    dmvp Member

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    And there are many people here that must park outside...so probably just chill out and hopefully you'll be driving away soon!
     
    #8 dmvp, Sep 17, 2009
  9. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    #9 JamesBurke, Sep 17, 2009
  10. rrolff

    rrolff Prius Surgeon

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    San Jaun is not offering the discount, but a few were - just ask for a different referral - there's one out past Riverside, and another down south near Tijuana. Santa Monica is also participating...

    It's an easy call ;)
     
    #10 rrolff, Sep 17, 2009
  11. JJWax

    JJWax Junior Member

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    Thanks JamesBurke, for the shipping info. Does that change your mind about it, or do you think it's fine? i.e. if you were me, would you buy it?
     
    #11 JJWax, Sep 17, 2009
  12. bps

    bps Active Member

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    I would not worry at all about it sitting in the sun for 3 months, but I would be concerned if it's been used for test drives over the last 3 months. Check the odometer for the mileage at your earliest convenience.

    When I go out of my way to buy a new car, I want to make sure that I'm getting a "new car". I'm also pretty anal about breaking it in properly, although others don't think a proper break in period is necessary, so your mileage may vary. It's not uncommon for a car to be driven hard during a test drive, and I'd be concerned if dozens of test drives have been put on that car over the last 3 months.

    Before buying my 2010 Prius, I took a 2010 Subaru Outback for an extended test drive. It had 4 miles on it when we left the lot. After being urged by the salesman several times, I "tested" the antilock brakes several times in a straight line and around corners. We took it off-road and tested the handling and suspension around very bumpy corners, and let me tell you, I was taking these corners hard on very rough roads. And then I tested out the traction control in really loose sand. When we pulled back into the dealership 25 miles and 45 minutes later, that thing looked like Pig Pen from Peanuts.

    I'd definitely check the mileage on the car you're looking at...

    Bryan
     
    #12 bps, Sep 17, 2009
  13. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    Vs with no AT are pretty rare in California so grab it unless you want to pay extra for AT.
     
    #13 32kcolors, Sep 17, 2009
  14. bps

    bps Active Member

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    Also, assuming that you don't want the Safety Connect feature, you're going to save money there too...
     
    #14 bps, Sep 17, 2009
  15. JJWax

    JJWax Junior Member

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    Thanks bps! I'm told that the car on the lot has 80 miles on it - so yes it's been test driven a bit. I don't love that, but then again, this is just about the only car I can find in the state with the EXACT package of options I am looking for (other than the iPod hookup, which hopefully the dealership will install for me).

    Then...it's about to be driven approx. 200 miles to get to me, so when I take delivery it will have ~280 miles on it. Again, not ideal, and I'm pretty anal too, but I think I am willing to go for it anyway. Would this be a dealbreaker for you personally?
     
    #15 JJWax, Sep 17, 2009
  16. bps

    bps Active Member

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    Probably not. It's difficult to find the exact options you are looking for, especially in a Package V. Personally, that would weigh heavily in my decision-making process. (it's always a give-n-take) If you're heart is set on this package/options, I would buy it now.

    One thing you could do is ask for the car to be transported from the other dealership (rather than driven) and your dealership should absorb this cost. They may decline initially, but I would think you could win them over if you continued is politely insist on it, even if you have to go through a sales manager or two. This would put more break-in miles in your hands and not with someone else.

    Another option is to contact the dealer that currently has the car and see if you can strike a deal with them. If you can get them to take $500 off the sale price, and you have someone that can drive you out there, it may be worth your time. Of course, I'm sure you've already thought of this option...but I thought I would throw it out there just in case.

    It sounds like the Prius of your dreams...I hope you get it!

    Bryan
     
    #16 bps, Sep 17, 2009
  17. globalcivilian

    globalcivilian Junior Member

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    #17 globalcivilian, Sep 17, 2009
  18. Blind Guy

    Blind Guy New Member

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    In one of the above posts, they mentioned a VIR (Vehicle Inquiry Report), this document has the name of the Vessel contained within it, along with other valuable information about that specific car, like Exterior and Interior Colors, Port Installed Options and the Vehicle's VIN. This document is available from your dealer.

    David (aka Blind Guy)
     
    #18 Blind Guy, Sep 17, 2009
  19. Bobsprius

    Bobsprius BobPrius

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    JJWax,

    I wouldn't be worried one bit about it being in the sun, after all your in CA and it's gonna be in a lot more for a lot longer. I would check the car over and ask for an Immaculate Detail job and wax, and as for the 12V battery, ensure it's brought up to correct charge and if you not happy have them Swap out a new one.

    The mileage wouldn't be a real concern since your getting the V, the beneifts far outweigh that, and when I took delivery of my Gen I Prius before the latest GEN III, it had 89 miles when I test drove it and 131 at Delivery and the car never gave me any problems as a result and the warranty starts from that mileage anyway...

    I am excited for you and good luck and let us know how it came out! :)
     
    #19 Bobsprius, Sep 17, 2009
  20. JJWax

    JJWax Junior Member

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    Again, thanks to all for the posts! I'm probably just overthinking it and it sounds like I should pull the trigger. It's been very hard to find a package V without the Adv Tech, which you might think is nuts to live without if you have a V, but I know my own usage and I will never use the lane assist, the auto-parking, etc. In my opinion, any self-respecting driver should know how to parallel park their own car!!! :) What I really want on the V are the 17" wheels, and for some reason I like the factory installed V wheels and didn't want to get a package IV and then go aftermarket on some 17" rims/wheels.

    The only thing that prompted me to post was just a lingering worry that something's the matter with the car if it's been sitting on a lot for 3 months in CA's Central Valley when pretty much every other Prius I've wanted in the LA area has been claimed even before it gets off the ship! But, unless you guys really think something's fishy, I suppose I can live with the explanation that, indeed, it's from a dealership in what is generally a lower-income part of the state, so it's plausible that most people buying a Prius there would opt for simpler versions of the car and a package V could languish for a while (even during C4C program).

    I do wish this Prius had the iPod connectivity and I am going to ask the dealership to have the kit installed before I take delivery - do any of you know if this is a simple "pop-out-the-old-AUX-jack-and-pop-in-the-new-USB/AUX-kit" procedure or do they have to cut/grind something? I'm loathe to start messing with the way the car came from the factory even before I've driven it!

    Thanks again, all advice here appreciated, excited to join the club soon!
     
    #20 JJWax, Sep 17, 2009
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