Why is availability of Priuses so uncertain?

What is going on here? This is insane. All I want to do is buy a car, and I'm willing to pay cash for MSRP. Why is this such a problem?[/quote]


This is a simple case of demand exceeding supply in your area. These guys are going to sell to the highest bidder no matter what, hell with any agreement. Although it does not help you now, this situation is going to change with the introduction of more and more of these kinds of vehicles. Have you considered going out of state?

 

Blizzard white with solar in SE. Only 1 available 18 more coming. Do you know how to search inventory for SET? I use this link and dealer in NC. Fred Anderson Toyota Raleigh North Carolina New Highlander New Light Harnett

Sorry your local dealers are... !###%$.

 

It is because you are right in the middle of C4C craze, the salesman will sell to the highest bidder. The salesman broke his promise that you car is available and is not, this is a very typical tactic called bait and switch. They just want to get you to into their showroom and try to pressure you into something else or at highest price than agreed upon.
Now the C4C is over, the inventory will start building up in a one month or two, try again then.

 

This post has the incoming ships for the east coast.
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/61970-car-carrier-ship-tracking-25.html

 

Factors

The sheer variety of cars and their available colors and options are what make this a crapshoot most of the time. One never knows what the next buyer will request, and what they are open to.

Each individual dealership is a microcosm of the great picture.
I can ask for a specific car allocation after allocation, but the folks asking for that same car for the longest amount of time will get the car first, that's just how it works. You have to use your ability to dealer trade and finagle cars for the sold orders. And, pray that your clients are flexible.

That said, it sounds to me like your dealerships local to your region are adding profit markups on the window stickers... so your real problem is the dealers you are interacting with, not Toyota as a whole? I am no stranger to that practice in Southern CA - although we don't do that here at my dealership - and it's a shame when it happens to you as much as it has.

Dianne

 

I just posted about one that is (supposed to be!) available in Knoxville, TN, at least it was yesterday. About checking inventory, I agree it is worth it to look at inventories, though I have to admit I was told by dealerships that those listed as available on an inventory were not necessarily really available to that particular dealership for a variety of reasons.

If I hear of another car fitting your description, I will be sure to post. Good luck!

 

Well all I can say is I have had a deposit on an order (preference)for a Barcelona Red IV Solar with Bisque interior since June 2 and I am still down 3 from the top of the list. I hate all this preference BS saying you can't just order a car.

Last year I ordered Lexus 400h the way I wanted it exactly to a T. I had it in 3 months, now Lexus hybrids aren't easy to get either and its the same company so what gives anyway?

 

Many dealerships, such as ours, uses a "live feed" from the computerized inventory that has no way to discern between the sold-with-deposit-on-it cars and the available ones. I'm sure I have cars showing today that look as if they are there or open for sale -- many which are not and haven't been for weeks.

That's why I post our Prius inventory here at PC. Because I know what's really open for sale - that goes for every single model we sell (not just Prius).

I used to do the complete online inventory myself daily... but that's too much work anymore. Yes, it's a hassle at times to deflect the frustrated phone calls, but it's also nice to be able to find a replicate car for someone who wanted a vehicle already sold, allowing me to go get them another one like it.

Dianne

 

I have some thoughts... and have expressed these over the past few weeks with folks frustrated with the delays in getting their cars.

Imagine, if you can, the Prius being this great big giant pie.
There are 4 different models, II III IV and V. They are not built in an even ratio in each region of the country either.

Those pie chunks have to further be split into package combinations. Then, those have to be split into quite a number of color combinations with both interior and exterior colors being quite a variety.

II - no package.
III - EJ, NAV, or sunroof/Nav.
IV - NAV or sunroof/NAV
V - NAV or AT package

and then, colors:

white (3) white with tan, white with light gray, white with dark gray
silver (2) silver with light gray, silver with dark gray
gold (1) sandy beach with tan
blue (2) blue with tan, blue with dark gray
gray (2) winter gray with light gray, winter gray with dark gray
red (2) red with dark gray, red with tan
black (2) black with light gray, black with dark gray

The sheer variety and possiblity gets further complicated when you have a client who wants ONLY one of those many combinations with 1 exterior, 1 interior, 1 specific package -- and that package is built in small ratio already... as well as the color combination being rare too.

YOU are the author of your own fate. Flexible? Faster car! Inflexible? Could be a wait, and sometimes, a long one! The more pieces of that pie you are open to, the better.

Di

 

I'm looking for a Barcelona Red Prius III or IV with solar and dark gray leather. Working with the dealerships in my neck of the woods is very frustrating. I understand the supply vs demand. I'm just sick of them trying to talk me out of the Prius and into a Camry. I spent an hour trying to convince the salesman that I don't NEED Toyoguard. I can't believe he actually told me that I need Toyoguard. He was busy telling me about all the extras I need, but he couldn't answer any specific questions about the features. What is Plasma cluster? I never got a real answer. He gave up. I was disgusted.

I understand that I might have to pay MSRP. But do I need to pay dealer fees and MSRP? I'm sick of SET and all Georgia and Alabama dealerships in general.

 

Hey Bama, I just posted on the pricing thread in this forum. There might be some useful info there for you. If dealers know you are shopping (and mine did) they may well come down on those fees for you, though they won't likely volunteer that right up front. Also, about those SET fees, I believe Tennessee dealers may not have those fees, but I could be wrong. And then again, they may have other fees!

I did a lot of shopping by email, contacting dealers through their web site or through the links at the top of the Prius Chat pages, where I could see a list of inventory and get dealer email addresses. Of course I still had to shop on the lot, but narrowing things down by email helped. And when I got a quote that was favorable, I showed it to my local dealer. He knew I was ready to travel for the right deal, and that I was shopping around, but that I preferred to buy locally if they made it worth my time.

I empathize with your shopping frustration. Shop a few more states, especially online, get info by phone, email, and/or in person, and be open to the possibility of taking an overnight trip or long weekend if you can. If I see a car similar to what you described, I will be sure to let you know.

 

I'm in a similar position. I'm looking to buy now, but am particular about the option package. Either a III w/ SR or II with no options, white or blue.

The closest dealer in NJ basically laughed at me and didn't offer to help find one in any way. The mumbled something about preferencing, but didnt bother explaining.

Anyone have any luck finding a specific package in this area?

 

I don't know about other areas but my dealer just east of Charlotte, don't know if I can mention a name or not, has plenty of Prius's. When I dropped off the extra keys from our trade Tues. or Wed. they had 4 whites and a gold sitting togethe and had a V sitting nearby that look like it had just come in. I will never, ever pay a Market Adjustment, MSRP yes but no upcharge,.