07 Prius on hold at dealer, have some questions

In the Dallas area, there are dozens of Prius cars sitting on dealers lots. And five dealers within 20 miles of my house.

You can wheel and deal. You can buy for very close to the Edmunds pricing guide. Transportation cost was up compared to what they listed (by another $55). OTherwise, the prices that Edmunds listed were close to what the dealer claimed as 'invoice'.

No need to pay MSRP anymore. There are enough around to wheel and deal. Buy at the end of the month to get the best deals, or at the end of the quarter for even better deals.

Two of the three lcoal dealers anxious to sell. THe other one still thought that folks believed that the Prius was 'hard to get' and figured they could load up the price, load up the options, and charge $1000 more than the other two, and look at you and say 'that's a fantastic deal'. Needless to say, Toyota of McKinney didn't get to sell a car to me.

Two of the three only had cars with the 'Extra Mile Package' that included floor mats, mud guards, and a bunch of other stuff I really didn't want or want to pay for.

One had the Option 4 in a color I wanted (Not Black, Not White, Not Red) and with only the floor mats and mud guards. That was the one I wound up buying.


My 2007 is now 3 days old. So far so good. Took a while to figure out how to program the garage door opener (figuring out to hold down the button for 1 or 2 seconds to get it to work).....now fine. Otherwise, I think I have most of the operating controls figured out.

t.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ May 31 2007, 07:28 PM) [snapback]452977[/snapback]</div>

while i'm very happy with my new prius.... in no way do i consider it a luxury car.....

i had more gadgets on my honda accord and that was definitely not a luxury car!!!! the prius has a lit of little niceties.... but it needs a LOT more to make it luxury (IMHO)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ May 31 2007, 09:28 PM) [snapback]452977[/snapback]</div>

I thought that a Hummer H3 was a women's mid-life crisis car, and a Corvette was a men's mid-life crisis car. At least where I live..lol.

 

'I have regular tires on my TL so when there is a good bit of snow I can floor the TL and it will just sit there and inch forward due to the traction control"

Holy cow, someone actually admitting other cars do this too! It's not just the Prius that has 'aggressive' trac control. You need to post in the 'traction control complaints" thread, just to give a testimony that it isn't just the Prius that has trac control limits. Next question, does Acura have an on/off switch for trac control?

Aside from my remarks, get the Prius, hands down the BEST car out there. You'll wonder why u didn't get one sooner. I still wonder why all those cars in stopped traffic with me are idling, seems so old-school, and not in a good way.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(desertbriez @ May 31 2007, 09:08 PM) [snapback]452933[/snapback]</div>

EXACTLY......... we too traded in a beautiful (showroom condition) '03 Acura MDX Touring, NAVI, Trailer Towing package (genuine Acura factory trans. cooler & fame hitch, which we NEVER used). Just got through putting four brand new (nitrogen filled) Michelins (same as came with vehicle) top-of-the-line tires, new Akebono ceramic brake pads and cross-drilled/ventilated rotors, new battery (Sears HD SUV), etc. We are non-smokers, no kids, interior mint..... exterior no dents, dings, better than new (Klasse polish helped) and we really got just a "so-so" trade-in............ $19,500 <ouch>

The BIGGEST "problem" was the requirement of PREMIUM FUEL ONLY, could not even use a mid-grade (89) !! My Wife could easily get 22+ MPG, but me, "Mister aggressive lead foot", would get around 19 MPG at best case !! Her 50+ miles per day commute as well as weekend driving was costing $40 - $50 per week...... :angry: !!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FloridaWen @ Jun 2 2007, 08:02 AM) [snapback]453834[/snapback]</div>

You were actually gullible enough to fall for the nitrogen filled tires scam? Did you also have one of those Vortex Valves installed?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swanny1172 @ Jun 2 2007, 08:18 AM) [snapback]453837[/snapback]</div>

YES.......... I truly believe in that fact that nitrogen does not expand or contract nearly as much as "regular air"........ just MY belief, and here is an interesting article - By James Burchill

Selling Nitrogen In Tires - Is It All A Lot Of Hot Air?
Actually... no. But it will require a little explanation and some basic chemistry discussion so here goes...
The earths atmosphere is composed primarily of Nitrogen (78%), the remaining balance is a mixture of Oxygen (21%) and a small percentage of Ozone, Argon and Carbon gases. Isn’t it ironic that the very gas (oxygen) that sustains life also causes organic materials to decompose and metals to rust?
Remove The Oxygen And Stop The Rot
To stop this decomposition you simply need to remove the oxygen from the air. (Incidentally, removing oxygen also means that you remove water because water is two parts Hydrogen gas, and one part Oxygen gas.)
Removing Oxygen from products is not new, we do it all the time with our food and drink. In fact, if we did not remove the oxygen our food would not likely last long enough to make it into the hands of the consumers or it would taste stale and unappealing.
Nitrogen In Tires
Here are a few other benefits of using Nitrogen in tires:
[1] Nitrogen is denser than Oxygen: This means the larger molecules escape less easily from tires resulting in a more gradual loss of pressure over time. According to the Michelin Tire Manual, a tire that is inflated with Nitrogen loses its pressure 3 times slower than if it were inflated with air.
[2] Nitrogen is moisture free: Pure Nitrogen inflated tires experience less steel belt and rubber degradation. Nitrogen use also reduces valve and wheel corrosion.
[3] Nitrogen provides longer tire life: Nitrogen inflated tire run cooler and require less maintenance according to the Goodyear application bulletin.
[4] Nitrogen is non-flammable: Nitrogen technology has been used in aircraft, military and race car technology for over thirty years.
Does Joe Consumer Get It’?
But can we expect Joe Consumer to start paying for this new air anytime soon? As always, the answer is it depends.â€If enough businesses and corporations get behind the idea and promote it steadily, uniformly and explain the numerous safety and cost savings, then eventually the message should make it through.
However, you do need to be realistic its still considered by Joe Consumer to be new and anything new is usually avoided until it becomes familiar its called the product adoption process.
It’s Still Weird Science
The other point to consider here is selling Nitrogen is still science and most people are not that comfortable with the whole science thing. And if you recall I mentioned that regular everyday air is 78% nitrogen anyway – so what would they be paying for?
Regular air is approximately 80% nitrogen anyway, are we to believe that an extra 20% makes all the difference. Ironically we now know that the answer is yes.
A Moral Dilemma
You and I both know that if using Nitrogen means your clients tires last longer they will save money by not having to purchase as many tires. So Nitrogen use could mean less tire sales and thats the moral dilemma for you. Do you want to make a few dollars on tire inflation services that might ultimately reduce your tire sales or do you want to keep on doing business the way it is now?
Make Mine A Light Air
One thing’s for sure, with regular air and diet air (or is that Air2 with half the carbs) Nitrogen as a tire inflation option will slowly seep into the main stream (and yes the seep pun was intentional).
Now take a deep breath you just inhaled 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and a few other lesser gases. Could you tell? Did it taste or smell different? That's part of the challenge isn't it. If regular customers are wary about the things they cannot see, what makes you think selling new air is going to be any easier.
JAMES C. BURCHILL is a 20-year veteran entrepreneur and information technology executive who now provides strategic marketing consulting services to a select group of clients. He is a published author, a passionate advocate of technology and the Internet, as well as an avid study of classical advertising and marketing strategies (which he uses during ‘Internet alchemy’ experiments.) James is an expert in information and data management, Internet marketing and online networking. A self confessed 'information and technology enthusiast', James brings a wide range of valuable skills to any venture. Of singular note is James' ability to assimilate complex subject matter and produce clean clear 'easy-to-understand' messages. James has been interviewed many times and caused quite the media buzz when a client ‘double-dog-dared’ him to prove you can get front page coverage for $0. The details and that dumb stunt are now part of eBay legend. Currently James lives in Ontario, Canada with his wife and family, their Siamese cat and one very nervous fish. Visit http://www.JamesBurchill.com for details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Burchill

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swanny1172 @ Jun 2 2007, 08:18 AM) [snapback]453837[/snapback]</div>

Of course NOT............. what's the purpose of a Vortex Valve (in MY situation) when the MDX oil pan had like an 12"+ ground clearance and when up on ramps (plastic drive-up) made it well over 20"........ this middle aged, pudgy body had no trouble gettin' under there to get at the oil drain plug............

 

Uh, the Vortex Valve is one of those gizmos that goes in your intake to supposedly spin the air for better gas/air mixture before combustion. What your are referencing is a Fumoto valve which replaces your drain plug for easier oil changes.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swanny1172 @ Jun 2 2007, 09:22 AM) [snapback]453854[/snapback]</div>

Okay, I made a mistake (Vortex, Fumoto) it's still early in the morning.................... :lol:

Those VORTEX "air swirlers" are the most ridiculous things I have ever seen................. yet people really do "fall" for the hype and buy them.......... I see them a lot at "Home Shows", even at "Vehicle Swap Meets"......... there was another device that was supposed to go over the fuel line to "align fuel molecules", remember that one ?? Do they still have the J.C. Whitney catalog ?? I remember them selling an OIL FILTER Conversion that allowed you to use (get this) a ROLL of toilet paper as the filter............. remember that one ??

I also remember reading on this forum about a person that owns some "exotic" (MB ??) that had the oil drain plug really "hidden" and very inaccessible"............ now THIS is the case when I would use the FUMOTO !!