2006 delivery date?

Here's my .02 worth and I have keene interest being at the top of my dealer's list and waiting for an 06. My understanding is that the factory in Japan did their model year cutover and started manufacturing 2006's beginning November 1. The following link presumably shows the November schedule for Toyota shipping.

http://www.toyofuji.co.jp/ships/north_america.pdf

Assuming the cars are rolling off the line and straight to the docks for shipment, it would take a couple of weeks to get enough cars (4000+) to load. You will see the next two ships depart Japan the 21 and 24th of November (takes longer through Panama to get to the east coast). I any event, cars HOPEFULLY will start hitting U.S. ports the first week in December, another 5-12 days to load and move by land carrier, my BEST GUESS is that we will begin to see them mid-December at best. the rumor is that dealers should start taking "preference requests" (they can't place facotry build orders) the first part of next week.

That's my logic and I'm sticking to it. Anyone else see this differently?

 

You're all over it, lwillis.

 

Not only are you all over it, but that makes the most sense to everyone, as neither Toyota nor the dealers want to keep cars in inventory any longer than they need too, and anyone who knows about the tax incentives doesn't want the car until the 1st of January.

So, good planning all around...

 

here in hawaii it's still a 3-4 month wait. i just inquired about the '06 delivery and if i ordered this month, i'll be in the list for Feb. '06 production for delivery sometime in march.

 

How many packages do they offer in HI?

 

According to my salesman. Hawaii dealers are offering #2, #3, #4, #6. and #8.

Hope to get some info on allocations next week. <_<

It also seems reasonable, since we are closer, we should get them first.

 

It may make sense since you are closer, the downside is the fact it is a much smaller market. Toyota won't be chartering a special ship just to deliver Prii from Japan to Hawaii. My guess the is that one that will go to Hawaii will actaully be routed from deliveries from the delivery port of Long Beach. I know it seems like a long way to get there but is probably why you are being told it will Feb+ before you see any.

Les Willis

 

Not necessarily... Depends on your tax situation and whether or not a deduction allowed under AMT is better than a credit which is disallowed. Some people want to hurry up and buy before the end of the year (for tax reasons alone).

 

Routed through Long Beach? Yikes I hope not
Ok, maybe the boat stops in Hawaii first, then sails on to Long Beach. That's my fantasy and I'm sticking to it!
Now, see what you have done. I have to call my salesman today

BTW - that was eak354 that was told Feb+. I got on the list in Sep and am hoping for an early Jan delivery.

 

Sorry to rain on your parade. According to the Toyofuji Shipping Co. schedule, the ship's route is Toyohashi - Portland - Long Beach - Toyohashi.

 

Yes, is there any availablity/delivery info from Toyota? Would be nice to know!
Thanks,
Judy

 

2006 Priuses will arrive at the very end of this month and start being delivered to customers most likely the first week in Dec. (for those who don't want to wait until the new Federal tax credit takes effect 1/1/06).

Availability? Do you mean how hard will it be for you to find one that's not "spoken for"? Call dealers as fast as you can! It varies a lot.

 

Thanks for all the specific delivery info. Any tips about the following:

(a) would dealers in the Long Beach or Portland areas be receiving cars before dealers in the San Francisco Bay Area? I believe for me it would be advantageous from a tax perspective to get the vehicle before 12/31/05, and I don't mind flying to LB or Portland and driving back with my new car to make this happen!

(b) how many dealers lists should I get on? Is it possible to tell which dealers will get vehicles first? We signed up several months ago with a dealer in our area (SF) and just found out today that we are #12 on the list :-( The sales mgr told us that they will start seeing the '06 models in early or mid Dec.

 

actually what makes the wait long is the small allocation of around 30 Prii per month for the entire hawaii fleet (was at 30, then went to 60, but will go back to 30 next year). there is a big demand for the Prius, even more since gas prices sky rocketed the the past couple of months. they are right on the button when it comes to delivery. When I ordered mine in Oct '03 i was told i'm allocated for January '04 production (Feb. delivery). Surely enough i got the call mid Feb. (and it really was of Jan. production). i dont know about shipping routes but that would be quick shipping.

 

This depends much more on the flexibility you have in the color/package combo than on what number you are on the "overall" list, which thus really means almost nothing. WITHIN "the list" are "sublists" of combos, some of which (most?) you are not competing with for a car. E.g., If you'll accept ONLY a seaside blue #2, you're not competing with those who'll only accept something 3-8. Then there's the issue of what proportion of #2s Toyota manufactures and ships here, as well as how many they paint blue.

In other words, the more flexibility, the higher you really are on "the list". When actually buying, many accept colors and packages NOT their first preference, just to get a Prius. (I'd love to see data on this!).

Conversely, if you'll only accept the color Toyota produces least, and the package they produce least, you're (to use your example) not 12th on the list---you may be 50th!

It's complicated. On top of it all, some dealers will go an extra mile and swap cars with another region to get a particular combo for a customer.