2006 Prius --Why is Canadian price so high?

After lurking in silence for a few months, I finally decided to register and this is officially my first post! B)

I am currently saving up to buy a Prius in the next year or so, and I have been wondering the same thing... likewise for the fact that the Canadian market does not get some of the options as the US, such as HIDs. I also find there to be very few Prii on the road here in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) - though I suspect no less than anywhere else in Canada, which is easily understandable considering the high price for Canada!

On a side note, can anyone confirm the Bluetooth availability in Canada? When the 2005 was on the toyota.ca site, in the 'Prius gets Navigation system' link there was a mention of it, but nowhere else. Now I don't see anything. Likewise when I was at a dealer a few months ago, I asked the sales guy about BlueTooth, and he didn't know anything about it... Does the Canadian "Package C" model support Bluetooth? If so, does there exist a compatibility list for phones/PDAs? I'm thinking of possibly getting a Palm Treo (650?) in the future...


Thanks!

- Kevin

 

and to think that 2 years ago, only toyota canada offered the mud flaps, window visors and bug deflector! and for them not offer those options!

 

Please - the Prius may be more expensive in Canada than in the States - but that's nothing compared to my country.

Here the cheapest version starts at USD 43.000 - and upwards...

Enjoy!

 

habel -- tell them what your gas prices are. :blink:

 

If I lived in Canada, and there was not some stupid import tax :angry: , or other cost that brought the price up, I would order what I wanted on the internet, from a US dealer,m then when it came in, go to the us to pick it up. It would provide a gfood reason to practice driving to get the best mileage.

 

Habel, but you still have the highest standard of living, so cheer up

 

Oddly enough, some models from The Big Three and Toyota were CHEAPER to buy in Canada, after exchange. Americans were driving North to buy them, so they clamped down on it.

In particular, there is that disclaimer "Intended for primary registration and use in Canada ... this vehicle is NOT intended for registration or use in the United States." And you void the warranty by doing so.

My local Toyota dealer claims to have had calls from potential customers in CA and MA who - after comparing the inflated-over-MSRP - reasoned it would be cheaper to buy one in Canada. The dealer had to decline, claiming Toyota Canada is now forbidding such practice.

 

The 2006 Canadian base price is actually $31280 or $26588 US. In addition there is the Federal GST of 7% and in my province a sales tax of 8%. My recently ordered Package 'C' which appears to be essentially the American package 7 (fully loaded but no leather) has a base price of $38710 or $34421 US plus 15% taxes. There is a $1000 tax rebate in Ontario for purchasing a hybrid and a $100 energy conservation savings to offset the $100 tax for having an air conditioner.

The Canadian package does include Roadside Assistance with the first four oil changes free in addition to those other things mentioned above.

Still can't wait for delivery of mine --- not until April as I'd rather not learn how to properly drive the Prius way in a Canadian winter.

 

In Australia they start at AU$36500 (US$26645) plus AU$8500 (US$6205) for the only package (in 2005 #6). On top of that are 'dealer delivery' charges, registration etc. which make a package #6 cost us about AU$49000 (US$35770) on the road.We are still waiting for Toyota Australia to notify the '06 pricing and to update their web site.

 

my local dealer has them sitting on the lot getting dirty from all the dust and pollution in the air. People here aren't dumb and that's why Toyota has inventory here and not in the states. This is part of the reason I drive a 2k3 Prius, dealer wanted it out of inventory and Toyota was offering a dealer rebate and I got it at dealer cost, saved about $5250 on it. That will buy a lot of gas, as I'm spending about $700 a year on gas it'll pay my gas bill for about 7 1/2 years. And I got a free block heater. B)

 

Does that include the GST or do they tack that on to the base price later? In the US, the base price doesn't include any state taxes. California adds whatever your local sales tax is based on the city you live in (not where you buy the car). For me, I think that's an extra 7.25% (or about $1500).

 

GST (7%) is added to the final price less trade if applicable. Most Provinces add sales tax which varies by Province except British Columbia as the gov here dropped the sales tax to a limit of $2000 on Hybrids if the tax is more than $2000 you pay at the level of 7% So on a Prius at $37000 Cdn you pay $2590 GST Plus $2590 less $2000= $590 so your total tax is $3180 bringing the price of the Prius to $40,180

 

I'll give it a try, Maggie!

 

In Norway, we have always had high prices on gas, even if we are a significant oil (and gas) producing country.

Prices here for a gallon of gasoline is approx. USD 6,25

Diesel is somewhat cheaper though (about 10%) - which have meant that some people have been switching to diesel the last 2 to 3 years.