5/20/08/2008 Touring/Silver Classic Metallic/Pkg.#2/Lake Park, FL

Date Ordered: May 20, 2008
Dealer Ordered From: Earl Stewart Toyota, Lake Park, FL
Timeframe given for delivery: 8-10 weeks
Color: Silver Classic Metallic
Option Package: #2
Your # on Dealer's Waiting List: 25

Hello to all:

Presently I am driving a gas-piggy 60k miler 2003 Toyota Tundra V-8, 4 Wheel Drive, Fuel Injected, Limited Edition, dual Borla Exhaust, Limited slip differential, Access Cab, A/C, Leather Seats, Rhino Bed Liner, front Skid Plate, Volant Cool Air System. EPA is 14/17 but with my own homebuilt prototype #3 and now U.S. Patent Pending external device I am getting 18/24+ on regular gas.

I ordered the Prius Touring model May 20, 2008 at $100.00 under MSRP through Costco (which discount has been discontinued and no longer offered by Earl Stewart for the Prius)

I was #19 on the list about 2 weeks ago but am now #15 with a 2-4 week wait (hopefully!) according to Josh Stewart via a phone call with him yesterday.

Something I didn't understand at purchase was that my Prius is not 'being made to order' and shipped directly as such to the dealership. If not part of their bi-monthly allotment of vehicles (random picks by the factory?), the vehicle I ordered is located by the dealer from other dealers' allotments and one of many negotiated trades for one of E. Stewart's own allotment vehicles. This allows my dealer to locate a Touring model with my choice of color and package# when my place in line is near the front.

Meanwhile, I am learning a lot about maximizing mpg etc on the Prius from these great forums!

Update: July 5, 2008

I checked today and have moved to #9 on dealer's list 7 weeks after ordering. Dealer says their factory allotment is 14 Prius every 2 weeks. I think the 8-10 week estimate to get my Prius is history.

 

My 2009 Prius Touring Hatchback was delivered yesterday!

Classic silver with dark grey interior, Package #2.

I had ordered a 2008 in mid-May but the order couldn't be filled from Toyota stock via other dealers and when the I ordered from dealership finally decided to order directly from Prius they missed the cutoff for 2008s. I agreed to them ordering a 2009 with the price increase. So, I was just under 5 months from order to delivery. $27, 283.39 total with a carry-over $100 Costco discount and added taxes, tag, fees etc.

My Prius came to me with 7 miles on it and a cumulative mpg of 32+. So far I have put on an additional 43 miles on it and the mpg now reads 39+.

It rides beautifully, is roomy and has that great new car smell.

Still a learning process with the accelerator to get the engine to drop into battery power without gasoline engine assist quickly and for extended times when up to speed but I am learning quickly.

I thought about cancelling the order for the 2009 and re-ordering a 2010, anticipating a huge tax rebate being made available for the new hybrids with plug-in ability built in but I just didn't want to wait any longer.