Am I too picky? (alternate re: where's driftwood #7?)

Ha, We got Driftwood with the 7 package. Just dumb luck. I was driving by the dealer Easter Sunday and they had 2 on the lot. Wife was waiting for them to open Monday morning.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daver969 @ Apr 20 2006, 10:02 AM) [snapback]242658[/snapback]</div>

Yes. I refused to settle for anything less than what I was sure that I wanted. I had to wait ~5.5 months to get it, and would have waited longer if that's what it took to get it. I'm beyond happy that I waited and would gladly do it again if I had to do it all over. But I'm a patient person by nature and I also didn't need a new car within a certain timeframe, as the car I was driving at the time was still running well and getting me to where I needed to be just fine (but with almost 180K miles on the odo).

 

My first color choice was Barcelona Red Metallic, my second choice was Silver Pine Mica.
My first package choice was #4.
The salesman called me three days after I initially gave him my choices and told me he could have a Red #6 to me in about a week, but that he was having trouble locating a package #4 in either of my color choices in our general area. He was completely "no pressure" and said if I wanted to hold out and wait, he would keep looking, but that he was just keeping me apprised of the situation and letting me know my options.
I chose the Red #6. I had my car within about eight days from my initial test drive and I couldn't be happier with my choice.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Apr 20 2006, 01:10 PM) [snapback]242663[/snapback]</div>

Originally I wanted Seaside Pearl with Package 5 in Janaury. Then my dealer called me in March to let me know there was Seaside Pearl with Package 3 coming into port and wanted to know if I was interested. I then evaluated what I really needed Pkg 5 for, and I found it had some things I wouldn't really use such as the bluetooth - so besides making the car more expensive and wanting something just because its there made me open up to the car that was available. It has everything I need, so I'm very happy with it.

You really have to evaluate your needs when you are away from the dealership when decieding on options available for a car.

Color, ...I tried having a car in a color I didn't like (green) just because the miles on the engine was less then the color of the one I wanted (blue). No matter how I tried to like it, I didn't. Some people can adjust, some people want what their heart desires. My thing is if you are paying all this money, and its new, then you should have a car the way you want it because not everyone can get a car new and have it exactly as they want. Get as close as you can to what you can afford.

KIM

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daver969 @ Apr 20 2006, 02:42 PM) [snapback]242724[/snapback]</div>

I should have explained that. The 2 cars that were their Sunday morning had been ordered by different folks. The sales guy had told my wife that one person bailed on Friday the other on Saturday. I beleive the guy. We have been looking for about 6 months and we have 4 Toyota dealers within 20 miles. I have NEVER seen a Prius on a dealer lot. I did get to sit in one back in the fall about 10 minutes before the new owner was coming for it. Most of the dealers around Philadelphia will tell you 10-16 weeks if you want to order one.

 

I wanted blue, gray interior option #6. Settled for white, beige interior, option 6. Option was more important to me than color. White was my third choice after blue and silver. I'm OK with the white (hot summers in SoCal), but the beige interiou is a spot magnet, not the dog, Spot, but everything else that touches it leaves a mark, and I've Scotchgarded it incase I spill Scotch on it . If possible hold out for the gray interior, of which I've only seen a couple. To me outside color is less important...the blue is nice though.

 

One reason could be is they only make a limited amount of each color for the Prius. The silver is the color that is made the most, 50% of them are silver I believe. Black and White are the least and Red and BLue are some where in the middle. The dealership I bought my car at had 2 Silver 2005 sitting on the lot, and a nickel 2005 for people to test drive only which I thought was a good idea. Some dealerships dont even have a car to even test drive and you kinda go blinded on it.

Patience is good, it only means it will lead to what you really wanted! So, if that is the only color/option car you want, and you are willing to wait a week, a month, or several...then do it! For me, I wanted the color to be blue - with a used car I would be less picky but since this was my first new car ever....I wanted it to be my choice completely, not a settlement.

Kim

 

A lot depends on your geographic location. It seems the wait in NY is not as bad as in California.

If you want a Silver Prius, almost every dealer here has one. The long wait was for Blue and Black, which were my first choices. Actually, first choice was grey which was not out yet.

I was about to put down a $500 deposit on the Silver because I didn't want to wait for the other colors, then got a call from another local dealer that they had the Blue with the exact option package I wanted.

Now its a month later and it seems that most dealers have a few Silvers on their lots, and some other colors with either the lowest or highest package. The only thing sparse is a non-silver with everything but the Nav and HID headlights.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FJRCRAZED @ Apr 20 2006, 03:17 PM) [snapback]242735[/snapback]</div>

I guess it just depends on your area. The dealership where I bought my Prius almost always has at least one on the lot (there were two available when I took my test drive). According to their website, right this minute they have five....two 2006 Classic Silver, two 2006 Driftwood, and one 2004 Salsa Red.

 

I am getting exactly what i wanted!! I hope so !!
I wanted Red with grey interior # 3 I had paid deposit for this option and was willing to pay over MSRP for my option.... when another dealer called me saying he has been allocated the exact car i wanted.....i should be buying it next week...keeping fingers crossed ....hope the dealer keeps his word.............

 

I wanted a black #1 gray interior and got a Black #1 ivory interios. April 2005. No waiting. Test drove it and then bought it. And it had been on the lot four days at least. Had I waited anothe week I might have gotten the exact car I wanted from another dealer. But I had already been to one dealer that was screwing with me so I'm happy with the way I was treated. My former car was Black/tan so the interior doesn't bother me too much. But I still love the gray. My next Prius will have a gray interior. And I'm hoping it will be DARK BLUE.

I do agree you should get the color and package you want for that much money. After all, you're going to have to live with it.

You should also realize the car is in high demand. And with gas going up, it's going to get worse.

That said...you live in California. A LOT of Prii get delivered to California. I don't think you should have to wait 4 months if you're willing to travel a a bit. I think you should call around to ALL of the dealers in your area. And if that doesn't work, consider traveling farther. Like San Francisco, L.A. or San Diego and then driving back. It will be a great drive in the exact car you were looking for.

I will tell you Kearny Mesa Toyota in San Diego does not go above MSRP and does not add on port junk you don't want.

Howard Sheehy, the Internet/Fleet Manager at

Kearny Mesa Toyota,
4910 Kearny Mesa Road,
San Diego, CA 92111

ph: 858-335-5815,

email: [email protected]

Tell him Mary with the 2005 Black Prius with the big "owie" sent you from Priuschat.com

 

I essentially wanted and got a barebones Prius, only the airbags were an absolute for me. But thanks to the generosity and chat on this site I have been able to transform it into the exact car I want it to be, without too much additionally cost. It's strange to think that about two weeks ago I was asking what ICE, SOC and the color of the bars mean. You can learn fast reading the posts here.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daver969 @ Apr 20 2006, 11:42 AM) [snapback]242724[/snapback]</div>

Part of the problem that folks have when buying Prii is how the dealer treats special requests and if they are still running a waiting list. If you are working with a dealer with a waiting list, go find another dealer. Waiting lists are so 2004. If the dealer is just going to wait for your package and color to come in off the transport, find another dealer. Dealers can trade vehicles long before they hit shore and they can trade outside their operating region if they get the cooperation of the regional management and a dealer that is outside of the region. A good dealer will do their best to get you exactly what you specify and will do it in a timely manner.

I cannot emphasize this strong enough. Shop multiple dealers. Shop out of the way dealers. Shop dealers that may be a bit of a drive from your home. Shop rural dealers that are in small towns, often times they are lower pressure and much more intersted in earning your business. Use your telephone and make calls to their fleet sales offices. Use the Costco auto program to find dealers. The Costco auto program dealers may not have a Costco price for the Prius, but those dealers are willing to deal with Costco's fixed pricing scheme and are probably interested in getting your business.

 

I ordered an '06 Seaside Pearl #3 back in November '05, got it in March '06. No switches, no questions whatsoever. Took a long time; because it did, the dealer threw in the mats for free. But this was not the first dealer I went to. The first dealer I went to tried to tell me that I shouldnt buy a hybrid and that the hybrids that were out there were not good cars...no 'get up and go'. I promptly asked him then why the dealership even sold them, if they were so inferior... :lol:

After two other dealers, I found a dealer that I could do business with. No questions, no tacked on stuff. Of course, they tried to sell me some other stuff but all I had to do was say 'no' and they immediately backed off. Maybe it was because I paid the entire price right there in the dealership :blink: (never did like car payments...)

 

I think it is best for a person to purchase exactly what they want. Something that costs nearly $25k is well worth waiting for. I'm holding out for magnetic gray #4. According to my dealer it should be here in another three or four weeks. If it doesn't come in I'll wait. The test drive I took sure made me wish I had it now.... B)