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Any Room for Negotiation on '06 Prius Price?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by nb0506, Dec 9, 2005.

  1. nb0506

    nb0506 New Member

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    A 2006 Prius will be the first car I've ever purchased. I'm a grad student and the bank account is not exactly overflowing, so not paying more than I have to is a priority.

    I live in LA and put down a deposit for an '06 several months ago, and according to the dealer I'm right up there to take delivery after the first of the year. I asked if there would be any markup on the car over MSRP; he said there wouldn't be.

    Is there any room for negotiation on the final price? Or has demand for the car blown away any sort of wiggle room? What about saying some magic words, like "Honda Civic Hybrid," or comparison shopping?

    Even if they won't take off any $, has anyone had success getting accessories thrown in? (floor mats, other stuff you'd normally grudgingly pay for, etc)

    All help and advice much appreciated!! Thanks in advance.
     
  2. jsm

    jsm New Member

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    Escpecially as they just come out 9and there is 2 month+ waiting list), you are not going to have any luck getting a discount in the LA area.
     
  3. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    You should be able to get MSRP with a little digging, but lower than that may be hard.
    In my area, the only way to go lower is with a broker.

    You can get the 05 now lower than msrp, but the 06 will not fall. There is a 3150 tax credit when taking possession after jan1, and the dealers know that too. They will have no trouble selling their cars.
     
  4. TidelandTravis

    TidelandTravis New Member

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    Pay MSRP as I did... BUT... Don't let the dealer be a total douche and force charges on you for "paint protector" "theft etching" "lojack" etc... Several of the dealers I went to told me it was no mark-up but some, like Santa Monica Toyota require that all cars, even ordered units leave with lojack and some paint protector crap for $1200 - so basically, a mark-up.
     
  5. Jack 06

    Jack 06 New Member

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    As reported here in another thread today, the Costa Mesa dealer is requiring folks to pay $2K extra for either chrome wheels or leather (which you can get aftermarket for just under $1K).

    Longo Toyota is reported to have given some small discounts ('05s)---but that may be something they started doing only some months after the '05 model year began. There's a whole Longo thread here somewhere; should be in the "dealers and pricing" forum.

    If you get off at MSRP with no faux proterction packages or bloated leather charges---and maybe with mats thrown in (some dealers do that, some don't)---you'll be doing well.
     
  6. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    you're doing very well if you pay msrp. much more and you're in the 'commonly paid price' range. $2000 markup and i'd say turn tail and run!

    hats off to you from another grad student/prius driver :)
     
  7. wilco

    wilco New Member

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    You can pretty much forget about paying less than MSRP for an '06 in LA anytime soon. An '05 in a location where the car isn't as popular may have some wiggle room, but even then, probably not much.

    One thing you can do if you have a trade-in is to try to negotiate the value of that car up, rather than try to haggle the Prius down.

    Another way to save money is on the financing (if required). Some banks offer "green car" loans at low rates.

    There is also the Toyota college grad program. Don't really know the details, but you can check it out for yourself -

    buy http://www.toyotafinancial.com/finance/college_grads.html

    lease http://www.toyotafinancial.com/lease/college_grads.html
     
  8. TidelandTravis

    TidelandTravis New Member

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    Speaking of chromes, I had mine done for $550, took off the rings and they look fantastic. Don't let the stealer, er dealer charge you more for 'em.