Are you the first to get the official $4500 CARS incentive $$$?

Congrats! When did you actually take delivery? And which version?

 

Just noticed Toyota's announcement, with a tool to calculate the trade-in allowance. It doesn't indicate a kickoff date, leaving the impression that this is a going program. My dealer hasn't begun granting credit yet, though. My car is still sitting on their lot with a sold sign in the windshield. Anyone have success in the Seattle area?

 

I filled out the Costco form online Saturday morning. I got a call about two hours later from salesman at Beaverton Toyota saying they had a 2010 Prius Level III in Blizzard Pearl with bisque interior. I asked about CfC and he said they had had two people take advantage of it. My wife and I drove up (about an hour and a half drive)to look/drive it.
When we got there other people were sitting in the car with a different salesman. Our salesman, Doc Way, asked if we wanted to drive it...we did. When we returned to the lot he handed the "key" over to another salesman who showed the Prius to a new, interested party.
We didn't intend on buy one so soon but it seemed to be the right thing to do. We drove the car home that day and returned the next day to drop off the truck(since we drove a different car up the day before).
There is a photo posted in the album area. Album title Prius

 

I'm afraid I'm happily out of the running...

My car came in yesterday and I did the deal last night. They gave me more than what my 1993 clunker was worth- $4150, and I took it. I was concerned that since we would otherwise not be able to pick up our car until August 3, the CARS money might be depleted already. Call me paranoid!

Very good experience with Leigh toyota in Raleigh. I gave them a deposit less than 2 weeks ago, and got exactly what I asked for. Granted, my color choice was wide open: Blue Ribbon was my favorite, but any color except red or black would be fine.

Even after I'd been assigned a VIN, my guy at Leith called me when a Blue Ribbon III with Solar came in, because he knew I had waffled on the sunroof. After seeing it, I knew the Solar package was not right for me, and that I definitely wanted the misty grey leather, which my VIN had... and less than week later....

I'm a very happy first time Prius owner! I have 10 miles on the ODO
Blizzard Pearl IV with Nav, misty grey leather and remote start.

yippee!!!

 

Could someone buy an old vehicle that qualifies, then trade it in for a Prius to take advantage of the program?

 

Nope - Sorry, you must own it (and prove insurance) for the previous year.

 

I, for one, don't care to subsidize your new car purchases.

If you're looking at a $22,000+ car do you cheapskates really need my help paying for it? If money is tight, wouldn't the $20,000 Camry with rebates on it do just as well? Its not like your trades are completely worthless.

/This will end well.

 

Bah!

2000 Mercury Sable Wagon. EPA mpg 20.

 

Don't have a clunker huh? Because if you did you know you'd be therein line with all of us that do

 

Yeah, it must be sour grapes that I didn't drive a worthless POS for the past year (or 20 as others have posted) and wouldn't buy a replacement until my neighbors chipped in to pay for it.

According to the 2006 census numbers here the average federal contribution to education was $974 per student. I am much more pleased to see us spend $4500 on someone like you that doesn't need the help.

Try not to let your government cheese get exposed to too much sunlight through your hatchback window.

 

We walked into the dealership planning on getting all the basics out of the way and then getting in line for the program when it becomes active.

They offered us $4k on our 2000 Explorer and we took it. Close enough and no waiting and heartache if we miss the boat.

 

No idea where you're getting your information. I paid $1550 under MSRP by negotiating and selling my old car outright instead of trading.

I'm funding education by purchasing supplies for my local schools since they don't have enough money to pay for them themselves. My kids are grown up now so its not about me getting, its about giving back. $4500 would buy a lot of soccer balls, crayons and Elmer's glue.

For higher education I make annual contributions as an alumni but I didn't for the first 10 or so years. Its not much but I try.

And you?

Its interesting you mention this as an area of government waste. At least we can agree on that.

 

Invoice isn't MSRP. Invoice is allegedly what the dealer pays Toyota for the car. In general, a couple hundred over invoice is a good thing. Anything over MSRP is a bad thing.

Why this one? Because you said the first one to "prove they got the incentive money" will "have the admiration and respect of all of us, your forum buddies!"

This is clearly not the case.

 

I don't get it. People posting here traded in their vehicles...nothing to do with the CARS program.

I'll also say I'm disappointed they did so for a few hundred dollars. Part of the beauty of CARS is the clunkers go to scrap...not to be re-sold.

Oh well...I'm about a week away from mine coming in...

 

The thought of the program got us into the dealer and into a Prius. What is so bad about that?