Canadian Roll-Call

Hi!
I've just moved to Ontario and am going to be buying a Prius, likely with the 'premium' package as I really like having the backup 'video screen' (my mother has a Prius). I was wondering if anyone had advice on Guelph/Kitchener/Hamilton area Toyota dealers (any to avoid or that are particularly good?) and what to expect in buying Prius in Canada. Last time I bought a car was in the US, so I don't know whether it would be much different here...

I was considering buying a Prius in the US, but the time and money for an extra trip back to the US doesn't seem worth the effort, especially considering the rebates here.

Any information on the federal and provincial rebates that are on offer when you purchase a Prius?

 

I just purchased a 2007 Prius from Ancaster Toyota -- sales process was not painful.

For provincial rebate -- I needed to send the form in and was told it would be about three months before receiving a cheque.

 

Yes, AWS SEEMS pretty cool. It's "same phase" so it's not for easier parking, it's for "faster highway lance changes". Reality is, it added weight, cost and complexity to the car for relatively little benefit. That's why it's virtually unheard of now.

I picked up my new Prius today and am quite happy. 6.4L / 100km for my first 18 km, probably at stock tire pressure. City driving up to 70-80 kmh.

I asked sales guy and he said we can still get Prii in Canada with about the same wait time as for me: 23 days in Ottawa. I told him I figured US are having more shortage because Toyota makes more per Prius in Canada; he said Toyota still make plenty in US, but I figure that may be true but they make more here.

 

IMO, get a 2008 Prius while you can. Federal $2k rebate won't apply to 2009 model year. I did the calculations on a US Prius. Forget about it; you won't get the $4k in rebates ($2k Ontario + fed), it's a hassle and with current US supply situation you will pay more and wait longer.

I got the base Prius in Canada, but I intend to add my own backup camera.

Consider joining the APA for $70 or so, or at least find out who the preferred APA Toyota dealers in your area are. I got an APA pre-negotiated price of $1k off of MSRP. If you can negotiate (or better yet, just find a good, honest dealer who is probably also APA preferred), you don't need the APA membership and you MIGHT be able to get an even better deal. Search redflagdeals.com and you might find a dealer recommendation.

 

FYI: imported Prius from the US is eligible for the Ontario sales tax rebate of $2K but not for the federal one. I got my PST rebate in a couple of weeks.
The back-up camera is great - go for it.

Good luck,

 

This morning on my 31km commute (max 60-70 kmh) I got 4.5L/100km according to MFD, or about 62 Canadian MPG or 52 US MPG !!

This is with tire pressures left at dealer levels, about 38 PSI front and 36 PSI rear. With tiny print I haven't been able to read yet if Bridgestone tires show maximum pressure on them. 44 PSI OK ?

I've LONG used techniques such as anticipating lights and traffic, accelerating briskly to speed to get ICE efficiency, breaking or coasting early for lights to maintain momentum etc. This only got me 12.5L/100 km or so on my 4000 lb Stealth. I drove more mildly this last week trying to mini hyper-mile the Stealth and got WORSE mileage, perhaps because ICE was not in efficient range.

So I've been trying pulse and glide and getting the car in the sweet spot at about 40 MPH or 63 kmh. I think it's working !

I will now be taking the slightly longer single lane route now. It's MUCH less stressful IMO; most of the traffic jerks don't take this route. It took me about 32 minutes this morning, which adds 2-7 minutes to my commute, but speeds are slower so I should save on gas.

Even in my old Stealth I've taken to driving SUPER slow (like 10-20 kmh in a 30 kmh school zone) and staring (safely as possible) at the cops when driving past the speed traps. They got me once with an IMO inflated speed, but I won't let them get me again... I don't know what cops at speed traps are thinking but I want them to feel like their wasting our tax dollars when I drive by.

>FYI: imported Prius from the US is eligible for the Ontario sales tax rebate of $2K but not for the federal one. I got my PST rebate in a couple of weeks.

I'm in Quebec and Quebec $2k rebate only applies to "new" cars. The usual trick to import a car from US is to register it to a US resident who then sells the car to you as "used". So, unless you can get a new US Prius sold to you directly by a US dealer, you can't get the Quebec rebate.

Federal rebate is simpler: Buy in Canada or don't get a rebate. Seems to me the Federal rebate was designed to get us to buy from Canadian dealers.

 

Just realized this forum existed (been using Google Reader to keep up on a few PriusChat forums). Yay, Canada! :canada:

Anyway, I'm here in Surrey, BC. I've had my Prius since the beginning of April, and according to the spreadsheet I use to keep track of my mileage, after almost 4700 kilometers, I'm averaging a hair under 5.0 l/100 km

 

Hi Vancouver owner here

We got our Prius since Jun 1 ... just finish my 1st first 33L and re-filled last night (price was right) Average 5.9L/100km. My wife drive 90% of 1st 2 weeks of ownership (Oh boy... she got heavy feet)..but we still manage to save lots of gas compare to previous Matrix.

If the road condition & time allow...I manage to do 3.5~4.0L/100km (by Pulse & Glide while keeping an eye on computer-feedback)....I think Prius efficeny highly depend on the driver's habit or abilities to go with flow of the vehicle. and of course the landscape & climate counts too.

Call'd Eco-Auto rebate Help-Line this morning.... the operator is really nice & helpful..... told us confirmation letter will be sent within 6 weeks & should receive cheque 6 week after that (12 week total).... (our saleman BS us says will get cheque within a week or 2 , I didn't took him seriously in the 1st place)

 

Welcome. BC seems to be popular place for Prius. I guess the tax credits help a lot. They are the major reason I got a Prius.

3.5L/100 KM ? Gee, I haven't done better than 3.7 so far...

 

Haha..... Prius is popular here (50% of Taxi here are Prius)

As mention 3.5L refer to flat landscape + drive like a Grand-ma....with minimal Air-Con & Fan

 

Hello from Steveston, BC (aka Richmond)
Love the car. Avg 47Mpg, 4.95L/100km. Still learning to drive P&G.
Installed ScanGuageII for stats and US/Metric conversion - great tool.
PST rebate - in the bank, still waiting for Federal Rebate, they have sent me a letter indicating they have it, no rejection yet and it's been a month so far.
Lots of lower-main-landers in group - should we start the wave?

'08 Package 6, Barcelona Red, Imported from Arizona March 08.
Tint 35/50, ScanGuageII. Plans for Shark-fin, EV-Mod, PriusChat.com logo

 

Welcome Lloyd9

Richmond with all flat landscape is perfect for Prius + P&G.. I can see you getting 3~4L /100km.... if you can avoid No 3rd & those crazy "N" Drivers.

BTW, did you mail-order your ScanGuageII or get it locally (where please ?)... any detail comments about this gadget ?

 

I'm getting 5.1-5.4/100kms. How does the pulse and glide actually work? I live in Ottawa and I'm enjoying my 2006 Prius. Bought used with 20,000 kms at $21,000. I think I got a good deal. It is also a premium package. Anyone have info about getting the back up camera installed after market?

 

Hi Shawn. I'm also in Ottawa; got a 2008 1 month ago.

I think you got a good deal. When did you buy ?

I've heard you can just get a regular composite out camera and plug it in, more or less. I was going to get one, but I think I've decided the rear visibility is fine if you are reasonable careful and always check behind you when getting in in the garage or similar.


Here in Ottawa and Gatineau area I find many hills. I tried P&G'ing on the Aylmer road and River Parkway, and found I got similar mileage to cruise control, so I'm just using cruise now. Will try more P&G later, but it's a bunch of work. Sometimes I can do some simple P&G like giving more gas going up a hill and letting it coast down.

Being extra careful and gentle and going the speed limit (60-70 kmh), I get 3.7-4.0 L/100 km on my 27 km commute that takes 35 minutes.

Lately, I've been going up to 10 kmh over the limit (reduces time from 35 min to 30 min) and I'm getting about 4.2-4.5L /100 km, but it gets a bit worse if I have AC on or if it's raining like lately.