How I got on the list for my Prius

This is somewhat in response to the “My wife won't even get into the new Prius†thread, but my experience is a bit different and I thought might entertain folks. I’ve been interested in the Prius for several years and have on occasion said that it would be my next car. My wife always took a “that’s nice dear, its your car†attitude :roll: . She made it clear that she was quite willing to humor me but thought that the whole thing was a little silly and that the Prius, at that time it was the classic, was one of the ugliest cars she had ever seen. A few months ago we saw a 2004 on the street for the first time, and I was surprised to find that she did not find it quite as horrible, although it was still a rather silly idea.

Both of our cars up to around a quarter million miles and our mechanic is recommending keeping them going is going to become increasing impractical; so we decide we need to get serious about replacements for both of them. We had done some minor shopping, but decided to wait for the San Diego Auto Show to do some serious comparisons. We went in with the view that she would probably decide to get a Volvo V70 and I would probably nurse my old Subaru along for a while, after all I don’t drive much.

My wife has serious back problems so one of our main concerns is how the cars feel and how easy they are to get in and out, so the Auto Show gave us a real good chance to see which ones were even worth considering. We ended up spending almost the whole day without finding anything that really thrilled her. We finally came to Toyota. She really studied the Sienna and, although she hated to think of herself as a “van person,†she really liked it.

Then onto the Prius, I go in and really liked it, as I was sure I would. Now the real issue—although this might be “my car†I wouldn’t get a car which she would not be comfortable in both as a passenger and an occasional driver when things worked out that way. She got into the passenger seat and found it surprising comfortable, and then we swapped places. She spent far longer in the driver seat checking things out than a expected. She then floored me by proclaiming, “you could get a blue one and I could get a pink one.†:!:

Perhaps buying two would make the ideal happy ending for this forum, but I convinced here that it doesn’t come in pink and, more significantly, it would make more since to get a Prius for most our mileage and the Sienna for hauling and for when the grand kids visit. “Well get on the list†she said.

So she is now waiting, we hoping it is a short wait for her Sienna with the features and color she wants, and as of January 2, 2005 I am on the list for an option package BC (or package 6, or package C, Toyota really doesn’t seem to be able to decide what to call these things, but an any case the one with Bluetooth and the navigation system) in Seaside Pearl. In San Diego the usual wait seems to be about eight months. So I have plenty of time to read these groups and know everything about it before it arrives. 8)

 

I sent the link to my original post to my wife. She was quite amused by it, but felt that the early part of the story made her seem like a technophobe. I thought the conclusion made it very clear that this is not the case. Clearly her earlier doubts about the Prius were the result of the fact that I did a poor job of explaining it to her. Perhaps this lesson will be of use to other Prius fans with dubious spouses. :idea:

Thanks much for the comments about faster ways of getting a Prius. I have given them some thought already. Actually the salesman I ended up placing the order with volunteered that if I were willing to go an area of California which is oddly called “The Inland Empire,†(just a couple of hours from here) I could likely get one much sooner. He seems abnormally honest for a car salesman, which is one reason I picked him.

Just for the record, I put down a fully refundable $500 deposit to get on the list. If my current car begins to fail me, I may well try some faster route, but for the moment I find waiting in line to be oddly satisfying. They say that patience is a virtue and, since I have so few, I think that I will practice this one.

 

Back during the dark days when the database got wiped out I pointed out that my wife was having a lot more trouble than we expected getting her Sienna, due to an uncommon color choice and a demanding list of features. We began to suspect the my Prius might show up before her Sienna. Well the race is still on and, possibly, coming down to the wire.

The dealer now says that her car should arrive within the next two weeks, but he also says that they are getting in several Prius, so I still may beat her.

Come on Seaside Pearl package 6. 8)

The excitement builds. I never knew that waiting for cars could be such fun.

 

The "race" between the Sienna and my Prius really went down to the wire.

About 3 weeks ago they call my wife and said that they had finally found her car and it would take a few weeks to get here. About 2 weeks later they called and said that it would be here by March 23. So the smart money was on the Sienna. They did mention that they had some Prius coming in soon, so there was still a race.

The site has an online inventory system and I am an Internet junky, so I have been checking regularly. Last Thursday 2 Prius pop up--a white #6 and a Salsa Red #6. The white was gone in a couple of hours, the red was gone the next day. Suddenly a Seaside Pearl #6 shows up about 11:00 Friday morning--just what I am waiting for. I call my salesman and find out that he does not come in until 1:00. When I call back later I say "Do you have my car?" He seems somewhat confused (evidently I'm the only customer he has has who tracked inventory) and says he will call back.

About ten minutes later he calls and says somebody who has been waiting along time for a Silver #6 has decided to switch and take the blue. Disappointing but it seemed fair enough. Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

About a hour later he calls again and says the other customer has decided to wait for a silver. I go my car Friday night.

Prius 1 Sienna 0 arty:

I love it. I'm still trying to figure some details out (despite researching on this site and others for the las couple of months.) The nav systems does seem to take some pretty strange routes, but it gets me where I want to go. Both my wife and I really enjoy driving my "Incredible Blue Geek Mobile".

The Sienna should arrive today.