preorder Prius C? how? when?

A few weeks ago, I put down $500 deposit for preordering a Prius C at my local dealership. They called me this week to tell me that they have one currently at the Port of LA and it should be available for test drive in a couple of weeks. A few more will also trickle in soon. Maybe you can ask your dealership to see if they take a deposit for pre-ordering one of these.

 

what's the name of your dealership? do they have another C?
thx

 

Mossy Toyota. According to what they told me, the first one arriving is a grey trim III. Don't think my wife is going to like the color, but we'll go for a test drive anyway. They also told me that a few more will trickle in, but additional details. You can give them a call if you are willing to come to SD =)

 

holden94122 thanks for a quick reply. last VERY IMPORTANT question is?
Prius c Three - $21,635 this is posted here:http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-c...ion-starting-18-950-topping-out-23-230-a.html

Do you think that dealer will honor this price? Can u tell us what u think after you test drive it

thanks again

 

The Prius C's won't be released from port till March 1st, I am being advised. I'll let you know if that changes.

If anyone's wanting my first one - a III in pearl white with light gray interior, and sunroof, please reach me via email ok? Thanks! I am gathering orders to obtain them on subsequent allocations! If white III isn;t your "thing" - let me know what color, package, and options are!!

 

Hello Dianne

I am interested w/ the one w/ option 2 package.

Thanks

 

Some areas have high Prius sales and usually have spares in the lots. In other cases the dealers like to churn volume so have inventory. Some will simply deal to make a sale.

My impression is that in areas where Priuses are uncommon dealers are less flexible. Maybe they figure you must really want one if you're willing to put up with constant jibes about sexuality.*

If that's the case and you really want one, you need to look farther afield, out of state if need be. If you do buy out of state, remember that you'll have to pay sales tax when you register the vehicle back home.

If you're willing to take the time to do it you can save some money. Road trip!

* Every now and then on PriusChat a "Is the Prius gay?" thread pops up.

 

If you wish to know what I think, I can only share my own views based on my experience, and what happens here in my region.

Toyota assigns one car per dealership to start with.
AFter that, every time cars are allocated, (every two weeks) we are assigned more based on other product we sell, and this is generally based on like-models. I'd imagine with as many Prii as I roll, we'll get a lot of c's as opposed to stores that sell a bunch of trucks or other product.

I do have the ability to see what everyone in the USA is getting and there are a variety of models across the country, not just top dollar ones.

I don't know about the March 16th date. But, it takes a lot longer for a car to get from PORT to the Dakotas than to me in Carson! Maybe that's their delay? No idea.

 

I suspect most, if not all, of the first cars available will be IVs. The first Highlander hybrids on lots were limiteds.

 

When you buy out of state:
- You don't pay sales taxes in the other state (although you need to be careful about that due to state laws. If you buy from CA, I believe you can't drive it off the lot: you need to have it delivered to you at or over the border).
- You pay your state (+city?) taxes before you can title or register your car.
- Your consumer protection will be based on the laws of the state of purchase, so if you have any dealer problems you'll contact the state of purchase not your own DMV/BMV.
- You're not in a CARB state so even if you buy in a CARB state you won't get the better CARB warranty.

 

Just out of curiousity what do you think Toyota's logic is concerning this practice?

I mean, on an initial release, I can understand probably wanting to get 1 "demonstrator" vehicle to each Dealership, ASAP.

But unless Toyota is giving these 1 Prius c's to dealerships and then telling them to put them in the showroom and NOT sell them...then I'd guess almost every dealership is going to sell that 1 Prius c, almost immediately.

Wouldn't it be better to maybe delay the release even, but pre-seed dealerships with at least a handful of available Prius C models?

I'm guessing Toyota wants to allow sales to dictate supply and production as much as possible, but I just don't see the benefit of even bothering to send initially only 1 vehicle. Unless Toyota actually tells dealerships to NOT sell it and only use it as a display model...until more arrive. Which evidently is not the case.

What am I missing here? It just doesn't make logical sense to me.

 

I have been in email contact with Internet sales person from Westchester Toyota & Scion since I signed up for more info on Toyota USA web site. As of yesterday, they are still telling me that they do not have enough information about Prius C yet. They do not seem to have a waiting list of any kind nor are they doing any kind of preorders. Hmmm....

 

My first thought after reading your questions is that they just don't have enough product to spread around. Thus, they want to maximize exposure with their limited resources.

 

Yes, perhaps...and almost certainly. But that's why I say they could delay release. It's a choice as far as timing. It's a choice to send 1 per dealership. If you are at a production and availabilty point where 1 per dealership is all that IS possible? You could choose to delay, or wait, until that wasn't the case.

I'm missing the psychological or marketing advantage.

 

psychological; see it, test drive it, want it, demand it.
marketing; first to market, start creating demand = higher margin.

It's hard to think marketing. It hurts my head.

I'm planning on attending the Syracuse (NY) auto show to get to see (hopefully sit in) the prius c on Feb 15.

I promise pictures!

 

I visited my local dealer and asked about Prius C availability. He told me those won't go on sale till summer or fall. That was a short visit.

I asked Longo Toyota, the US's largest Toyota dealer, about Prius C availability and they were unable to answer my question also. I'm surprised that dealers treat me like I have two heads when I ask about a car that should be for sale next month. Also there's little info on Toyota's US website.

 

This has pretty much been my experience with my local dealer as well. Our Civic is going strong and is not horrible on gas so I don't mind waiting really. I sure hope to be able to get my hands on that "60MPG Monster" before regular hits $4.50 around these parts in few months though.