Prime scarcity at dealers

While much of the US has Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc as it's distributor, Texas has Gulf States Toyota Distributors, along with Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. (there is also a South East Toyota Distributor LLC, that covers some other southern states)

Gulf States Toyota Distributors - Wikipedia

New Mexico or Colorado may have more Primes.

 

Here in Chicagoland we have real Toyota Motors and Primes are scarcer than hen’s teeth. If you aren’t on one of the coasts you have very slim pickings. In my case I found one to test drive. Of course it was uncharged and I hadn’t learned of charge mode. Fortunately my dealer was willing to order one to my exact specifications and I had to wait 30 days as it was still on the high seas.

 

I don't know, at least one dealer close to me has around 45-48 Primes ready for sale. Most around here probably have 20-30.

 

Probably because they can sell few dozen Tundras/Highlanders/etc. before they sell one Prime. Why waste floorplan?

 

I’m looking around, it does

seem like MD dealers have a good supply.
I’ve contacted a couple.

 

Inventory looks really low in the Austin Killeen Waco area

looks like AutoNation in south austin has one prime xle in stock
New 2020 Toyota Prius Prime For Sale at AutoNation Toyota South Austin | VIN: JTDKARFP2L3137040

You can also try 2020 Toyota Prius Prime Plug-In Hybrid | Explore the Possibilities

at the bottom of the page you should see your locale inventory and other suggestions
Offers Near You
VIEW SPECIALS
(some number here) Prius Primes in Your Area
VIEW INVENTORY
See Your Nearby Dealer
FIND A DEALER

 

@JimboPalmer nailed it. The Prime is one of the best kept secrets in the southeastern US. Whenever I'm at the dealership for anything, I'll usually try to strike up a conversation with someone in sales and remind them that, if they stocked this car, understood it, and talked about it with customers who are bound and determined to spend as much money as they can getting to where they're going, they would not be able to keep up with the demand. People be like, "WHAT!!?? I DON'T have to spend $100 a week to get to work?"

 

I just put $10 of real gas in the Prime 7 days ago 26 Oct. Previous gas stop was 26 June when I also put in $10 worth of real gas at the same location.

The low gas light just came on as I pulled up to the chargepoint, I charged for an hour than drove 3 miles to the gas pump. After spending the $10 I drove home in EV and finished charging at 120 volts.

I'm planning to get a full tank when snow hits for better, balance front to back and traction.

 

we were told in mid year that there would be a shortage due to the model year factory switchover, and mid cycle refresh.
so, one can only hope that as production builds, inventory will begin to fill the flyover states as has been promised.
up to this point though, they're still going mostly to carb states. october sales numbers should be in shortly, which may tell us a little bit about inventory

 

I’m curious, are they sending more to states that have tax rebates similar to the federal credit? Just wondered if that was a factor in their allocation plan.

 

I don't understand that if gas is $2.59 per gallon, why you were not charged $25.99 for ten gallons.

 

$10 / 2.967 gal = $3.37 per gallon. Apparently someone feels the need to put Premium gasoline in their Prime.

 

not that i have ever read. they do carb states because it gets them cali credits. they have not shown a desire to sell more primes unless they get something back. a state tax credit would only help sales, but they may be losing money on prime.

 

I suspect that distribution is based on sales. So, most Primes got to the NE and West.

I was looking a few months ago and the dealer ordered two, one in each of the two colors I considered. I bought the Titanium Glow leaving them with the Blue Magnetism to sell. I just checked and this dealership now also lists a Silver Prime and several Priuses. Meanwhile the other two dealers in town don’t have any Priuses.

 

Similar to Tampa, I think, except this place is alive with Teslas. It's pretty surprising given the state government's apparent absence of knowledge concerning the existence of BEVs and PHEVs. I'm not sure, but I might be seeing more Teslas than Leafs. And way, way, way, way more Teslas than Primes. I see several Teslas per day and average maybe one Prime a month.

 

We are planning to visit your fair city in a few days. (Actually flying into Houston for a wedding and SWMBO wants to visit Chip and Joanna's Bake Shop in Waco, so I thought we could come back through Austin). I asked Tejas Toyota (Toyota RAC) near IAH if they could rent us any hybrid, but I guess they aren't very popular there. We had to settle for a Corolla, which should drive similarly to the new Hybrid Corolla, at least. (Thankfully, I was able to rent a 2017 Prius 2 from a dealer in Escondido, CA a month or 2 before we bought our Gen 4). Glad to know I will see a few hybrids in Austin.

 

Most local stations that sell real gas only sell real gas in Premium. There is only one station I know of (semi locally) that sells real gas in all three grades of octane, but that station is 50 miles away.
Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

I do make the trip for filling ( can(s) when needed ) and the 06 civic hybrid every three or four weeks due to weak high voltage battery, price is about .30/gal less in each grade, use the 50 miles to detect how well IMA is functioning at any given time, and just for a relaxing drive though farming country to see how the farmers schedule ground prep, planting, harvesting and to see if I can guess what's been planted in various fields. Plus the longer trip helps balance the high voltage pack much more than the shorter trips, especially in the colder months.

After filling the Prime, with the amount we both drive in EV, I expect the tank to last at least a year which is the biggest reason I don't fill the tank every time I put gas in it. Well see I guess.