Prius Deflation

[drscott]

No, I don't have a blow-up Prius.

The dealer sent me quotes on 2009 Prii. I paid $28K+ in 2006; the similar package now is $22.8K. The fully-loaded package is now only $1.9K more; it used to be more like $6K more.

I assume this price cut reflects not only weaker demand, but the threat of the new Honda Insight, which is supposed to go on sale in April for a bit less (as little as $19K.)

This is Michael Chung from Toyota Sunnyvale. I am pleased to provide you a quote for a Toyota Prius.

At Toyota Sunnyvale we have access to over 11,000 new Toyota vehicles as well as hundreds of Certified Pre-owned Toyotas. So you can be sure that we will have the car or truck you want.

And, unlike non-dealer sites which do not have access to actual invoices and exclude costs such as destination fees, we provide you a complete quote upfront. In fact, we'll even show you the actual factory invoice. With Toyota Sunnyvale, the quote you see below is what you'll pay.

#1 VOLUME DEALER IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

2009 Prius HZ Package

Model # 1224

FE - 50 State Emissions
HZ - Base Package:
Cruise Control
Heated Outside Mirrors
15" Alloy Wheels w/Trim Ring
Tonneau Cover
Seatback Pockets
CF - Carpet Floor Mats

MSRP: $24,294
Dealer Invoice: $23,032
Toyota Sunnyvale Direct Sales Price: $22,657
Your Price after $1,000.00 rebate: $21,657

Plus sales tax and license fees.
Quote valid for 7 days and subject to vehicle availability.





2009 Prius HG Package #2

Model # 1224



FE - 50 State Emissions
HZ - Base Package:
Cruise Control
Heated Outside Mirrors
15" Alloy Wheels w/Trim Ring
Tonneau Cover
Seatback Pockets
HG - Package #2: Vehicle Stability Control,
Back-up Camera, AM/FM CD w/6 speakers
Smart Start and Smart Entry
MP3/WMA Playback Capability
Auxiliary Audio Input Mini-Plug
CF - Carpet Floor Mats

MSRP: $24,469
Dealer Invoice: $23,190
Toyota Sunnyvale Direct Sales Price: $22,815
Your Price after $1,000.00 rebate: $21,815

Plus sales tax and license fee.
Quote valid for 7 days and subject to vehicle availability.





2009 Prius HI Package #3

Model # 1224




FE - 50 State Emissions
HZ - Base Package:
Cruise Control
Heated Outside Mirrors
15" Alloy Wheels w/Trim Ring
Tonneau Cover
Seatback Pockets
HI - Package #3 Includes: JBL AM/FM 6-Disc CD
Changer with 9 Speakers, Aux Audio
Input Miniplug, MP3/WMA Playback
Capability, Satellite Radio Capability,
and Hands-Free Phone Capability via
Bluetooth; Vehicle Stability Control;
Backup Camera; Smart Key System;
Anti-Theft System; Auto-Dimming Rearview
Mirror with HomeLink.
Includes: Cruise Control,
Heated Outside Mirrors; 15" Alloy Wheels
with Trim Ring; Tonneau Cover; Seatback
Pockets. The price of this option is
included within the base vehicle MSRP
above.
CF - Carpet Floor Mats

MSRP: $25,649 Dealer Invoice: $24,258
Toyota Sunnyvale Direct Sales Price: $23,883
Your Price after $1,000.00 rebate: $22,883

Plus sales tax and license fees.
Quote valid for 7 days and subject to vehicle availability.





2009 Prius NL Package #5

Model # 1224




FE - 50 State Emissions
HZ - Base Package:
Cruise Control
Heated Outside Mirrors
15" Alloy Wheels w/Trim Ring
Tonneau Cover
Seatback Pockets
NL - Package #5:
Voice Activated DVD
GPS Navigation System
Smart Start and Smart Entry
SmartKey Anti-Theft with Homelink
Vehicle Skid Control (VSC)
Front Fog Lamps
High Intensity Discharge Headlamps (HID)
JBL Premium AM/FM/6 Disc CD Changer w/9 Speakers
MP3/WMA Playback Capability
Auxiliary Audio Input Mini-Plug
Satellite Radio Capability
Hands-Free Phone Capability via Bluetooth
Auto-Dimming Rear-view Mirror
Rear Back-Up Camera
CF - Carpet Floor Mats

MSRP: $26,474
Dealer Invoice: $25,001
Toyota Sunnyvale Direct Sales Price: $24,626
Your Price after $1,000.00 rebate: $23,626

Plus sales tax and license fee.
Quote valid for 7 days and subject to vehicle availability.








2009 Prius NW Package #6

Model # 1224



FE - 50 State Emissions
HZ - Base Package:
Cruise Control
Heated Outside Mirrors
15" Alloy Wheels w/Trim Ring
Tonneau Cover
Seatback Pockets
NW - Package #6:
Voice-Activated DVD
GPS Navigation System
Leather Seat Package
Smart Start and Smart Entry
SmartKey Anti-Theft with Homelink
Vehicle Skid Control (VSC)
Front Fog Lamps
High Intensity Discharge Headlamps (HID)
JBL Premium AM/FM/6 Disc CD Changer w/9 Speakers
MP3/WMA Playback Capability
Satellite Radio Capability
Hands-Free Phone Capability via Bluetooth
Auxiliary Audio Input Mini-Plug
Auto-Dimming Rear-view Mirror
Rear Back-Up Camera
CF - Carpet Floor Mats

MSRP: $27,444
Dealer Invoice: $25,874
Toyota Sunnyvale Direct Sales Price: $25,499
Your Price after $1,000.00 rebate: $24,499

Plus sales tax and license fee.
Quote valid for 7 days and subject to vehicle availability.


Since I would like to assist you personally, please give me a call and we can set a time to meet here at the dealership.

The $1,000.00 rebate expires on March 2nd 2009.

Regards,

Michael Chung
(408) 716-1823
Toyota Sunnyvale
408-716-1810
898 W El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA 94087

Comments

[mh58.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's time to step up to the top of the line so Paul can talk to the DVD player and have skid control on his commute.

[excessor.livejournal.com]

What a nice idea. A Bentley Coupe would be just the thing.

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

We're more likely to sell one of the cars than to buy a new one! And mine already has skid control, which has already been handy on rain-slicked SF hills.

[ricksf.livejournal.com]

Clearly, you need an Extreme Bentley (coming in March. And it's flex fuel too!)...

http://www.extremebentley.com/

[mh58.livejournal.com]

Well I did mean to trade/sell the current Prius for this one :)

[mh58.livejournal.com]

Does it come with a driver?

[sfmini.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what a new one costs, but I remember when I sold my 04 MINI when I got the 06, I got better than the original sticker price on the 04. That was when there were still waiting lists and dealers were padding the prices, because they could. I'm told those days are over and the dealers are sitting with inventory now, so I imagine if not already, that the prices are going to come down.

By the book, one never knows until the check is in your hand, the current MINI is worth about $2k less than I paid for it new three years ago. I don't have any intention of buying a new one.

[goldibehr.livejournal.com]

Toyota has always claimed they lose money on every Prius they sell in the U.S. So their plan is to drop the price $6k?

Gotta love Hollywood-style accounting.

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

After a few years of production, the tooling costs for some of the exotic parts are presumably paid for, and it's quite possible their costs have fallen a lot.

There is no 5th destination...

[badgerpdx.livejournal.com]

You have a 2006 and you're looking to buy a new one? What's the resale of a Prius? When gas was near $5/gal...you couldn't FIND a Prius for sale.

Does yours have a snarky voiced computer like "Carlotta" in "Michael Tolliver Lives"?

Hot pants

[badgerpdx.livejournal.com]

I've always had the "hot pants" for the Honda Insight. I'll look forward to seeing the new ones when they come out. I always thought they pulled the plug on that car too early. A small hybrid commuter that can be taken on the highway (unlike the Smart...neither highway nor hybrid) would sell like hotcakes.

I'm looking forward to the reinvention of the CitroenDS, which will not be marketed in the states (fuckitall). That being said, I'm starting to yen for an electric truck, or at least a hybrid. I watched crash tests of the old Ford trucks on youtube last night, and nearly vomited. Time for something newer and safer.

Re: Hot pants

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

Not shopping for a new one, this was basically spam to everyone on their mailing list.

My car is one package level below the top, so lacks the nav system with the voices. At an extra $2K was not worth it.

[abqdan.livejournal.com]

It sounds like a bargain! I love reading about new cars, and daydreaming about a Volt or a FlowAir when they become available; in reality, I'm going to be keeping my 11 year old Malibu for quite a while longer - at least until Obama has single-handedly fixed the economy :-)

[urbear]

Toyota is looking for a boost in sales on all its vehicles. Beyond that, this probably reflects the consequences of the announcement of the next-generation Prius. I would imagine that many potential buyers are holding out for the new model, leaving Toyota with a surplus of the current version. It's a classic example of the Osborne Effect.

[allanh.livejournal.com]

In addition to the other comments already posted, consider that the Prius several years ago was in comparatively short supply and high demand, which drove up the price considerably.

Ironically, as of last year it was more expensive to buy a used Prius with a carpool sticker than a new Prius.

I'm keeping mine until the carpool sticker program dies. At that point, I'll consider new Prius. Best and easiest to care for car I've ever owned.