The Toyota Prius is available, but are dealer markups coming?
Higher Toyota Prius prices inevitable?
Are Prius supplies really adequate?
My local Toyota dealership isn’t the biggest SoCal dealership, but it isn’t small either. On a normal day, for instance, finding 30 or more Toyota Prius hybrids on the lot isn’t unusual. Of course, these aren’t normal days.
Thanks to rising gas prices and a tsunami-caused supply constraint, today my local dealership had only 6 new and 2 used Prius hybrids available for sale – oddly reminiscent of 2008 – and that could be as good as it gets for Prius supplies for some time.
According to representatives at my dealership, once the current supplies of Prii are gone, new Prius supplies might not be available until November or later. Of course, this could be just salesmanship hype, especially since my salesperson quickly noted that if any new Prius hybrids do become available, they’ll come with higher prices because of “limited supplies”.
Are these higher Prius prices the already announced May price hike, or are dealer markups on the horizon?
The real point, however, is you can buy a Prius today. Sure, the greatest selection isn’t available, at least not at all dealerships, especially in hot hybrid areas. For instance, 5 of the 6 available Prii at my dealership were black, but at least 3 different packages were available, including a Package 2 with a MSRP of almost $24,000. On the other hand, a loaded 2007 Prius with 60,000 miles was going for $20,000.
For new Prius hybrids, however, expect to find little wiggle room below MSRP until the supply problems are resolved – or gas prices crash.
Ultimately, MSRP for a new Prius isn’t the greatest of Prius deals. Just a few months ago, deals were much better. Nevertheless, if you’re serious about buying a Prius, even in hybrid hot Southern California, you can find one. In a few months from now……..I’m not so sure. Even if you can find one, higher prices – even the Prius dealer markups of 2008 – seem quite possible.
Regardless, I’ll be out on some serious hybrid shopping trips over the next few weeks keeping an eye on the Prius and all other hybrid supplies from the dealership floor, so stay tuned.
From my Prius shopping experiences last week, as well as April’s Prius sale’s data, I think the Prius shortage is now an undeniable fact.
That’s an awesome price Indigo. Before the run-up there were some good deals on the Prius, especially when leased, but not that good.
[...] I went Prius shopping at my local Toyota dealership and found that while a few Prius hybrids were in stock, supplies were [...]
I laugh every time I read about Prius markups. The Insight’s real world gas mileage is only 2 MPG less than a Prius but the car is far less expensive. Mine was $17,588.
I think this is probably the tenth article I’ve read touting the coming Great Prius Shortage.
I get the feeling such repetition is fueling the minor hysteria we’re witnessing about this non-event, rather than any true shortage, which is only presumed at this point.
By the way, if you think things are bad with the Prius, take a look at the idiots lining up to pay WAY more than MSRP for the CT200…man people are stupid.
Let the suckers line up and buy one and get ripped off…I’ll stick to my car or buy a fuel efficient regular car.
Fk the dealers.