Are some Toyota dealers price gouging 2009 2010 Prius buyers?
When the 2004 Toyota Prius arrived at dealerships, demand for the car had reached a fevered pitch. Gas prices were sky high and consumers often were swallowing an unpleasant pill by paying several thousand dollars above MSRP for a line item dealers referred to as “market value adjustment”. Fast forward to now: gas prices are still reasonable and competition is heating up with the 2010 Ford Fusion and Honda Insight.
Of course a dealer is going to aim for the highest price possible, but in this buyer’s market their ability to negotiate upward is diminished. That sentiment is reflected in some recent buying experiences consumers are sharing. Now it seems more Toyota dealers are willing to haggle.
Toyota has targeted its beginning MSRP at $22,000 but a quick search on eBay shows out the door pricing ranging from around $23,000 to over $30,000. Right now the company is offering rebates to sweeten the deal, and it’s also pursuing a reduction in the amount of taxes the government is levying on 2010 Prius sales.
The Ford Fusion supposedly eeks out out just a bit more efficiency than the 2004 Toyota Prius at 41 miles per gallon, but it also starts pricing at just over $27,000. The new 2010 Toyota Prius offers over 50 miles per gallon. Also, after government rebates and incentives the Ford Fusion is approaching the rumored price zone for a 2010 Chevy Volt, so the company may have to do some work on getting its pricing down.
It seems other companies are finally catching up with the Prius and that means Toyota may have to jump in with some fancy marketing if it wants to maintain a lead against Ford, Honda and eventually GM. Toyota has enjoyed some exclusive rights to the hybrid market while its Prius dominated the space.
That can only mean good things for consumers who are stretching their dollars and looking for more ways to save money on vehicles and gas. Hopefully market value adjustments are a thing of the past.
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Comments
These so called Green Cars won't catch on until current inventory is worked through. Websites like www.repofinder.com are booming right now because you can buy cars so cheap. The Green car needs another 5 years to become mainstream.
"Green" is a fraudulent claim for these cars. There's nothing green about them. They simply move the emissions from theirtailpipe to the smokestack. What a con.
So Anonymous can you tell me how a Prius, Insight or Fusion Hybrid move emissions from their tail pipe to the smoke stack? A Fusion Hybrid at 41 MPG puts out half the CO2 as a 2004 Camry (4 cylinder automatic 20 MPG city). The Fusion is also a PZEV car, which means it pust out much less other pollution.
I tell you why
Battery pack on fusion and prius = 45000 miles on a 30 mpg 4cyl camry
so
it means
u have to drive ur fusion or prius for 45000, and then ur gona help the enviroment and lower the emissions
The best economy car is
Toyota Corolla(35 mpg)(ultra low emissions car)(only 16000)(and one of the most reliable cars out there)
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