I'm getting a line from a salesman that I'd like to trust that they can only sell the new Prius (factory ordered, that is) at MSRP.<br>Is this a line? Does anyone else have experience with this?

Up until Jan. 7, 2002 (when the internet ordering system was taken down), the Prius was ordered online (factory built to your specs), and sold at MSRP. Dealers who sold over MSRP were often repremanded by Toyota. If you were really good at negotiating, you might be able to get a Prius for less than MSRP (or with a free accessory thrown in), but that case was rare.<br><br>Currently the Prius being built and delivered to the US are to fill previous internet orders. (You might find a "dropped" car (one that someone ordered but didn't buy) available, though.) By spring the Prius will be found on dealer lots like any other car. Because of the demand (5 month waits with the internet ordering system) and low supply, prices are expected to go up on dealer lots (particularly in high-demad areas), remain MSRP or less at low-demand locations, and stay at MSRP at dealerships that only sell at the fair MSRP.

The only thing you have wrong here is that I do not think any dealers who sell over MSRP are reprimanded by Toyota. The dealership agreements are written to give the dealers control over what they sell their cars for after they buy the cars from Toyota Motor Credit. <br><br>In the same fashion that I do not get reprimanded when I discount a Prius (or a Spyder, or whatever I wish to discount) and the rest of the nation is holding sticker or over sticker, I am not reprimanded, nor am I reprimanded when I sell for more than MSRP for various reasons. <br><br>I just wanted to clarify this... because there is an underlying benefit to selling more cars, even if you discount them to do so. You get more of everything else. :D<br><br>Dianne

As I clarified in the last message, dealers are free to set the market on their own cars. I have been known to discount Prius, and that is the sole decision of me as a dealer. Once the car gets to my dealership, it's OURS unless it's a TRAC car. :&gt;

ah, I had the TRAC confused with dropped Prius. But is the case the same for an ordered Prius?<br><br>and, in a way, a dealership that sells Prius for over MSRP when every other dealership keeps to MSRP is in a way reprimanding itself, as a knowledgeable purchaser will just avoid the overpricer...<br><br>no-hassle/haggle MSRP nicely takes a lot of the stress out of the purchase. if only getting through financing (extended warranties and trade-in values) were just as easy...

Got mine $400.00 below MSRP! It may not be much, but it covered the CD player and most of the side impact air bag options. I went to the Autobytel web site, got a price quote from them, took it to a dealer closer to home and they gave it to me at the Autobytel price.

I have also been known to sell these a little cheaper than MSRP, and in some cases, a lot cheaper. It depends on color, equipment, and how nice the customer is! That matters a lot when you talk with sooooooooooo many people like I do. <br><br>Di