It's been a week since I picked up my new Prius off the lot and the car is amazing. Clocking in at 47 average for my 30-mile commute over hills with an occasional 3000-foot mountain scaled along the way. I'd been scoping the model out for some time and then decided to check one out in person. Arrived early AM at the dealer after dropping off another car for service nearby. Talked to the salesman briefly; they had none on the floor because there were none to be had. I pressed them a little to find out if there was maybe one in service or pre-delivery. They said "maybe a rental" so off across the chilly (40's but in California that *is* chilly) parking lot. I spotted a likely-looking shape that turned out to be a black Prius at the far end of the tarmac and we got closer. They said I could sit in it, maybe do a quick test drive. We agreed immediately and motored off, silent as a ghost, entertained by the lightshow on the panel depicting where the energy was coming from and going. Short trip, but I was impressed by how quick this economy car could be. Handled nicely too. Returning to the dealer, the sales manager was standing out in the parking place and I figured we'd get grumbled at for taking off with the eager salesman on the test. But, no. With a quizzical grin, he said the car was... available! Turns out the person who ordered it had been relocated to Hawaii and could not take delivery. As long as we put a deposit down, the car was ours. No time was wasted from that point until we signed the papers. Smooth as silk. The car was black and came with the Package #6, neither of which would have been my first choice, but more than acceptable. And the deal? Straight MSRP; given the war stories I've been reading since that was downright decent of them. Financing at a good rate, too. I would have waited a lot longer for the Prius, but things just came together that morning and I bought one with *zero* waiting time. So that's my story - strange but true.

Where in California? Sev MacPete looking for a Prius

My husband and I had a similar experience of being in the right place at the right time. My husband, in particular, had been interested for quite some time in the hybrid, especially the Prius, so one morning last October, he asked me to research the Prius and the Honda hybrid on the Internet. After doing the research, we decided to go take a look after school that afternoon, telling each other that we were just going to look, not buy (famous last words, right?!)! Both the Toyota dealer and the Honda dealer are on the same street in Sierra Vista, AZ, with the Honda dealer first but I missed the turn and we decided to just go on to Toyota and stop at Honda on the way back. As we walked onto the Toyota lot, we were approached by an eager salesman and we told him that we were just curious about the 2004 Prius and wondered if they had one we could look at and test drive. Well, talk about fate--they had just received and put their first and only 2004 Prius, a Tideland Pearl Prius with the basic package, on the lot so we took our test drive and were very impressed (it was like driving something in a science fiction movie!). How could we pass it up? We were sold! Halfway through the paperwork, our salesman, who had stepped out briefly, came back to tell us that he had just found out that he was not supposed to sell the Prius--it was supposed to be kept on the lot for people to test drive before placing an order! However, since we had already gone through half the paperwork, they couldn't go back on it and the Prius was ours :)! So we drove it home that night, the first people in Cochise County, Arizona, with a 2004 Prius :)! We haven't regretted our spur of the moment purchase for even a moment! Judy Pike Bisbee, AZ

Thanks, I called every dealer in Southern and Central CA and only found a few in dealerships that were charging 2 to 5 thousand over MSRP. I told the bandits I'd wait for the honest dealers to get their allotment. I'm on 4 lists! Sev MacPete

Well, these folks are straight-shooters; no markups. I'd give them repeat business anytime, which is a lot to say for a dealer: Randy Powell at Dublin Toyota 925 829-7700 www.dublintoyota.com As I noted, this opportunity was one of those things that comes up and I don't know if they have any more cars available or what their waiting list is now. Good Luck, Donn

I have a '04 Prius that is due to be delivered sometime soon, probably this month. It is black with burgandy/gray interior with package 9, which is every option that is available. I paid $27649.85 including tax. I'd consider taking offers for it but it would have to be substantial. My dealer is now selling '05's for delivery in January of '05. The '04's are gone. Serious replies only please. Ray

Sorry, should have stated the black Prius is in Ohio. Ray