Toyota Prius No Longer Selling At Top Dollar

[Perian]

Link: www.wsj.com

Article quote:

In recent months, some dealers have also started offering discounts on hybrid models, in part because sales of some hybrids have slowed.

The discounts often come as higher trade-in values offered to people buying hybrids. Honda dealers averaged Accord-hybrid deals of $1,400 in June, according to CNW Marketing Research. Among other hybrids being discounted by dealers are Mercury Mariners, with deals averaging $1,900; and Toyota Prius models, with nearly $1,100 off.

Last year at this time, dealer discounts on hybrids were virtually unheard of.

[Perian]

You would think at $ 3.39 for regular (New York), hybrids would be going for over list.

I have a thought were the money is going...Here in New York, used VW Jetta diesels with 8,000 miles on the clock are going for more than the list of a new model*.

Can you imagine how a diesel powered compact car (think Malibu) would sell in the current marketplace?




*Note: NY does not allow the sale of new VW diesels due to emissions, but will allow the sale of used units with 8K or more. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it...

[vsd]

think about how long the car has been out, everyone that initially wanted one, got one. its unrealistic to think you can keep sales high forever. its the same thing that happened w/ the 900 suv's everyone that wanted one got one, and sales went way down. not to mention toyota is now selling the camry hybrid, and the highlander hybrid, and more hybrids are coming, which are all taking sales away from the prius.

[tom3]

Now that they have sold a certain number of them, I'm thinking 60,000, they no longer get the tax break from the IRS so I suppose that would dampen sales to some extent. See quite a few of them around here so they must be selling decent as this area is about the last to catch on to anything new. If I drove in town much I'd be interested in one.

[boblutzfan]

Well since the Prius is the size of a Corolla that gets similar mileage (real world) to the Corolla - for twice the price. Why would anyone do that?

Image - pure image. Those that want one have one.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by boblutzfan

Image - pure image. Those that want one have one.

And the wow factor has worn off. People who were buying them for image are the same kind of people who lined up to pay over MSRP for the PT Cruiser...albeit often with a more lefty/liberal slant.

The Prius has had its impact for Toyota, however, and even if they never sell another one or sales tank to half of what they are now, Toyota's image has been enhanced by the product, and a brilliant marketing campaign. If only GM had been able to keep the EV1 on to this day while improving it, and had marketed it in a similar way...

[mkaresh]

Anyone playing with facts here?

The Accord, Escape, and Highlander Hybrids have been selling well below list virtually since intro, at least where I live. The Prius and the '06 Civic are the only ones that have ever been in strong demand.

The Prius gets 45-48 real world, which is significantly better than the Corolla, while being nearly as roomy inside as a Camry. Anyone who thinks they're small inside has never sat in one. One stat for you: 38.6 inches of rear legroom. That's an inch more than you'll find in an Impala.

On the other hand, we are nearing the end of the third model year, and the 2006 Civic is new and more competitive than the previous Civic.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by mkaresh

Anyone playing with facts here?

One stat for you: 38.6 inches of rear legroom. That's an inch more than you'll find in an Impala.

Mkaresh, that's really not as balanced as I'd expect from the owner of TrueDelta.com!

Let's play!

Here are the stats comparing the Prius to the Kia Spectra5 and the Ford Focus Wagon, you chose the one clear fact in the Prius' favor to fit the "Toyota can't go wrong" paradigm, it seems.

It looks to me like the lowly Spectra5 and Focus ZXW (even when not in a wagon configuration) beat the Prius in many interior dimensions. I guess there's some kind of magic that changes these measurements when you sit inside a Prius, however. I have been in one and I guess the "mid-size Toyota Prius magic" didn't work on me.


Passenger and Cargo Space: (From Edmunds.com)
Toyota Prius:
Front Head Room: 39.1 in. Front Hip Room: 51 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 55.3 in. Rear Head Room: 37.1 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 53 in. Rear Hip Room: 51.6 in.
Front Leg Room: 41.9 in. Rear Leg Room: 38.6 in.
Luggage Capacity: 16.1 cu. ft. Maximum Cargo Capacity: 16 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5

KIA Spectra5:
Front Head Room: 40 in. Front Hip Room: 52.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 55.1 in. Rear Head Room: 38.8 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 53.9 in. Rear Hip Room: 53.9 in.
Front Leg Room: 42.8 in. Rear Leg Room: 35.4 in.
Luggage Capacity: 18.3 cu. ft. Maximum Cargo Capacity: 12 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5

Ford Focus ZXW:
Front Head Room: 39.1 in. Front Hip Room: 49.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 53.5 in. Rear Head Room: 39.8 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 53.6 in. Rear Hip Room: 50.7 in.
Front Leg Room: 40.7 in. Rear Leg Room: 37.6 in.
Luggage Capacity: 35.6 cu. ft. Maximum Cargo Capacity: 74 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5

The Prius is often touted as having the feel of a "mid size" car (Edmunds calls it a compact), but the specs show little significant interior space difference with the Spectra5 and Focus Wagon here. At least it cannot be said that the Prius hatchback affords the same utility as the Focus ZXW, which has substantial potential cargo space "Luggage Capacity" with the rear seats folded and even when the rear seats are up the ZXW offers small SUV cargo space. In fact, the only score where the "mid-size" Prius clearly leads is the rear legroom. The rear hip room, on the other hand is lead by the Spectra, and the rear head room is where the Focus shines.

[saturnsteve]

I think what hurt them a lot was the real milage estimates that came out a while back. The car does not do what they said that it would.

[Lewie]

They had a good run, a lot better than the new 900 SUV's unfortunately.

[psece]

Nice one Ming.

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by Lewie

They had a good run, a lot better than the new 900 SUV's unfortunately.

How so? When you tally sales figures and profits, GM's GMT-900 FS SUV's will clearly outdistance themselves from the Prius. And I'll even let you throw in worldwide sales of the Prius and compare them only to USA sales and profits of the GMT-900's.

From a purely financial standpoint, I'd take GM's 900's over the Prius any day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

Maybe the Prius isn't all that it was cracked up to be?

[kenman923]

Looks like the recalls discouraged most buyers.

[darndot]

Wow, I think Ming is alittle tired of the Prius Hype.

[TaHoE]

Originally Posted by darndot

Wow, I think Ming is alittle tired of the Prius Hype.

He's not the only one... I wish there was a Prius smilie...lol