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Hi I'm shopping for a 2010 Prius In my area dealerships are advertising them for MSRP up to 400 over MSRP.

I know dealerships vary but I would like to get an idea how low people have gotten them to move on the price.

Thanks a bunch

My approach was simply to wait until late fall, when gas prices are low and most people aren't shopping for cars, to find a deal. I bought mine in December and got them to knock a grand or $1500 off off MSRP. IIRC they (Balise Toyota in Springfield) had 23 sitting on the lot and wanted to make them go away before the new year. So shopping at a relatively high volume dealer can help as well.

Right now I wouldn't expect much. So soon after the launch of the car there are enough people who just don't care, and the dealers know it.

I paid $200 under MSRP a month ago. At that time most PC folks were paying right at MSRP, a small chunk were about the same deal as me, a very few were getting 350 to 500 off.

Since then, the typical discount has increased slightly, a very few have pushed at or close to 1000 off, especially on the highest end models. But numerous areas, and even some dealers near me, are still demanding either well over MSRP, or heavily loaded option packages.

Competition from the Insight kept the 2010 Prius MSRP lower than expected. The invoice-to-MSRP spread is lower than normal, leaving dealers less room to bargain. But because the price is starting low, don't feel guilty about not getting much discount.

I was going to wait until fall for initial demand to be satiated, but the state's budget catastrophe caused the hybrid/high-FE sales tax holiday (9.5%) to be terminated 17 months early, August 1. That nearly $2200 incentive was enough reason for me to buy now.

Never pay more than $500 over invoice for a car! And only then if its the new hottest thing on wheels. I always shoot for invoice and under then get into there hold back if possible.

I don't care how hot the car is.... Never pay anything close to MSRP or above. Fools and there cash can be split fast.... :)

If your a NRA member you can get discount quotes from local dealers on their web site.
You can check prices even if you not a member. NRA Discount Auto Program (http://nra.zag.com/main.html?referrer_id=ZNRA000002)
I haven't checked out AAA or Sam's Club prices yet. I figure when I'm serious about buying I'll negotiate it down using them. Remember a Honda HCHII can be had for 19K to 20.5K. If they don't come down to a reasonable level at Toyota, threaten to buy a Honda.

Always say your looking at both the Prius and the Honda and haven't decided on which one. I'll probably buy the one I can get the best deal on. It is easy to compete with one or two other Toyota dealers. Throw in three or four Honda dealers and the odds of making the sale go down quickly.

Well, I unexpectedly bought a red trim III, Gen III last night. With the fed's $4,500 in my favor I got the last one with two couples waiting behind me if I could not consumate the deal. Crazy times with this cash for clunkers program. My cargo hauler (2001 Odyssey) is gone. Sniff sniff. It was one heck of a versitile car. Served me well. 160k on it. AC gone we found this summer...in NH...if you could call it a summer. Doubt I could have got $4,500 anywhere else and a package III for under $20k seemed ok. So I got stupid and got what I have wanted ever since Gen II first came out. Now I need to learn what I have and how to drive it.

Any suggestions?

PS: There was a clean Range Rover and a Jag in the junker lot. I bet you could have parted out the Range Rover for more than $4,500. Irrational times!

Hi Durant7:

___First off, welcome to CleanMPG and 2, thank you for purchasing the most fuel efficient vehicle available.

___Speaking with Kacey and hearing from Chen Zhen (both auto salesman), it sounded like a free for all at the local dealerships this past week. Pulling in a Prius-III - package-III for less than $20K was a bargain and knowing the Ody was due for work in particular.

___KBB quoted an 01 Ody with 160K in fair condition at $2,600 TIV so you did quite well with the additional $1,900!

___Good Luck

___Wayne