We're getting a head of steam

[tarabell]

I had to blink a couple times looking over the LA Times this morning. Things are moving in a good direction.

First there was a feature article in the middle of the front page comparing the savings of fluorescent over incandescent bulbs, with a photo of each side by side taking up about a quarter of the page. The headline reads “How much savings does it take to change one?”
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...home-headlines

Then on the front of the Classified section, right where I usually see all the SUV and truck sales, instead Toyota of Santa Monica has a full page ad showing 2007 Prius going for $3500 off MSRP. Comes with package 6, navi, bt, backup camera, and leather. They have 5 available at this price, doesn’t say what color. They also have three 07 HiHys available for $27,988.

In the Business section there were these two articles:

Utility Studies Energy Storage in Car Batteries

California's biggest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., is considering a plan to charge fleets of battery-powered cars overnight with wind energy and let consumers sell back some of the stored electricity during the day.

The utility, a subsidiary of PG&E Corp., "could recharge car batteries through electric outlets during the off-peak overnight hours and recharge the grid from the batteries during critical peak demand periods," said Hal LaFlash, its director of energy policy and planning.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...lines-business

Also,

State Set to Require Auto Emission Labels

California is preparing to label new autos to show for the first time the vehicles' annual emissions of so-called greenhouse gases linked to global warming.

The stickers, the first in the U.S., should be approved by the California Air Resources Board by June and should start appearing on 2009 model cars and light trucks, board spokesman Jerry Martin said. The board will hold a hearing next month on the labels.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...lines-business

[xcel]

Hi Tarabell:

___Not only was that great news, it was a spectacular win-win for all of us! Now we only need to see the same in NY., Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, Washington DC., Boston and Miami to name a few …

___About those Prius II’s w/ package 6 … That is what I am looking for And from the ad, that is $500 UNDER INVOICE! Would you mind calling them and finding out if those 5 are actually going for $25,845 or are there a few of those hidden add-ons included in a real price at far higher then what was listed? Another great news item for those searching for Prius II’s in CA.!

___Thanks in advance.

___Wayne

[tarabell]

Just called. They believe 3 are still available--2 already gone. They have exactly what's advertised, no add-ons, at that price. One is light blue, one is that silvery-green, not sure of color of the third. Phone is 1-800-208-7777.

[xcel]

Hi Tarabell:

___Thank you! Hot D**n, $500 under invoice now and this is in the land of $3,000 + markups above MSRP just a year ago! That is $24,200 for a fully loaded 07 Prius II w/ every bell and whistle after the tax credit.

___Sorry yet again for pulling your thread a bit OT but has anyone heard that the devil was having a snowball fight in his locale recently

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[tarabell]

Today's newspaper now offering 10 Prius--same place, same price and package.

[tigerhonaker]

Hi Cleanmpg folks,

In the newspaper today one of the Toyota Dealers here has {21-07 Prius} on special pricing.

Every dealer here has Hybrids for sell and lots of inventory.

Prices vary but I really think if anyone wanted to purchase any of them it would not be a problem.

Terry (tiger)

BTW, The Hybrid that impresses me the most right now is the Toyota Camry Hybrid.

[tarabell]

Ok, every week Santa Monica Toyota's been offering 10 more Prius at the same special pricing. This week they added "0% APR" for 24 mo, 2.9% for 25-60 mo. Good deal.

Also the ad now mentions "Tax Credit! Hurry...Changes at Month End". Anyone know if the Prius hit another sales milestone and the credit's going to decrease again?

[xcel]

Hi Tarabell:

___The Toyota’s are on their downward spiral wrt the tax credits available to them once they hit 60,000 in sales last summer. The tax credit clock begins and there is no stopping it even if they sold 0 from here until April when it drops to just $788 on the Prius II. I do not ever remembering it dropping below that (to $0) but I should look it up just to make sure?

Year	Make	Model	Date for Full Credit - Amount	Date for 50% Credit - Amount	Date for 25% Credit - Amount
2005-2006	Toyota	Prius	Jan. 1, 2006 - Sept. 30, 2006 - $3,150	Oct. 1 2006 - March 31, 2007 - $1,575	April 1 - September 30, 2007 - $788

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[tarabell]

Today the same dealer has upped the 07 Prius discount to $4k off MSRP, now for 2 packages. 10 cars available.

Pkg 5 MSRP of 28,274, now $24,274
Pkg 6 MSRP of $29,744, now $25,744

Also, first time seeing an 07 (or any) HCH being discounted--at another dealer--going for $21,699 (one only)

Though the supply at these prices is limited it still puts heat on the competition. My husband when buying a car would always look for a "two cars at this price" ad, take it to his neighborhood dealer, throw it on their desk and say this is the car I want--match their price and I'll buy today. They usually were able to get pretty close.

[xcel]

Hi Tarabell:

___Thanks for the update and those are some incredibly good looking prices for a completely loaded Prius II! It was not but a year ago that the Prius II with those same packages was receiving > $30K in some locations around CA.! It did not take long for Toyota dealerships to implement the following:

Toyota pushes new Blockbuster Prius incentive.

___With the 07 Prius II sales numbers posted last month, I wonder if Toyota is pushing the Prius towards 200,000 units this year instead of the 150,000 stated previously. Something is up at Toyota and its bigger then just the tax credits falling off? I am extremely happy to see these kinds of prices as well as sales numbers given what all these Prius purchasers would have purchased instead but I wonder if Toyota’s Prius sales push is because of the Tundra this year? Covering up the black with some green so to speak? The reason I say this is I wish you could have seen the Detroit and Chicago Auto Show Press Events. The Tundra took over half the floor space allotted whereas the Hybrids were relegated to the fringes. Very un-Toyota like from our perspective?

___This is a great time to purchase a Prius II if you are looking for a package 5 or 6!

___In the case of the HCH-II, I saw an individual in the Edmunds Prices Paid forums pick one up for what he posted as $1K under invoice. Great deal but not in the same league as the Prius’ as of late

___Good Luck

___Wayne