Overhaulin'

Can the dealer really up the price on a Prius if the 09 model comes out b4 my order comes in?

This seems a little shady... if I place an order, shouldn't the car be locked in at that price - even if it's the 2009 model by the time they get around to filling it? Also, is it true that I have to wait six to eight months for it?

Public Comments

1. That depends. Did you sign a contract for delivery at a certain price? If not, they can pretty much do what they want. A lot of dealers are adding $2000-$5000 to the list price on Prius sales. Production is not keeping up with demand, so yes there is a long waiting list for them.
2. Toyota cannot provide enough hybrid's right now. It maybe a long time before that dealer can get to your Prius. However, bigger dealers will get them in more often. Check on pricing and wait time from another nearby dealer. The dealer cannot lock in '09 prices and therefore maybe unwilling to do that for you. However, you should be able to negotiate a firm price. If not, keep shopping.
3. Programs change, and in the time it takes to get one, the programs may change a couple times. So yes, they can change it, it's not shady, it's subject to programs at time of delivery. At BMW we have a 60 day beyond program end date to lock in programs. Most companies do not.