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Originally Posted by dafttreo
Thanks for the responses. Actually, we'd like to buy the base model Prius, but it looks as if Toyota doesn't offer that. Reasoning we're interested in a stripped down Prius, JeromeP: save $, standard equipment is pretty good, and, in my eyes, less to go wrong. Perhaps that's flawed thinking? If I asked the dealer for a base model '06 Prius in silver do you think they'd accomodate us? Or are there options y'all think we shouldn't pass up?
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I understand the need to save money. I can't argue with that and frankly for 21 or 22k this is the only car with auto climate, trip computer, digital dash touch screen control out there for that price. So, no harm or foul for going after a "stripper" (I had thought about refering to package 1 as a stripper in my earlier post, however no Prius is stripped from the factory).
The truth is that you can get a package 1 in any color combination you want even in a region that isn't carrying it, but since you have apparently gone to the Toyota web site and looked at your region's package offerings it appears that package 1 is not in your region's normal allocation, meaning that the region is not bringing in package 1 vehicles to port and then sending them off to dealers for standard lot stock. Again, probably back to my reference that dealers find it hard to sell less equipped cars. But that doesn't mean that you cannot find a dealer who is willing to work inside their distribution channels and with region management to get you the color and package you want. Remember, you are buying a car, the most expensive consumer item out there;
no compromises. You get what you want or you walk.
Don't give up, start calling dealers. Or better yet, get the fleet sales fax number (or email address) from a dealer receptionist and send out bids for the cars. Serious dealers will offer prices, dealers who are not serious will not respond. No need to travel around and talk with dealers in person. That isn't good for your mind, heart or blood pressure. Do as much over email or by phone as possible.
As for the thougtht about "less stuff to go wrong", I have to say that most vehicles built today include all the stuff that was usually thought to go wrong 30 or even 20 years ago in vehicles, power equipment, electonric instrumentation, etc. SmartKey is entirely solid state and as such is a nearly guaranteed lifetime operator, plus the wireing for the radio transponders is built into every Prius with or without SmartKey, although non-SmartKey vehicles do not have the radio transponders or the tactile sensor door handles, and since so much of the vehicle operates under the control of the various onboard computer systems, many "optional" items are really just hiding in the programming of the vehicle waiting to be turned on by somebody with a Toyota Hand Held tester. In short, nearly every "option" on the Prius is not mechanical in nature, but electronic and more a component of computer programming than anything else. So, i can't side with the concept of the optional equipment having much go wrong.
I admit I've oversimplified some aspects of this conversation, but the jist is that with this vehicle, if you would even like to have SmartKey or Nav or any of the other goodies that this car comes with you need to spring for it when you buy, because it is impossible to get it aftermarket.
Keep asking questions. We're happy to answerk.