I pretty much decided that I'm not going to buy a Prius because of the cost. I also think it's absurd what most dealers are doing these days...charging premums, not selling cars unless you take several dealer options like tinted window and all kinds of stupid things. It's just plain stupid. I don't want a Prius badly enough to take a bad deal.

So I'm down to an HCH (I got a quote for a couple hundred less from another dealer today), a new Corolla LE or Civic EX, or a used Corolla LE (2003 maybe?) or Civic EX (2001 maybe?). The problem I have with paying so close to the sticker price is the car is a 2004...it's already a year old. The depreciation of that first year alone tells me that I should be paying under $20K, if not at or below invoice. If I wait, I could probably get a new HCH when they hit the streets in October for around the same prices I'm being quoted right now. Don't you think? I don't know...I have to get back to work