The discounts mentioned-$1100 and $800 for HCH2 and Prius certainly were being given in Feb,Mar,April before the latest runup in gas prices. His statement is clear, but it could be misleading. He said "up to $1100" not that the average discount was $1100. Now up to $1100 might mean just one was sold with an $1100 discount.
I know for a fact that Miller Toyota-in the DC area,I think-was discounting PK 6 Prius for $24600-about $2000 off MSRP until about mid April.On April 22 I bought a PK 4 for $23700-maybe $350 off MSRP in NO and our dealers are really predatory.
I saw several HCH 2 go begging on Ebay in March for under $21000.I saw several HCH2 sell for slightly under $21000 on Ebay-it was common.
All that has changed- for the most part HCH2 go for about MSRP and Prius go for a little -and I mean little as in a couple hundred$$-under MSRP. Now CA is a different story for a lot of reasons-folks there pay MSRP if they are lucky-probably a bit more with the usual crummy CS add ons.
What this pundit is ignoring is that the discounts on all non Hybrids ARE ALWAYS MORE THAN $1100-!Toyota was offering $500 rebate on Corollas in CA until about 2 weeks ago!!Imagine the discount on a Focus,Cobalt,Malibu,Neon,Caliber,Sentra etc.
It isn't a balanced article, but so what.
I do expect Prius prices to drop soon-post Sept- when the Tax Credit halves, and more Prius become available. All this assumes-big assumption-that oil doesn't really spike because of Iran/Nigeria/Lebanon/Hurricanes etc.
If gas is $3 or less in Oct 2006 we will get some decent discounts on Prius-I hope!!They won't match the $3150 Credit, of course, that was basically a gift to the middle and upper middle class that we won't see again! Luck,Charlie
PS- Sure an Aveo gets Prius mpg-falling off a cliff! It is a shame-I like the Aveo's styling-looks like an Echo-but that CS primitive engine just doesn't deliver.