Hybrid Vehicle Shopping: Camry hybrid v Prius

A better buy right now

So, I've been helping a friend of mine, Carlos, shop for a Toyota Prius, which I first covered in $3000.00 Prius markup: Screw the Customer. Since that time we've gone to and called dozens of Toyota dealerships in Southern California, and we've found that many dealerships have increased their markups, read $10,000 extra for a Toyota Prius.

Still, we have found a couple of dealerships that were not adding ANY markups to their Prius hybrids, nor were they accepting deposits. It was simply first come first serve at MSRP. Most dealers, however, are requiring refundable deposits to be put on their lists, and some are even requiring non-refundable deposits. Unfortunately, wait times can run several months.

As we've shopped, Carlos has become interested in the Camry hybrid - mostly because he really needs a car, wants a hybrid, and the Camry hybrid is available. Still, when we first started shopping, one dealer was willing to sell Carlos a Camry hybrid for almost $2000.00 below MSRP. As of Tuesday, however, most dealers had placed a $3000 - $4000 dealer markup on the Camry hybrid.

Just as with the Prius, fortunately, some dealers are not adding ANY markups to the Camry hybrid (actually its still a lot easier to find a Camry hybrid at MSRP compared to the Prius), but they don't last more than a day or two on lots. Thus, on Tuesday, Carlos picked up a Camry hybrid at MSRP.

Based on this demand trend, it seems that the Camry hybrid will soon become just as impossible to find as the Prius. Now, could be the last best chance to find either a Prius or a Camry hybrid, but finding one without a dealer markup or dealer add-ons won't be easy.

Our best deals were found at smaller dealerships, outside of major SoCal cities, particularly at family-owned dealerships that have been around a long time.

If you're desperate for a Toyota Prius, or a Camry hybrid, shop around - ALOT - and be willing to walk away. Most dealers have scarified referral business, repeat consumers - customer service - to squeeze every bit of extra money they can from hybrid consumers. If you can wait, wait until 2009, when Toyota will significantly increase battery production and hybrid output.

And, when it does turn around, remember those dealers with the biggest markups, and remember that their business model has nothing to do with taking care of consumers.