Toyota Prius $8,000 mark up?

Question

At Carson Toyota california they wanted an $8,000 mark up for this car. Is it worth it? Is it really worth it? $8,000 can buy tons of gasoline.

Answer 1

Not to me it isn't.  xx_Satan has the best answer, great calculation!

Answer 2

Any item is only worth what the buyer is willing to pay.

Are you willing to pay $8k over sticker for a car?  cause I am not.

You should look at the q I answered comparing total cost of ownership on a Prius vs. a Yaris.  The Yaris is a much cheaper car to buy and own long-term.

EDIT --- Had to recalculate this due to higher gas prices than my first comparisson.  I have not adjusted the MSRP's on the vehicles, so you may want to run the numbers yourself based on new retail values.

Prius is rated at 48mpg, Yaris is rated at 29mpg, so 19mpg difference.

Lets say gas is $4.50/gallon --

cost of driving Prius 1000 miles is $93.75 (roughly)

Cost of driving Yaris 1000 miles is $155.00

so for every 1000 miles you drive, you theoretically save $61.25 in fuel costs.

the price difference is $14,000 / 61.25 = 228.

So your break even is 228,000 miles

228 x 155 = 35,340 in gas + 14,000 = $49,340 for the yaris

228 x 93.75 = $21,375 + 28,000 = $49,375 For the Prius.

the math is off a hair due to my rounding numbers.

Oh well - i think you can see the point. 228,000 miles later, hoora you are finally saving money! Oooh but you had to replace those batteries in the Prius at least once, maybe twice at $8000 a crack.

Obviously the rise in gas prices will lower the break even point. But they have to move significantly foryou to break even in less than 100,000 miles.

So. I think we see the answer here!

All I did was a mathematical break-even calculation based on fuel use.  Naturally the total cost of ownership is different. But my Lappy286 swears by the fuel consumption break-even.

Answer 3

Don't buy it there. I live in Fresno, Ca and I just bought one at MSRP. That was a week ago. Good luck!

Answer 4

Dealers are taking the desire to have a Prius to their advantage. If I were you, find another dealer with is willing to work with you on the price. I just my local Toyota Dealer, Bill Kidd's Toyota-Scion-Volvo of Baltimore, MD and they are selling $300 below sticker for the Prius. You should really check them out, even with shipping it would be cheaper.

Website:

http://billkiddstoyota.com/Default.aspx

Good Luck

Bill Kidd's is a pleasure to work with- I bought a Volvo with them a couple years ago.

Answer 5

No.  The Toyota Prius shortage is only temporary.  Can you actually save $8,000 in gas before the shortage if over and you can buy one at regular price?  I really doubt that.  Just wait a few months and get one then.