[mgithens]

I am sold. I currently drive an '01 325i and I hate it. Yes it drives good, yes it is sharp, but I am tired of paying for a $35,000 car that the standard American thinks is just a bump stop for their door.

I have about a dozen door dings and somebody backed into me this past weekend. Of course they left, and left me with about 18" of missing paint.

The front power windows went out, the airbag sensor in the passenger seat went out, sunroof went out, a rim cracked... all of this was covered by warranty, but any car could have these problems. All this and next month marks two years of ownership and $36,000 miles.

I average 16 to 17 mpg in the city and about 24 to 25 on the highway. And of course it uses 93 octane, so my 16 gallon tank runs just shy of $30 to fill up every week.

The engineer in me says "get one"... does anybody know when the 2004s are expected to be delivered and/or when I can place my order??

 

[DAVID]

re: 2004 availability

The rumors I've heard put availability around late August to September. The only place I know that you can pre-order is Carson Toyota in Southern California, and I don't know if that gets you one any earlier than anywhere else.
Unless I can come to my senses before then, I will be getting one, too. I love it.

 

[GreyMud]

Rumor has it (if my memory is not faulty) that delivery is October for the first few. Check with your local dealers (more than one, some are better at service). You may have to push for an answer.

Or check with Carson, they have a great rep with just about every Prius owner I've dealt with.

G'luck, and welcome aboard. I've got a '02, and wouldn't trade it for anything. Well, maybe an '03 with NAV. ;^] Personally, I don't like the body style of the '04.

 

[AronRubin]

They told me late August, but "they" have been known to be wrong. I told the lady at the dealership that I wanted the first car off the boat. I am on a list to be on the list right now.

Aron

 

[jamesont]

I just talked to a dealer today, he said Mid-September. He said Toyota may delay it intentionally depending on how many 03s are hanging around dealer lots. Unfortunatly he didn't have any more information then that.

He did say to not expect any kind of "deals" on the 04 for a while.

 

[efusco]

My dealer told me "August", but it sorta seemed more like a guess as he didn't offer any hard data or a source for that time table.

I put down $500 with him for the 'first right of refusal' for the first '04 to hit the lot. I don't recall the technical terms he used, but he said that usually about 1-2 months before the cars they're going to get come off of the production line they get some information such as color and some of the options that will be installed. He also said that you can, once you have that information, "request" that certain other options be added while the car is still on the line. Sometimes that happens and sometimes it doesn't according to him.

Anyway, I'm promised a first chance at the first one on the lot here be it in August or October and guaranteed it with my $500. You might see if you can find the same kind of deal. Also, be aware that depending on where you are the various dealer's sales people have a marked difference in their knowledge of and interest in the Prius. Check around to see who knows the most, I think you'll find that one to be most helpful in getting you what you need.