You are currently browsing the forum as a guest which gives you limited access. To make use of all forum features such as posting to topics, reply to other postings, starting polls and using the Private Messaging System (PM) you are invited to register. Registration is free and simple. All you need is an e-mail address and a password and you are ready to go! Sign up and join the Green Car Network today!
Should you have problems with the registration process, please contact us.
Toyota dealer starts taking deposits on plug-in Prius
| Author | Message |
|---|---|
|
Written on: 30 August 2008 [12:41]
|
|
|
ecoadmin
Administrator
Topic creator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 583
|
A Toyota dealership in Palo Alto has started taking deposits on a plug-in version of the Toyota Prius, a car the automaker hasn't even confirmed it will put on sale. "Basically, we're responding to demand," said Eric Doebert, business development manager at Magnussen's Toyota of Palo Alto. "The Palo Alto community is very interested in electric cars and hybrid cars." But the dealership also has taken $500 deposits from people living in Marin County, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Cincinnati. The dealership has taken 25 deposits since it began accepting them two weeks ago, Doebert said. He believes his is the first Toyota dealership in the U.S. to take such deposits. He admitted that taking deposits for a vehicle that most expect to arrive many months from now, perhaps early in 2010, isn't "a normal business practice," but "there will not be a whole huge amount of these plug-ins when they do become available." Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/drive/ci_10327089?nclick_check=1 An interesting business move. I wonder what Toyota would say about his practice? I don't see a big problem with it as it doesn't hurt anyone and Toyota probably benefits from it as well, because customers sort of bind themselves to the the brand. Twike 890
 |
|
Written on: 30 August 2008 [16:18]
|
|
|
Lensman
 registered since: 31.05.2008
Posts: 75
|
I don't necessarily see that there's anything "wrong" with it, as long as the customer realizes Toyota hasn't yet committed to building such a car, and so long as the dealer is willing to refund the deposit if asked. But it does "smell" a bit like the plan Tucker used in 1948 to finance his company, by selling accessories to customers for cars which hadn't been built yet. He was charged with fraud and his company went bankrupt because of that. But that's not the whole story; he was challenging the big auto manufacturers with his innovative car design, and they were definitely out to get him... pressured congress to investigate his business. It may well be that if he'd have been left alone, he would have built those cars and given those customers value for their money. |
|
Written on: 02 September 2008 [18:52]
|
|
|
childress
Administrator
registered since: 14.08.2007
Posts: 140
|
The Tucker WAS built, just not mass produced: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Tucker_Sedan According to the Movie with Jeff Bridges (good flick), the fact that he had 51 of them built is what saved his bacon. The bad press from the indictment killed him, and given that it only raised US$2M he would've been better playing it safe... Commute suck? Twike it; You'll like it!
http://www.uiuc.edu/goto/twike |
Portal information:
At the moment there are 23 users online, thereof 0 registered users and 23 guests.
Today 4 registered users and 730 guests were already online.
Now online
ecocarforum.com has 707 registered user, 606 topics and 1205 answers. On the average 1.09 posts are written per day.
Today 4 registered users and 730 guests were already online.
Now online
ecocarforum.com has 707 registered user, 606 topics and 1205 answers. On the average 1.09 posts are written per day.