By David Dewhurst
The best-selling hybrid, the Toyota Prius, is in such demand that its average sales price is higher than its original price, say two new surveys. But unlike two years ago, when high gas prices drove out-sized demand for high-mpg car, this time publicity about possible supply shortages this summer because of Japan’s disaster also is bringing in buyers.
The average transaction price for a new Prius was $64 more than its average sticker price of $25,926 in the first week of May, Edmunds.com says. Even a used 2010 Prius with 22,500 miles on the odometer was selling on the private-party market for an average of $24,705 last month — not bad for a car that, when new, has a starting price of $22,150, according to Kelley Blue Book.
Demand for Prius, with its 50-mpg rating typically increases in tandem with pump prices. But this time, Toyota can’t make enough because of production interruptions and parts shortages in Japan. The Prius line in Japan was one of the first that Toyota was able to reopen, but it’s running at about half of normal output… (more)
