Prius fever hits, driving prices up

DALLAS, June 30 (UPI) -- U.S. demand for the Toyota hybrid car Prius have outstripped supplies, shooting prices upward, dealers and car owners said.

A one-year old Prius -- a car that boasts a fuel rating of 48 miles per gallon when new -- now often sells for more than the original purchase price and dealers are bumping prices as much as $5,000 above the sticker price, the Dallas Morning News reported Monday.

"It's hybrid hysteria," said John Mathews managing partner of Pat Lobb Toyota and Scion of McKinney, Texas.

"Nothing else comes even close to the Prius in mileage," Sonny Morgan a managing partner of Sport City Toyota in Dallas said.

Supplies are limited due to soaring demand, but Toyota has said battery and electric engine supplies will only permit them to sell 150,000 Prius in the United States this year, the report said.

Dallas resident Amy Meaux looked for a Prius in May, the Morning News reported.

She found 10 available at one dealership. But, when she inquired again two days later, there were none left on the lot, she said.

"That's when I knew we'd have to pay over window-sticker price for the car," she said.