Cars.com (Enlarge photo)

12/06/2008 03:20. We spent a good chunk of yesterday calling car dealers nationwide trying to find a new Toyota Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid to buy. We logged quite a few phone calls — as interested buyers, mind you — and not one dealer had an actual vehicle on the lot. We recently ran our list of the fastest cars moving in and out of lots, and both ranked quite high, with the Prius and Civic Hybrid selling in 11 and 20 days, respectively.

According to more than one salesman, however, they sell “before they get off the truck.†So, how do you get one of these hot sellers?

Either get on a waiting list or buy used.

Waiting lists for the Prius, we’re told, are roughly four to six months. The Civic Hybrid was less, at three to four months on average. Obviously your local... // Cars.com