COVID + high fuel prices. How much is my car worth?

[Isaac Zachary]

The Prius question will be whether #1, if I really need it and #2, if I can get a decent price out of it and #3, if investing a little into it would pay off.

Similar Priuses, Prii, Prius (plural) are also going for quite a bit. But most of those have a front bumper and a hood that doesn't look like it's been in Ukraine for the past month (I got two hoods, one hail damaged and the other pretty bent up from deer crash). The Prius burns oil and I still need to get the front right wheel bearing replaced, which I have but just haven't gotten around to it. Other than that it is a pretty decent car. I think if I get a bumper I can bondo the hood to make it look fine.

I have about $1,000 into it so far, $300 Prius plus used fender, hood and aftermarket headlights and three HV modules less the cost to sell the three bad ones, plus a $20 6 cell NiMH battery charger and a simple discharge circuit I put together. OH, and I bought some sparkplugs and changed the oil a couple times.

I was hoping to install a ham radio into the Prius as I don't have much of a chance on the property I live at because #1, I live near an airport and #2, the landlord is a pain to deal with. The Avalon would be harder to install a ham radio antenna because of the sun roof unless I went the route of magnetic base antennas or something similar. The bigger roof and ease of putting the antenna right in the middle through a hole makes the Prius a better ground plane in theory for higher wavelenghts. But the Avalon already has a trailer hitch which would be good for a 40 ft mast.

Enough tangents so far?

[JSH]

Zero tangents in your last post. 100% related to which car to sell

[freebeard]

Enough tangents so far?

Have you considered a steam-powered steam-lift airship. Steam has buoyancy similar to Helium.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Have you considered a steam-powered steam-lift airship. Steam has buoyancy similar to Helium.

More freebeard than Xist due to the steampunk reference, but very tangenty.

[freebeard]

I could've mentioned that the guy who was supposed to pay for the Dasher on the 20th only came through with a partial payment. He'd offered $400 on Friday but I told him to hold it.

Then he came back with a story about how he'd been robbed in a transaction gone bad in the local supermarket parking lot. I'm not sure I want to believe that.

I think he wanted to make me feel like it's my fault.

More Xistian, but less tangenty now that I look at the thread title.

[redpoint5]

No stories randos tell are true. 100% of people that come into a business soliciting patrons with a story about how they don't have enough for groceries or rent are lying through their teeth. From now on, I'll simply say that nobody has time for their lies. Come with the truth, and maybe someone will listen.

Bad enough to humiliate oneself by begging, no need to completely throw all honor away with lies.

Also, never part with something until it's paid for in full, and never pay for work to be done until the work is done. At max, pay for work incrementally as it's performed.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by JSH

B. I would sell the Prius and keep the Avalon. You live in a remote area and need a car to get to work. If you go down to one car don't keep the one with a bunch of potential problems.

Looking at Kelly Blue Book, the Prius is supposedly worth around $2,800, give or take $1,000 in fair condition. So I may be able to make a profit off of it if I can sell it. But that amount is less apealing as I have to still compare that with the value of owning a second car. If the Avalon died for what ever reason (like gets hit with a snow plow while parked) then renting and/or finding a temporary replacement would add up past the $1,800 profit.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Also, never part with something until it's paid for in full, and never pay for work to be done until the work is done. At max, pay for work incrementally as it's performed.

The car is parked out front, and his down payment is in a safe with the title. My concern lately is more that he has a parking spot for it but no shop or garage. I want him to take it back to the previous owner, the shop that used it as a loaner for ten years.

I need to let go, but it sure does look good sitting out front with the Metro and the Superbeetle.

[freebeard]

I just talked to Rachel (Arcimoto Fulfillment Coordinator) about putting a deposit down on an MLM. She reminded me that from this year Oregon has a Charge Ahead Rebate Program [for qualified buyers] worth $7.5K against an FUV.

https://evrebate.oregon.gov/

That would be $10K out of pocket, but all three cars should sell for close to that.

I wonder if you can ship an FUV in an AMTrak baggage car?

[redpoint5]

You'll find Oregon EV prices are higher than any other market, which is why all the used ones are from California. Good thing we've got benevolent Great Leader geniuses leading us.

I don't think any of those subsidies applies to trikes.