Cheap used (C.R.A.P.) Prius hunting adventure - UPDATE: got one!

[mrbigh]

a little to late to this thread
It took me 4 month to sell my 2008 a few months back, finally I found a great purchaser with a slim wallet.
She has been a very happy camper with my former 2008 Prius.

[MetroMPG]

mrbigh: can you say why it took you so long to sell? (Particularly if it sounds like you sold it for an attractive -- to the buyer -- price?)

3304hl: I arbitrarily decided my beater Prius radius is ~2 hours one way. I don't want to waste more than half a day going to inspect prospects.

---

So far I've taken notes on 28 gen 2's and a bunch of gen 1's. The average asking price: ~$4700; average year: 2005.5. I've contacted sellers of 8 cars and either missed out or gave up because the seller wouldn't answer messages.

There's a dealer an hour away advertising this '05 with ridiculously low kilometers (67k km / 42k miles) for $5200.



But something's fishy: it's still wearing its winter wheels/tires and the dealer says he doesn't have the OEM alloys & summer tires.

The main reason I can think of for that is an insurance company wrote off the car after a wreck and the factory wheels are still sitting in the previous owner's garage.

If it's not a salvage/rebuild, that's a good price. But even in the grainy photos, the paint looks suspiciously fresh. I shall ask him about the branding status.

[sidecar]

Originally Posted by dirtydave

So can you drive one with a dead battery?

depends which battery, there are 2

if you are thinking the big battery, I think yes it will drive if its dead, it just means huge overuse of the IC engine

there is also a motorcycle size battery under the boot, it cant do anything without that because it masters all the starting electronics, but theyre like cheap to replace if you avoid Toyota

[sidecar]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I'm aiming for a 2nd gen (better MPG, hatchback, battery history & easier resale).

But I won't turn down a 1st gen if a good deal turns up. Plus there would be even more deals on 2nd gens in another year or so.

Gen II has so much more scope to play with, + I dont know of anyone that turned a Gen I into a plugin (if thats the plan) I havent seen any battery kits for them either.

somewhere in the future Jay Leno reckons Gen II will be sought after iconic cars

BTW expect to hate the front seats and swap them out
I have a 2008, it hasnt blown so much as a light bulb in the 5 yrs Ive had it.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

...even in the grainy photos, the paint looks suspiciously fresh...

Taken after a fresh wash and wax and in the right light, I could snap a photo of my 1998 Civic that makes the paint look fresh. I've donenit without trying. Your instinct to call is a good one.

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by sidecar

depends which battery, there are 2

if you are thinking the big battery, I think yes it will drive if its dead, it just means huge overuse of the IC engine

That's true in a Honda IMA, but the Prius has to have a functioning traction battery to run since the motors are integral to the transmission.

[mrbigh]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

mrbigh: can you say why it took you so long to sell? (Particularly if it sounds like you sold it for an attractive -- to the buyer -- price?)

It might it be the wrong time of the year (near christmas time), or waiting for the right buyer, or the buyer I like it.......
Didn't make as much $$$ I was expected but well above the cheap offer from a dealer for a trade in at the time, they offer me a generous "auction price".

[sidecar]

Originally Posted by Vman455

That's true in a Honda IMA, but the Prius has to have a functioning traction battery to run since the motors are integral to the transmission.

just to be clear
I asked, and you are right for the HV battery

[suspectnumber961]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Yes both are 3rd gen... So I don't know why they might have different ratings, but the NTSB ratings listed on Cars.com for the two years show a few 4 star ratings in 2010 were revised to five stars in 2011. I would imagine a few reinforcements or minor changes in body panels might have been all it took. Modest improvements were all they needed.

I have a copy of The Car Book 2010. The Prius crash ratings for 2010 is Poor for frontal and Average for side.

As far as safety is concerned...generally the larger the car...the safer it is in a crash...so you can't directly compare safety ratings of sub-compact vs compact vs intermediate

Side note: this last winter during a snow storm there were 2 local crashes shown on the news...both were headons. Both involved older Chevy Celebrities (?) vs a Jeep and then a Caddy. The people in the small cars died...the others went home or to the hospital.

note: not trying to be a Debby Downer...just that I was considering a used Prius myself...till I saw the crash ratings. My current ride...a 2 door focus probably has one of the worst side crash ratings you could find....

[nimblemotors]

2007 Prius, $2,000



2007 Toyota Prius