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

[user removed]

Lots of people delete the ad then relist it with a higher price after the initial FLOOD of phone calls or other contacts.

The wife always tells me I did not ask enough if it sells quickly, my response is NOT printable.

regards
mech

[redpoint5]

People that list things for less than full market value either have something to hide, or just don't want to hassle with the back and forth price negotiations. Determining which type of person you're dealing with is key to getting a good deal.

I once purchased a 2007 Outback for $1,000 under the market value. The seller just wanted a quick and smooth transaction with no hassles. I was the first to call, said I had money in the bank, and didn't try to negotiate a lower price.

A month later I sold the car for $1,000 more than I purchased it for to the first guy that called me, and he didn't try to haggle either.

Deals exist, you just have to be quick in responding and demonstrate that you are prepared to buy with a minimal amount of hassle. Nobody wants to deal with a tough customer when they are selling a $500 car. If they wanted to deal with the hassle, they could just part it out for more money.

[MetroMPG]

So much for the local Toyota dealer saying they'd let me know if they got any Prius trades:



They got this super dirty '04 as a trade-in late last week. I noticed it parked in the "death row" area of their lot yesterday, so stopped in first thing this AM.

They sold it on Saturday.

[Fat Charlie]

Ooooooo! Ah hates used car salesmen!

[user removed]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

Ooooooo! Ah hates used car salesmen!

Of which all of us are-were at some time. Look at the 21 ex vehicles in my garage.

"We have met the enemy and he is us."

regards
mech

[2009Toyotoad]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

So much for the local Toyota dealer saying they'd let me know if they got any Prius trades:

They got this super dirty '04 as a trade-in late last week. I noticed it parked in the "death row" area of their lot yesterday, so stopped in first thing this AM.

They sold it on Saturday.

Used cars are the strawberry jam of the bread and butter world of car "stealers."

On new cars, its my understanding the salespeople make between $250 and $500 per car. Dealers generally make there money in service, parts, and the extended "crap" they sell in the finance department. They also get a modest kit back ,or hold back in the financing it the buyer makes their first three payments on time.

On used cars sales people can make thousands of dollars with the right car and right "sucker." I'll bet they found that sucker Friday night.

The "certified" used market is the biggest money maker of all. They set a premium price on a car 3 years old or less from a short term lease where the residual valve (true market value) was a minimal to begin with. And the suckers flock to them because they think they are moving up in vehicle class
over their friends and neighbors. That's why so many 20 something are driving around in two to four Y/O MBZ and BMWs. They are hoping to "the heavens" that the tranny, A/C, or electronics don't fail before they pay it off. Then they complain when they get nothing for trading in a 100K miles vehicle.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I found out today that this one came in with 220k kms (138k miles), a busted transmission, and sold for $1k. I would have gone for it as a fixxer upper project. Road worthy and cleaned up, it'd easily sell for $4k ... after driving it for another year or 2.

EDIT: also, that's the first Prius with a busted transmission I can think of. Not uncommon with Civic hybrid CVT's though.

[user removed]

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ius-10710.html

Gen 1, I remembered this thread.

regards
mech

[MetroMPG]

The seller says it needs a tie rod (which tells me the wheel was struck too), an alignment, and a muffler. 258k km / 160k mi.

"$1800 - all reasonable offers considered. Must sell!" Also says: new bearing (common issue) and new battery (likely the 12v).

It's at the outer limit of my C.R.A.P. Prius Radius though, and the ad is in French. I can get by en francais dans la belle province assez bien, but not confident enough that I'd get all the details clearly. So I'm passing on this one.

[MetroMPG]

Change of plans on the above: Turns I'm going to Montreal on Monday on other business, so I contacted the seller to see if it's still available. If it is, I'll have a look. (Though I'll be surprised if it still is.)