Trade In Story – My Prius Is Only Worth What?!

[edmcohen]

Originally Posted by stew6789

...to see about trading in my 30 month old Prius for a new one.

If you were considering an `09 G2, why do you want to go to this trouble just to get the same generation of Prius? Unless you really desire a Touring or something like that, why not just get the new tires, the body work, and get it detailed to give its looks a lift? Your car is still young enough that you can get the warranty extended by Troy Dietrich. The Prius is potentially the most durable car there is, what with no friction coupling and an engine that does not have to work very hard. Do that, and keep your new car money for a new product later on!

[DeadPhish]

Also that's one dealer's viewpoint. He may have specific situations where he doesn't want your trade in. That's what he's saying via the buy offer mechanism. With the banking crisis affecting small businesses like auto retailers his bank may have told him 'NO NEW INVENTORY'. Offer it to another dealer to get a second opinion.

I work for a Toyota store on the E Coast. We have been told to slash inventory by 50% for the foreseeable future. This includes refusing new shipments from Toyota.

Via the buying/pricing mechanism your local store was telling you that you should look elsewhere to sell it or sell it yourself. It's not an insult to you or to your Prius, it's not a ripoff, it not anything except that auto retailing is teetering on the edge of the abyss right now.

[stew6789]

I would like to thank everyone who replied. This is a great forum and I really appreciate the responses.

FYI - I already got new tires and I am getting quotes on repairing the hood. I got Goodyear Assurance ComforTred, which I love so far. $518 installed, including alignment. I'll post more about them once I have a few more miles on them.

[TreffEdwards]

I have to say; I wanted to trade in my 2009 Toyota Matrix XRS w/ all options inc navigation, 10k miles on a 2008 Toyota Prius w/30k miles w/ all options in navigation. They only offered me 12000.00 for my Matrix until I talked them up to 15,800.00 but the Pruis price was 17350.00! Needless to say we couldnt make a deal together and I kept my Matrix for my wife to drive and I sold her 99 Lexus ES300 w/145k and the next day went and bought a 2005 Prius w/ 118k for almost what I sold the Lexus for.. It was a good deal to me and we are happy! But the market is kinda in the crapper and so there is always going to be issues with people not wanting to pay anything!