Need advice on buying an 188K mile '01 for $2500.

atikovi · 01-20-2009, 06:15 PM

First off, I've owned an '02 for the last 3 years which now has 151K miles so I'm not new to or afraid of high mileage Priuses although mine has never needed any work or repairs since I got it with 125K miles.

The one I'm looking at I would just buy to flip. It's at a public auction and I put in a low ball $1500 bid on it, and they counteroffered with $2500. The body and interior is very clean and it was driven into the auction. The engine sounds strong. I did see some warning messages on the screen but don't know what they were for. Also I can do most repair work myself.

What is the car worth? Is $2000 a good price? I'm thinking it must be worth that much in parts alone. I know the prices on these cars are way down with the drop in gas prices but when it goes back to $4 a gallon this summer it should rebound.

Patrick Wong · 01-20-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atikovi

...I did see some warning messages on the screen but don't know what they were for. Also I can do most repair work myself.

What is the car worth? ...

It's really hard to say what the car is worth without knowing what is wrong with it.

What if the traction battery, electric steering gear, and catalytic converter need to be replaced. Can you do that work yourself at a low enough price so that when you sell the car, you will make any money?

edthefox5 · 01-20-2009, 10:54 PM

$150 could save you $1000's.....if you already own a Prius you should own a scangauge. You can buy one here for $150 (click on orange shop button on top of this page) and it will read out the codes (check engine lights) that your prospective Prius is showing with the flick of a switch. Buying a Prius that has a lit check engine light is just plain nuts at any price without knowing the severity of the cel. This car is unlike any other car on the market in that if it's showing a CEL...it ain't kidding. It could be into the thousands to fix. Inverter...transaxle...control cpu's....etc...you name it and its expensive.
Or could be easy.Like gambling at $2500 a flop? Buy a SG here and have it overnighted for $15. Thats smart money. Good Luck.

**Tideland Prius** · 01-21-2009, 12:08 AM

Should be. The battery should be able to net you $1k if it's in good condition (if the car turned out to be a dud)

01-20-2009, 06:15 PM	#1
atikovi Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 29 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Need advice on buying an 188K mile '01 for $2500. First off, I've owned an '02 for the last 3 years which now has 151K miles so I'm not new to or afraid of high mileage Priuses although mine has never needed any work or repairs since I got it with 125K miles. The one I'm looking at I would just buy to flip. It's at a public auction and I put in a low ball $1500 bid on it, and they counteroffered with $2500. The body and interior is very clean and it was driven into the auction. The engine sounds strong. I did see some warning messages on the screen but don't know what they were for. Also I can do most repair work myself. What is the car worth? Is $2000 a good price? I'm thinking it must be worth that much in parts alone. I know the prices on these cars are way down with the drop in gas prices but when it goes back to $4 a gallon this summer it should rebound.

01-20-2009, 10:54 PM	#3
edthefox5 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 598 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 1 Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Need advice on buying an 188K mile '01 for $2500. $150 could save you $1000's.....if you already own a Prius you should own a scangauge. You can buy one here for $150 (click on orange shop button on top of this page) and it will read out the codes (check engine lights) that your prospective Prius is showing with the flick of a switch. Buying a Prius that has a lit check engine light is just plain nuts at any price without knowing the severity of the cel. This car is unlike any other car on the market in that if it's showing a CEL...it ain't kidding. It could be into the thousands to fix. Inverter...transaxle...control cpu's....etc...you name it and its expensive. Or could be easy.Like gambling at $2500 a flop? Buy a SG here and have it overnighted for $15. Thats smart money. Good Luck.

01-21-2009, 12:08 AM	#4
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,620 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 345 Times in 244 Posts Friends: 23	Re: Need advice on buying an 188K mile '01 for $2500. Should be. The battery should be able to net you $1k if it's in good condition (if the car turned out to be a dud)

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