Buy now, or wait till the 2010s get here

[Oracle]

Guys,

My old 98 windstar minivan is in its final deaththrows, and I need to get a new car. I can spend about $550 to replace the Master Cylinder (traction control-read expensive and no rebuilts) to keep it breathing for a while, but it has so many other things wrong with it that might go more wrong any day now that I wondering whether I should just save the cash and get a 2009. Supposed book value for a fair condition 98 windstar trade in is $1300. I'd want that from the dealer, and while they're not offering 0% financing, 4.9% is decent, and I've got a quote for a 2009 Prius Touring w/ pkg 3 for $24,044. How's that sound in terms of a decent deal? Checked out the dealership, and it's rated satisfactory by the BBB, as opposed to another in the area that isn't rated at all.

Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

Phil

[edmcohen]

Originally Posted by Oracle

I've got a quote for a 2009 Prius Touring w/ pkg 3 for $24,044. How's that sound in terms of a decent deal?l

For the only time since the G2 Prius came in in `04, nearly all dealers are sitting on extensive inventory of `09 Prii. Production was ramped up during last year's gasoline price spike. Then, sales tanked when the gasoline price collapsed, and other economic troubles came to the fore. What with the very reasonable announced prices for the G3, there will have to be a big push at some point to get rid of that inventory with discounts and rebates amounting to three or four thousand dollars. (They have been doing a $1,000 rebate.) I am waiting for that, to buy an `09 myself. You might want to price out a rental for two or three months, and monitor the dealers' web sites, cars.com, this web site etc. for the moment to make your move.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by Oracle

. . . 4.9% is decent, . . .

Fixed?

Bob Wilson

[auricchio]

Originally Posted by Oracle

I can spend about $550 to replace the Master Cylinder.. Supposed book value for a fair condition 98 windstar trade in is $1300.

If you know the master cylinder needs replacement, so will the dealer's trade people when they inspect the vehicle.

So you might as well make the repair now, else they'll want to knock more than $500 off the trade value.

[Oracle]

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

Fixed?

Bob Wilson

4/1 - 5/4 on 2009 Prius

$1000 Customer Cash* OR 4.9% for 36 months, 4.9% for 48 months, 4.9% for 60 months special APR financing (with qualifying credit rating) OR Special Lease Money Factor for 36 months (with qualifying credit rating) AND $500 Lease Bonus Cash*.
* Customer Cash from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.

[Oracle]

Originally Posted by auricchio

If you know the master cylinder needs replacement, so will the dealer's trade people when they inspect the vehicle.

So you might as well make the repair now, else they'll want to knock more than $500 off the trade value.

The $1300 that I quoted was for a trade in FAIR condition as opposed to EXCELLENT condition. Fair condition takes into consideration that some things are not in top condition on the car, but, overall, the car runs, has resonable mileage, mine has 74K miles, and the major items like engine and transmission have no problems. Besides, it would cost me $500+ to get it fixed, but that's retail, and a dealer would be able to fix it for a much lower price.

Thanks for your response, but, the thrust of the post was whether I should buy the 2009 now, with the current incentives, or wait for better incentives and buy a 2009 later, or just wait for the 2010 to hit the US in the midst of our Great Recession, and buy that in 6 months.

Phil

[M8s]

Originally Posted by Oracle

Thanks for your response, but, the thrust of the post was whether I should buy the 2009 now, with the current incentives, or wait for better incentives and buy a 2009 later, or just wait for the 2010 to hit the US in the midst of our Great Recession, and buy that in 6 months. Phil

Nobody here on PC can foretell future events - not very well, anyway.

You alone are in a position to predict whether your current vehicle will provide reliable (and economical) transportation as long as it takes to (potentially) allow you to get a great deal on an '09 or '10 Prius.*

If you aren't losing sleep about your current vehicle quitting on you or involving you in an accident, then I suggest that you wait until the '10s come out. Then you can compare the deals on left-over '09s versus the even better '10s. I don't think you can make a bad choice between them.

Larry

* We've been looking at Mazda MX-5 Miatas lately. For some reason, there's a $5k rebate on left-over '08s, which are basically identical to the '09s! Maybe Toyota will offer a deal like that on left-over '09s.