I am within a month of buying a prius...I have some questions for yall

I see a local 2007 with 57k for $3500 more than that. I think the price on that one is ok, not bad, not super good, but pretty decent. Probably the miles are not a big problem but given its age I'd still have some money ready if it does need repairs.

I also see locally a certified used 07 with 68k for $14.5k)
81k for $12,500
two others for $15k with 28k or 32k miles.

As long as you are ok with the possibility of an old car having problems from suspension to whatever else, then if you can get this guy to go anything under $9k I guess I'm going to have to say you got a pretty strong price on it. After all, it is a 2007 and though the miles are high that is a new vehicle and gas prices are high. Probably well worth it. Might be worth paying an hour of labor for a Toyota mechanic to scour it, though.

When negotiating a lower price, find another one on Craigslist that has a really solid price. Ignore the others that are not so well priced and say "Yeah, this 2007 is only $9k but for $3k more [or whatever] I can get one with half the miles. I'll give you $8500 cash right now". If you have that cash actually on you, should you be paying with cash, then it WILL sweeten the deal.

 

Worst case anything could break. Maybe the engine needs replacing for thousands of dollars or the transmission or the battery is on its last legs. These are just possibilities (SLIM ones, like you getting eaten by a shark on the way to work although probably a bit more likely than that). Realistically speaking if this vehicle is like any other 2007 with that many miles it is going to be in good shape without any pending concerns. The transmissions on these are seriously robust as are the engines, motors, etc. Batteries typically last hundreds of thousands of miles. A high mile car is always a bit of a risk but the expected lifespan on that car is still many years, regardless of miles.

If you do get it checked out the mechanic can look for strange colorations in the fluids, ripped CV boots, old struts. Or you could look online for a checklist of things to check when buying a used car. Checking on these things really isn't difficult.

If I was comparing this to a car with half the miles for $3500 more and both had the same kind of interior and exterior quality I would go with the $9k one and bank the $3500, which pays for a ton of repairs. It would be the better buy, fiscally speaking.

 

A tthose speeds I would anticipate low 40s in the winter and mid to high 40s in the summer. This is assuming you also drive smoothly without accelerating hard too often and you don't suffer extremely cold winters with very wet or snowy weather.

W ithso many highway miles I suggest choosing you tires well. Low rolling resistance tires will be your friend in summer.

 

The only question that comes to my mind apart from price negotiation is to ask the seller for their copies of maintenance records and costs. A dealer trick is to find every nick, scratch and rattle on the car and use that as a justification for lowering the price.

Good luck

 

IMO, a 4 year old car is not "An Old Car"...but a year ago I was driving a 1993 Accord...so...whatever...

I look at high miles "newer cars" this way. At least you know, that in the past 4 years it's been relatively reliable for whomever owned it...because if it had been a lemon or a big problem, it wouldn't have 140,000 miles on it today.

You should have it checked out. If you can afford it. Because as much knowledge you can have about what you are about to purchase the better. But I tend to think a "younger Prius" with high miles could be a good deal. The Hybrid system is designed to be efficient...that means everything is designed to get the most out of the engine, if this vehicle has been driven a lot on the highway, those miles could be far less impacting than they would on a vehicle NOT equipped with HSD.

I'd be concerned about wear items like tires, shocks and suspension...

Bottom line, like any used car purchase...getting as much info as possible and the most comprehensive, evaluation of the entire state of the vehicle is good. Carfax, Maintenance Records, Checked out by an independent Toyota Technician...all good ideas.

Beyond that? High Miles alone would NOT be a reason I would not purchase a Prius.