2010 Prius III w/ Salvage title

It's temping but keep in mind there will always be a diminished value to this car. Is the price low enough to take on that risk? I would definitely take it to a Toyota dealer for a front-to-back inspection - pay if necessary. Ask if any original warranty would still exist under these circumstances.

 

The price better be REALLY low to even consider it. What are they asking for it?

The brake vibration/pulsation is troubling. People have gone past 100K miles on 2nd gen Priuses while still on the original brakes. The two 3rd gens at Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity - Hybrid Electric Vehicles are past 80K and 96K miles while still on the original brake pads.

Can you try shifting to neutral then braking? That at least gets rids of the regenerative braking and forces it to use the friction brakes.

Unknown about the problems in 6 months esp. given it's a salvage car.

I hope you realize that a new/used Prius has this warranty: Toyota Prius Warranty and Coverage. In addition, in CARB (California Air Resources Board) states (NJ is one of them), the HV battery is warranted for 10 years/150K miles and some hybrid components are warranted for 15 years/150K miles as part of the California 15 year/150K mile emission control warranty. It's all in the warranty booklet.

It should have virtually no warranty since it's a salvage car.

 

Wow. Don't buy it. I wouldn't buy a salvage if it was squeaky clean and this is not even close to squeaky clean.

 

That's way too high. I'd say you're better off buying a recent non-salvage used gen 2 instead if you must have a Prius now.

(I'm not in the market but...) I would think that despite the supply situation, you ought to be able to swing a new 2011 Prius for MSRP. You might have to go far for it and do lots of calling/shopping around.

 

Can you wait 3 months? Supply will be up and prices down.

 

why would it be salvage if it only was in a small accident?

 

^^^ run don't walk away...

 

$19.5k on a salvage? Yikes!!

 

A year ago a friend of mine got a repaired, salvaged 2010 V (5) five with ATP having 16K miles for $20K. I can hardly find any evidence that it was ever wrecked and he hasn't had any problems ... so far. I expected him to have all kinds of problems. So far he has, basically, the same car as me for a lot less money. I'm not suggesting that anyone buy a salvaged Prius based on this anecdote, but I'll be watching and wondering if I could'a, should'a, would'a saved $10K.

 

The auto dealer should have been upfront and told you it had a salvage title. The amount of work that he told you about seems low for the car to have been salvaged as well. I would wonder what else he is not telling you.

 

i was offered a 2010 prius salvage, by water damage,the price was 12900.00, everyone that i spoke to said no, i asked the local dealer if they would go thru the car for me and they wouldnt because they said the damage wont show up for a couple years but when it does better have good covereage for repair, i like the resale value of the car,so hands down we bought a new 2011, 2012 plug in when they come to market

 

Why bother? A salvaged Prius was worth exactly what he paid for, if not less, and always will be whether something happens to his car or not. And now you run into a conflict of interest, hoping something might go wrong with his car to validate your own purchase decision. What kind of friend is that? It's a no-win situation to think this way. Between the 2 of us you made the wiser choice anyway.

Now stop losing sleep on this.

 

Problems in 6 months? That car has problems NOW. If it was just a simple brake job they would have done it. Don't worry about Toyota's warranty, a salvage car has ZERO warranty. Yes, NJ is a CARB state so the hybrid parts are covered 10 years/150000 miles.

The AAA price was over MSRP. Now it is a bit under. If you wait until production & delivery are back to 100% selling prices & availability will be much better. You may not see invoice again but it should be under MSRP.

As for this car: Be afraid. Be very afraid.

 

No loss of sleep or conflict of interest. I was just noting an example of a salvaged Prius that, thus far, has been a winner. I hope his good fortune, and mine, continue.

 

I had a feeling you'd respond with that. Perhaps a precipitate post on my part for which I apologize. However, that salvaged car is not a winner, and so my main point that I reemphasize is not to regret your purchase.

 

Too much $$ for a Salvage, walk away from this one..

 

Bingo! We have a winner...it's a salvage title because it was totalled' abandoned, stolen, fire/water damage, etc. OP ought to get the VIN and run it at Carfax or through their state's DMV.

Unless the price is near give-away...run as fast as you can in the other direction. Why are car buyers attracted to corner lots?

 

Two words: "Salvage Title."
They're like the words "social disease" on a dating site, and they have a rather powerful impact on the street value of the car.

OK....so the G3 has a "glass jaw", and it doesn't take much in the way of an accident to make the "tilt" light illuminate in the insurance company's alorythum for "repair or replace" when one gets into an accident.
Chances are good that this car will look and drive acceptably for some years to come...and the driveline components may be in pretty good shape. I'm not so worried about the brakes, since this car has 25K miles on the clock, and the previous owner (the one who got into the accident.. ) may have been unusually harsh on them. A few hundred bucks worth of brake components and a few hours on a lift can fix them.

The car is obviously worth something....but 19K?
Heck no!! More like 15.

JMHO!
Good Luck!!