Traded 2010 For A 2011

great move, i think you will find the '11 much improved. all the best!

 

Much improved how? The OP got the same trim and essentially the same car, just with fewer miles and still under warranty.

 

Yup, how you figger?

 

You did not provide all the details so I am going to assume you either leased or financed the first car. I also predict that you signed a new lease or financed the second 2011 car.

You paid an extra $3,855 to get a 2011 over a 2010. That comes to $321.25 a month in addition to the monthly payment you already paid. How is that a good deal?

 

The newer one has 35,000 less miles

 

Given that cars last a lot longer than 35,000 miles and an extended warranty can be purchased for significantly less than $3,855 if desired, it's not really a good deal.

Sounds like the OP fell for one of these.

 

About a month ago I got a letter from my dealer about a wonderful opportunity to upgrade my 2010 Prius to a 2011. They had about 20-2011's left on the lot with the 2012's almost out.

The letter stated that you had a choice of 0% interest for 60 months or $3000 cash back. Also, since I was such a loyal Toyota customer (my first) they were also offering a $4500 loyalty discount.

I went by to look and it would have ended up costing me about the same $3500 to trade up to the same Three with Nav. I did not think this was a good deal especially since I have done several mods to my car and have just put on a new set of Michelin tires.

Most of the cars were Two's but I did find a Barcelona Red with light gray interior that was a Three with Nav. I was tempted but the next time I went by the dealer this car was gone and I did not find another one that I was interested in trading for. So, this helped make up my mind for good

 

But you already have a Three with Nav so trading in doesn't make sense anyway. Especially considering you can purchase an extended warranty for significantly less than $3,500-4,000 if you're concerned about being without a warranty.

The only circumstances where trading in might make sense is if you have a severe buyer's remorse about getting a lower trim and want some of the upgraded features, the new model year is significantly improved (which the 2011 isn't), or you're leasing the current car and now want to purchase.

 

I agree. No buyer's remorse or warranty issue concerns. If it had not been for the Barcelona Red one I would not have thought twice about it There were no Barcelona Red ones available when I purchased mine.

 

$3,500 is a lot for a new color, but hey it's your money. Trading in for the same trim is like divorcing your wife and marrying her twin sister. Sure, she has a slightly different personality, but you're still getting the same package deal

 

Well since the OP is using past tense "Traded"?

I'm not going to waste time either supporting his decision or criticizing it.

I think Car Manufacturers and Dealers count on a common aspect to a portion of car buyers. That is, that people will often purchase, trade, sell and buy a vehicle for a vast degree of reasons, some rational and some not nearly as rational.

The Industrial Age, coupled with free enterprise and Capitalism means there are a lot of choices. We aren't all issued duplicate Government issued vehicles. With marketing and these choices? People will sometimes make decisions that to others make little sense.

2010 for a 2011? Well, I've known people who have made even more extreme changes for reasons argueably even less founded.

Enjoy your 2011....

 

My scumbag dealer sent me one of those letters today. Why do people fall for these scams? Why do dealers feel it is ok to do this?

 

Up until a couple of years ago, I was getting similar letters from the dealer who sold me my '04 Prius in Oct. '03, offering to buy that car. I sold it back to them in July of '06. Now I get letters from them offering to buy the '06 that I bought elsewhere but is serviced by them. Computer-generated-marketing at it's finest!

 

Just business as usual. Even Lexus does that. That's like complaining and calling them scumbags for selling extended warranty.

 

I do call them scumbags for selling an extended warranty. Out of one side of their mouth they claim Toyota is the most reliable car in the world. Out of the other they claim when it breaks and it will cost $1,000’s.

 

Well I was doing some thinking on this situation and I have a question. Why is Toyota "giving us" this chance to trade in our 2010 for a 2011+ car??? Are they hiding something about the 2010 that we don't know about? Just a thought and I would never trade my car in esp after the work I've done. Plus I know how the car has been serviced and drove since I'm the original owner.

 

^This is not the first year Toyota has similarly engaged current owners. The same thing happened with the 2009 Yaris that I purchased.