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2007 Prius - Should I buy?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by sdrocker, Jan 27, 2015.

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  1. brucebee

    brucebee Junior Member

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    many, many, salvage title cars craigslist sd, b4 i bought prii, looked at cars on clst, only saw 1 car that was not mispepresented in some way. many salvage title cars, looked for over a month. totaled prius NO
     
    #61 brucebee, Jan 28, 2015
  2. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    The guy on the black prius 2004 with 177k was super set on no lower than $5600 and he seemed totally set on it being maintained well and being all good to do....

    should I run carfax? he gave me the vin
     
    #62 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  3. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    the guy just likes to talk a lot.. he held me on the phone for a long time talking about prius in general... he said he shared the car with his roommate etc.... that the battery should probably be fine for another 150k miles...
    is that true? i would put about $5k per year.

    i dont know if the 2007 prius with 163k miles for $6500 is a better deal. i tried to get it for $6250

    I also do like the black color a lot more on the 2004 prius for $5600
     
    #63 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  4. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    I sent him a text earlier asking if he could do $5400 and he said dont piss him off.. that i should just go buy some other junk on craigs for that price. I told him I Saw a 2004 prius for $5450.

    He said if he didnt get $5600 he would just keep it instead of getting a brand new one

    What should I do? im kind of desperate
     
    #64 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2015
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wow.
     
    #65 bisco, Jan 28, 2015
  6. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    For the small number of miles you're talking about you'd do better with a Corolla or Civic.
     
    #66 css28, Jan 28, 2015
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    'battery should be fine for another 150k, is that true'? should be and will be are two different things, no one can tell you. what does 'i would put about $5k per year' mean?
     
    #67 bisco, Jan 28, 2015
  8. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    People/companies lie all the time. Trust but verify. Run the CarFax to protect yourself.

    How would you feel about that Texas Prius w/ 109K miles had you not run the CarFax?

    Insurance usu write off ("total loss,"):
    • Flood damage
    • Water damage that has entered passenger area possibly affecting electronics/air bags
    • When cost of repairs come to close to 50%. Some companies have a lower threshold, say 45%.
    Good luck on car search.
     
    #68 exstudent, Jan 28, 2015
  9. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    I can deal with the looks of a prius... but not a corolla or civic.... i can sticker up a black prius and feel like im still myself... ill go nuts driving a corolla or civic every day... as i said my other car is a 53 hot rod... i need a good commuter and i can handle the look of a black prius.

    based on that. is $5600 for the black prius with 177k too risky?
     
    #69 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  10. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    Just make sure you budget for a battery replacement.
     
    #70 css28, Jan 28, 2015
  11. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    I'm sorry.

    Ok I want a prius for 5 years.. if I spend $2500 in maintenance in those 5 years and sold a car for $3000 to $4000 id be quite happy.

    I'm wondering if that can be accomplished with the 2004 prius with 177k... i would drive it 10k miles per year... i really like the black color on a prius more than any other color.


    I will run the carfax... if it comes out ok is $5600 for the 2004 prius ok? The guy told me when he bought it it was mint and he could tell and that he always changed the oil and was on top of it.
     
    #71 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  12. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    Autotrader only had 6 results for a used prius within 50 miles of my region for under $8,000

    I'm not sure if im searching wrong or what.
     
    #72 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i don't think any of them are a big problem if you can find one that hasn't been in a bad accident, totaled, salvaged, or had the battery rebuilt.
     
    #73 bisco, Jan 28, 2015
  14. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    You will not keep under $2500 maintenance in the next 5 years starting with an 11 year old Prius.
     
    #74 css28, Jan 28, 2015
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    of course, there's all the little things, tyres, shocks, exhaust, plugs, belt, a/c, injectors, throttle body, fluid changes, brakes and etc. can really add up unless they've already been done.
     
    #75 bisco, Jan 28, 2015
  16. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    Ok, im running out of options. auto trader only has 8 of them.. I have $7000 to spend as my upper limit.

    the only one that looks legit is the 2007 with 163k miles for $6500...

    should I make a move on that one? Again I'd like a prius for 5 years... $2500 in maintenance sounds good over 5 years.. and 10k miles per year.. id like to resell for $3000 but closer to $3800 would be awesome..

    am i being realistic? im not sure what to do... that black 07 prius with 109k was fishy... nothing else with low miles in my price range for a prius... id like to give a prius a shot.
     
    #76 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  17. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Battery will go, just a question of when? Some have gotten ridiculous miles/time on original battery, others not so lucky. New HV battery is $2200+

    Transaxle might go out. $2K new part. Used unknown cost.

    Used engine, $500+

    ABS Brake components, can be super costly, depending on what item goes out. $1k+ not unheard of.

    Your buying priorities are irrational. Mileage should be #1. Lower the mileage, lower the cost for maintenance, b/c stuff won't be breaking as often as a higher mileage Prius. Higher the mileage, greater likely hood of stuff needing repair. Black color would be an added bonus. Ultimately you get what you pay for. Scratches and dirt shows up very well on a black car.
     
    #77 exstudent, Jan 28, 2015
  18. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    Thanks that is true. I do want to try a prius.. what's the best I can do with $7000 or less... not much right? the best ive found is the 2007 with 163k miles for $6500 that was supposedly maintained really well with only one owner

    "Great condition and beautifully detailed. Fully loaded, original owner, clean title, no accidents. Impeccable maintenance with all records. Mileage is all highway miles. "
     
    #78 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  19. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    You can't verify highway mileage. Besides, what if highway mileage was LA commuting traffic.

    Only thing you can verify is CarFax and their maintenance documents.

    If you had time and found a seller who was willing to sell for a little less than KBB, you might do well. Consider expanding your search outside of LA. Santa Barbara, Vegas, Oregon, Etc. Maybe this might help your price point. Drawback, is you would have to get there and not convenient, but might find a gem in the rough.

    The parts of high dollar components was to give you a worst case scenario of stuff that can and will fail if a car is kept long enough.
     
    #79 exstudent, Jan 28, 2015
  20. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    As exstudent said, "Some have gotten ridiculous miles/time on original battery, others not so lucky."

    I can safely say that no one has put 16 years on an original battery in North America, since the oldest Prius cars here are only 14 years old.
     
    #80 css28, Jan 28, 2015
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