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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. Yakoma

    Yakoma Active Member

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    You're overanalyzing this.

    If it were me given the info I can read from this thread and no ability to look at the car or talk with the sellers, I would go with the newer one. Don't try to get another $250 off the deal...just pay her and be happy with it. It should go down the road, but budget for potential issues just in case. Unfortunately, there is NO way to be CERTAIN. Life - and the used Prius - comes with uncertainty. You can be certain about that.
     
    #101 Yakoma, Jan 28, 2015
  2. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II

    Thanks that is good advice. I just sent an email to the lady with the 07 prius for $6500.. I'll just get that one if its available. its less risk for 1 year and in 1 year ill sell it for less than I bought it and try to get something newer with time. Right now I'm just in a big jam but I want to drive something I'm happy with in looks and the Prius is ok with me.
     
    #102 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2015
  3. brucebee

    brucebee Junior Member

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    so cal fwy commutes are usually good overall. find out what time /fwy theyn drive. at 10k/yr milage hardly makes sense having hybrid. but drive car. my car is about same and it drives great.
     
    #103 brucebee, Jan 28, 2015
  4. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    very true... in going to look at the black one first.. the lady with the 2007 never responded. its true at 10k maybe not worth it.. but im always not going on farther trips because of gas costs so this could force me to go on mini vacations and i need to do more of that based on feedback from a recent ex girlfriend. I'll take my chances with either of these.. if the black one looks ok ill get it and just plan on $3500 as emergency fund... i hope i can sell it for $5k even next year if i get that one.

    If the lady with the 2007 responds ill go look at it.
     
    #104 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  5. sorka

    sorka Active Member

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    Unless you're going to be driving more than 15K miles a year, I'd just buy an equivalent non hybrid. We bought a Prius because we knew we'd be driving it a lot of miles (187K on our 2009 that we bought new). This is assuming $4 gallon gas. If it stayed $2 gallon it would make even less sense.

    On the other hand, the depressed fuel prices should make it easier to significantly bargain down prices. Also, you'll have better luck buying a used Prius from a new car dealer that took one as a trade-in. They'll ask a really high price but will usually negotiate way way down if you act uncertain or unsure that you want it. I once bought a 300ZX Twin Turbo with 28K miles on it for $23.9K. It was only 13 months old. It sold for $45K new and the dealer was asking $36K. Every other car I've purchased used from a new car dealer has had similar discounts off their asking price. It just takes a while of haggling and saying "I'll think about it". Private sellers will usually not budge anywhere near as much.
     
    #105 sorka, Jan 28, 2015
  6. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    That is good advice. I'll start by looking at the black one for $5600.. the guy would not budge on price and started getting mad on the phone when I tried to go lower... if it looks nice ill consider it. if I dont hear back from the lady with the 2007 one.
     
    #106 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  7. sorka

    sorka Active Member

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    Also if you do decide to buy a Prius, beware of sellers claiming it's a Touring model. 9 out of 10 Prius' that claim to be Touring are not. One of the dead give aways is that the Touring model has 16" wheels instead of 15" and the wheel covers are different. The spoiler on the Touring is 1.5" longer in the back but it's a lot more subtle a distinction. FYI in case used car dealer is blue booking the car that way. There was a $10K difference in price from the base most model to the maxed out Touring model.
     
    #107 sorka, Jan 28, 2015
  8. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    Hmmm the 2004 has the following report:

    Total Loss
    No total loss reported to CARFAX.

    [​IMG]
    No Issues Reported

    [​IMG]
    No Issues Reported

    [​IMG]
    No Issues Reported
    Structural Damage
    No structural damage reported to CARFAX.

    [​IMG]
    No Issues Reported

    [​IMG]
    No Issues Reported

    [​IMG]
    No Issues Reported
    Airbag Deployment
    No airbag deployment reported to CARFAX.

    [​IMG]
    No Issues Reported

    [​IMG]
    No Issues Reported

    [​IMG]
    No Issues Reported
    Odometer Check
    DMV title problems reported.

    [​IMG]
    Odometer Problem

    No New Issues Indicated

    No New Issues Indicated
    Accident / Damage
    Accident reported on 12/06/2005.

    [​IMG]
    Accident Reported

    No New Issues Reported

    No New Issues Reported
    Manufacturer Recall
    No open recalls reported to CARFAX. Check with an authorized Toyota dealer for any open recalls.

    [​IMG]
    No Recalls Reported

    [​IMG]
    No Recalls Reported

    [​IMG]
    No Recalls Reported
     
    #108 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  9. sorka

    sorka Active Member

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    Chances are Prii in that price range are going to have some sort of issue. I looked at AutoTrader just now and none of them come even close to that price. Typical price for a 100K mile Prius is at least $10K right now in AutoTrader.

    Also, I wouldn't necessarily shy away from salvage. If the damage was documented with photos and inspection paper work prior to the repair and the damage didn't result in unbending a frame and the alignment is good, it could be a good deal. But you won't get any sort of CARB hybrid warranty. I wouldn't pay more than half the price of what I could get the same car with a clean title for.
     
    #109 sorka, Jan 28, 2015
  10. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    Date: Mileage: Source: Comments:
    01/03/2006 South Carolina
    Motor Vehicle Dept.
    Gaston, SC
    Title #770670153391883 New owner reported
    NOT ACTUAL MILEAGE TITLE ISSUED
    CARFAX Advisor™
    A NAM title is issued when the owner discloses to a DMV mileage fraud, a broken odometer or that the actual mileage of this vehicle is unknown.

    Mileage reported after this reading is potentially unreliable.
     
    #110 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  11. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    For the accident on the 2004 all it says is:

    10/12/2005 27,455 Toyota Of Charleston
    Charleston, SC
    843-556-9110
    Air filter replaced
    Wiper(s) replaced
    Cooling system serviced
    Oil and filter changed
    Antifreeze/coolant flushed/changed
    Drivability/performance checked
    12/06/2005 South Carolina
    Damage Report Accident reported
    CARFAX began reporting this information on 06/22/2012.
     
    #111 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
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  12. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    the car had six owners
     
    #112 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  13. sorka

    sorka Active Member

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    Note, this Prius which is has "salvage title" checked in the add says "clean title" in the description. The seller may have made a mistake and it might be a clean title but it's a good price even if it isn't at $4300. It says new battery but they probably mean the 12v battery.
    toyota prius hybrid

    This one is $4600:

    2005 Toyota Prius

    Point is for the difference, you could budget $2500 for future repairs including a new traction battery and you might even get lucky and not have to. We have 186K miles on ours and although I can't guarantee, I expect to get 300K problem free miles out of it.

    A few more between $4200 and $4400:

    toyota prius hybrid
    2007 Toyota prius $4400

    That 2007 has new leather seats too. The pictures look pretty good.

    And those are asking prices. Usually there will be *some* negotiating room so you might pick up one of these for $4K.
     
    #113 sorka, Jan 28, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2015
  14. Yakoma

    Yakoma Active Member

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    6 owners? Nah.
     
    #114 Yakoma, Jan 28, 2015
  15. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    I drove the 2004 prius.. man was the guy pushy... 6 owners.. it looked ok though.

    im about to meet with the lady selling the 2007 for $6500.... she sounds so nice on the phone and will give me all the records... carfax comes back spotless clean

    it says two owners but she said she was the origuinal owner.. ill ask her about it.. maybe she moved states or something....
     
    #115 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  16. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    That orig 2007 was a good price, assuming not hiding something.
    Normally Toyota will not honor CARB warranty on vehicle sold outside CARB state, so that is part of the issue with the TX car.
    But all Prii are CARB certified, so I would check manual to see what it says.
    I would sure be asking Toyota to cover or help cover Batt replacements in a CARB state...they would have a lot of explaining if was me...of course over 150k miles and then you're over the grace period
     
    #116 wjtracy, Jan 28, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2015
  17. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    Yea the lady seems so nice and honest on the phone... ill gauge her when I check the car out ... the carfax is clean... if the car looks ok and it drives good ill get it for $6500... with 163k miles I can put 12-15k and sell it for $5600 ish is my guess.... thats legit.. if i dont need too much maintenance in that period ill be psyched.. by then ill have more cash to play with
     
    #117 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  18. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    II
    Just made it home... I got the 2007 Prius with 162,800 miles. The lady (in her late 20s) showed me all the service records, gave me the contact info to the mechanic which she says is super honest. It had struts done, new tires, routine oil change, and other stuff too. She disclosed everything and let me drive it around quite a bit. She was super sincere and I can tell.

    The car was really clean! It drove nice, smelt nice, super clean displays, console, everything was nice. It had a little bit of a ding on one corner of the bumper but she was too nice to drive price down further than $6500. She was super helpful and said she would leave the car insured until I switched over to my AAA insurance.

    I think I made out ok. It doesnt sound as loud as the 2007 with 109k when it switches from electric to gas. It steered nice, I didnt see any oil leaks, the carfax showed up clean. It had two owners because she got married.

    I'm an avid surfer, so I wanted something with that length... and other non hybrid cars mostly dont have that length and I dont like the look of them. The prius at least feels like im with the times. My other ride is such a blast from the past. I will post a photo shortly.

    I will keep the car for a good year then sell it for less and play with something else with more cash.
     
    #118 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
  19. sdrocker

    sdrocker Member

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    Here is a picture of Caligirl23 (the prius) meeting Midnight Betty (the 53 chopped chevy). They are going to be best friends.. they say opposites attract.

    h11.jpg
     
    #119 sdrocker, Jan 28, 2015
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  20. HaroldW

    HaroldW Active Member

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    Congrats on your new purchase. Enjoy, Hal
     
    #120 HaroldW, Jan 28, 2015
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