is this curbstoning or great deal?

You should be too careful at this low price .get a car fax , it could be salvage title . You also could get the accident photos .

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

If it sounds like it's too good to be true...then you know the rest. It's not like buying a lawnmower off of Craig's list. If you don't have the option of personally inspecting the car, I would back off. You can also insist on a private, independant servey done on the car. This will usually set off any alarms if the car has a shady history. First and foremost, never buy anything, sight unseen.

 

Yes there are red flags.
You've already discovered them.

Whether as a hobby, part time or whatever this is a private individual that is buying vehicles at auction and reselling them on craigslist. If he's selling it to you for $8,500 then you can bet he paid less than that for it at auction.

So you can buy the vehicle if you wish, but just know what you are investing into. Which is a vehicle that went for less than $8,500 at an auction.

If it was me? I wouldn't want to make this gamble. As a vehicle that for some reason ended up at auction, and now is being resold by a person that just does this as a personal business, that's automatically two layers at least, of questionable history.
Typically perfectly good working Prius with less than 70,000 miles with no problems in their history aren't going to end up at auction.

If you do decide to move forward, I'd enter the vin number at the Toyota Owners Website and see if anything comes up. I might even be as paranoid as to run a carfax myself...personally. And the buyers inspection would be a must, and also should be something initiated by YOU not the seller. By "Buyer Inspection" I don't mean you just looking at it and test driving, I mean a independent mechanic checking it out.

But really, if I had at all any option....I'd just avoid this deal. $8500 is a lot of money to gamble.

 

Maybe in the simplest terms?
I would PERSONALLY never buy a vehicle at an auction.

So for me?
You're looking at a vehicle that was bought at an auction....with really no idea how it ended up at auction.
And this is filtered down one level and being resold to you...at higher cost...by someone who does this for profit and/or as a side business.

Those are all red flags I personally would avoid.

BUT....
If you do all the homework?
And everything comes back OK?
And YOU want to take the risk?

Hey...it's your money.

Personally, at $8500 investment, you are right on the line.
A little less than that....I'd increase my willingness to take risk.---I mean if I'm buying an auction vehicle? I want it to be at a bargain basement cost. So low it mitigates a certain amount of risk I'm taking gambling on unforeseen problems.

A little more than that....and I think a whole lot better options exist.

If it was me?
I'd use $8500 as a down payment..OR
I'd save up a little bit more and take myself out of the Craigslist/Auction market.

But that's just me.

 

Be sure to ask directly if this is a salvaged or rebuilt title.
You are buying from a private individual and will not have any warranty.
Not sure what state you are from but it in my state it is illegal to sell so many cars without a dealer license.
If it is illegal in your state too, I'd be very concerned. If the seller is willing to break the law that would make me walk away from the deal.

 

When you asked if the title was salvaged what did he say?

 

You want to buy a car that is titled to a dealer from a guy who is not a dealer but sells 6 cars a month? Why isn't the dealer selling the car? I have never had a problem paying for a car with a personal check. I'm with eric on this one. Stay away but since you probably won't, beat of luck with the transaction.

 

I'm out on this one.
You are going to buy this car.
Not sure you really need our advice.

 

Too many red flags for me

 

reset one of the trip meters and take her for a good long test drive under varied conditions. at the end, see what she's showing for average mpg's.
what is the kbb private sale value of these vehicles?
another helpful thing is maintenance records.