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Which Prius V should I buy?

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by Jaya Love, Jun 15, 2018.

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  1. Jaya Love

    Jaya Love Junior Member

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    2013 Prius c
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    Two

    It seems like the Prius Cs I'm seeing, 2014 with 35k - 70k miles are the way to go! (prices ranging 9,500-11k before negotiating, private sellers)
     
  2. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    I prefer the Prius hatchback over the c. Stronger engine, larger trunk, smoother on the highway, and much longer battery warranty for Californians. The last part could be relevant to you because you don't have a repair fund for a new OEM hybrid battery.

    If you can't find a good deal with private party sellers, then check out dealers for a much larger selection. I prefer to go with private sellers, but only if I can purchase at kbb book value or lower. If your budget is around $10,000, then you should be able to find a private party 2012 hatchback in good condition with around 85k-100k miles, shown here. That is, if you're patient. In theory, that could give you a hybrid battery warranty for another 4 years.

    Below are some dealer offered Prii near your price range before taxes. You can always try to negotiate near the end of the month (that's usually when dealers are more willing to drop their prices), or look at models a year older. In theory, similar models sold by private party sellers should be less.

    2012 $9.6k, 117k miles

    2012 $10.9k, 99k miles

    2012 $9.98k, 104k miles
     
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  3. Jaya Love

    Jaya Love Junior Member

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    Awesome thanks! So you think it's better to get the liftback at higher mileage than the C at way lower and newer? The 2 Cs I'm looking at are 2014 and one is 35k, the other 72k.
     
  4. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Those cs are much newer/have much less miles!
     
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  5. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    You're best bet is to post the ads here and you'll get some good feedback from board members. Or send it to me via pm if you don't want to post them. And check to see if the trim levels are a 1-2-3 or 4. If you don't know a lot about the c's, go to youtube and watch some new car reviews on them. There is a difference between the 1.5 and 1.8 liter engine- my previous car had Toyota's 1.5 liter engine.

    I think the c at 35k miles could be a very good buy. But then again, it might have been in a bad accident and has a salvage title. The c at 72k miles would have a warranty that would cover the hybrid/traction battery for 28k miles. How long would that last you?
     
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  6. Jaya Love

    Jaya Love Junior Member

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    Here are the two... Please, nobody snatch them before me! Both are private seller clean titles with totally legit stories.

    Weird, the FB Marketplace link isn't working. I'm going to put some spaces in there, you'll have to remove any spaces in the URL. Here - https://facebook.com /marketplace/item/1680561318646453 (going to see this Tues morning and I told her my budget is 10k including TTL, so hoping she'll negotiate)

    2014 Toyota Prius C Two (Excellent Deal!) - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale (going to see on wednesday. very sweet thai woman who fell in love and is moving to Denmark, hence leaving while Cert. Pre-Owned warranty still good.)
     
    #26 Jaya Love, Jun 19, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2018
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    2014 c? Bit small to haul anything and hybrid battery warranty is not 10 years like the regular prius
     
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  8. Jaya Love

    Jaya Love Junior Member

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  9. Jaya Love

    Jaya Love Junior Member

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    They are the ones with lower miles and newer years in my price range. If I go with reg prius or prius V then I have to get a much older car with more miles, which to me might mean a battery replacement anyways.
     
  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If you have a child and equipment a prius C is going to be too small and you'll want to sell it after a month.

    It's better to shop for the right size vehicle than to shop based on year and mileage.

    Try looking for cars with newly replaced hybrid batteries
     
    #30 JC91006, Jun 19, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2018
  11. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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  12. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    I tried looking up the Prius c on facebook and couldn't find it. I found one with 52k miles at ~$12k though. The one with 35k miles, how much is it and find out if it's been in an accident?

    Here are a couple of more close to you. They are a bit over your budget, but probably near what the Prius c with 35k miles is being priced at. Stay away from the salvage one. Used car selection is cyclical and the Prii selection right now seems a bit thin for what you're looking for. If you can afford to be patient, that would be a plus. Your selection increases if you're willing to travel a bit. Just remember that Prius v and hatchback (from California) have CARB warranties. Prius c doesn't.

    Toyota Prius for Sale in Grass Valley, CA 95945: cars under 12000 - Autotrader
     
    #32 MelonPrius, Jun 19, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2018
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  13. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    If money is tight, an older car might be a better fit even if it its fuel economy is worse.

    My 95 year old father sold his beautiful 1998 Buick LeSabre a few weeks ago for only $800. It was at 70,000 miles, ran perfectly, always garaged, rust free, no dents or dings, clean interior, obsessively maintained by the Buick dealer, three year old tires that probably hadn't covered 500 miles. He was able to get in the high 20's mpg on road trips and over 20 mpg in town. Our Prius v has been averaging barely 35 mpg the past year but it is not on low rolling resistance tires and the tire pressure is kept at the door jam sticker values for comfort.

    $10,000 will buy a lot of gasoline even at California prices. If you are looking for an inexpensive car, bulletin boards at assisted living facilities and senior centers sometimes have amazing deals.
     
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  14. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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  15. Jaya Love

    Jaya Love Junior Member

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    I am a little worried about size but I rarely travel or need extra space. It’s just my one child and me (no more kids coming) and he occasional music gig. Maybe a couple times a year we’d want to travel and I was even considering a roof cargo container for those rare ocasions.
     
  16. Jaya Love

    Jaya Love Junior Member

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    There are plenty of Honda Fits in my budget. There’s one 2011 Honda Fit 53k for 8400.
     
  17. Jaya Love

    Jaya Love Junior Member

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    There’s no salvage one. Just one that had an accident but with clean title and he can’t find any receipt from the collision shop. When I called the collision shop they don’t have records of him going there. That’s a 2011 Honda Fit sport w 51k miles for 8400. It might be the one for me.

    The Prius c I’m seeing today is a 2014 w 35k miles. The woman is retiring and is asking 11500 but is aware what my budget is and wants me to come anyways. Said she could prob negotiate.
     
  18. Jaya Love

    Jaya Love Junior Member

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    There’s the two Prius Vs I originally posted about too. I am just concerned about the high miles and battery might need replacing before I’m even through paying for them. My family loan is 150 a month for about fiveish years.
     
  19. Jaya Love

    Jaya Love Junior Member

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    Yeah that fit looks pretty good. I chatted w the guy last night and they have to pay off the loan which is at 10400. My budget is 10k including TTL which will be about 500.

    There’s this one though which I’ve driven. Real nice. Only thing that is weird is it had an accident and he has no receipt for the repair and the place he said it was repaired at has no records of it. It’s got totally clean title and carfax other than that one accident but it didn’t total it. Just repaired.
    2011 Honda Fit Sport

    2011 Honda Fit Sport - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale
     
  20. taxibuddy

    taxibuddy Member

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    I'd buy a Pontiac Vibe for less than half of your budget and put the rest into your repair fund. It's a steal because you get Toyota quality at the Pontiac price. But if you can't stomach that, get a Fit. Everyone I know who has one raves about it.
     
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