***First Post - Purchasing 2008 Prius or wait? Options?

First post here, so bear with me. I currently own a 2006 Prius and am looking at trading it in and upgrading to a 2008 Prius. Here are my Questions:

1. Should I wait a while and get a 2009 Prius instead of getting the 2008 now. There is no real reason to rush as my 2006 is doing great for me and I love it. Just want a new color and a few options.
2. If I do buy the 2008 which package delivers the most bang for the buck? Right now I am looking at a package 3 or greater. If it helps I can be more specific – what options that the dealer charges for can be done cheaper and just as good on my own? Examples:
a. Mud guards
b. HID Lights
c. Floor mats

Can these be purchased cheaper at a later date and put in by myself? Anything else I should pass on at the dealership and put in myself later?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

That is a good call. I have 50k miles and want new, but you are right that it is a hit to do it. I like the new colors that were not available at the time as well. I want the Spectra Blue or the Metallic Gray. If they were available I never saw them.

Maybe I will reconsider - you guys are talking me out of it.

 

New Information found on prius.

Oh, I forgot to mention this. The dealership I bought it from originally sold me the car without telling me it was wrecked before. I have owned it for 2 years and have had no issues, but am hacked about this now. I just kinda want a new one.

I know, I dont need a beatdown, that i should have checked on the car. I thought the dealership was reputable, and the car had like 2000 miles on it when i got it. They told me it was new with no issues and foolish me said "OK".

So, now I am trying to sell or trade it in for a not wrecked one. Wish I could go back to that dealer and make them take it back.

That is part of my reason for the update in year. Otherwise I would probably drive my 2006 till it died.

 

Any help then???

Well I have heard the same thing, but people are very vague. It seems to me that they should, but I have not heard anything 100%. Let me clarify for anyone who reads this afterwards:

I bought the car as new from them. It had miles on it, but I was told it was basically brand new. It was NEVER disclosed to me in any way there were any issues with the car. It looked and drove perfect. It was the new year and had so low miles I didnt think anything could be wrong. Never occurred to me that it was wrecked before me.

I spoke to the dealership and they acted shocked. They said they would make it right. Then when I went in to trade the car for a new they didnt have any Prius's and said they would not order. They quoted me a trade-in value that was less than another dealership. That is not what I call making it right.

If anyone has any help for me I would be greatly appreciative.

 

I found out when I recently tried to sell it. I went to a dealership just to see what it was worth in a trade-in vs. me selling it on my own. The dealership (different than the one I originally bought from) looked it over and pulled a CarFax on it.

He looks at me and says - did you know this was wrecked? Then it all snowballed.

I know it sounds fishy because it is fishy. I am the guy who got screwged. I can go to a lawyer and what he charges me will be more than I get from the car dealer. I might do it anyways as it makes me mad and dumb.

Thanks, and if anyone has anything else please let me know. Hope that clarifies for you all. I have the title (not salvage), and the papers I signed when buying - nothing about disclosing wreckage.

 

hope so

Well that is better news. I thought it was more of a buyer beware type of thing. I would hope it is a serious crime. What I said is 100% how it happened. I guess maybe I am saying something wrong or maybe describing the situation wrong in that the people who have responded are saying that is so far fetched and wrong that it cant be true.

Can someone tell or ask me more specifics that can shed more light? Maybe I am leaving some fact out that makes it all better. Just seems to me that you say it is serious and the dealership is so cavalier about it - really scoffing at me.

 

Great ideas and thanks for believing me. I have sent a letter to my Attorney General's office. There are also some free legal discussion groups I have sent this to. I will try a free lawyer, or the reporter. No idea if we have one, or how to do it, but it is a great idea.

Thanks, and if anyone else has ideas please let me know. There has to be a car dealer on here who has heard of a scenario something like this. Do the dealerships try to get rid of it by taking care of the issue, or is it a deny until completely called out.

 

Maybe

JimN,

Thanks so much for the very informative input. I will keep everyone posted. It may be too late, or it may be up to the discretion of the seller to make things right or not. Only time will tell me that. I am doing my part now to check on things. It is a learning and wish I would have..... moment.

I will check the selling papers again tonight to see about used/new and demo/rental. I know rental is false, but not the others. The 'new' selling factor that the deller used with me may have been a relative term , and not meant new.

Thanks, and if anyone else reads this and has an opinion please let me know.

 

No, I bought it from Fletcher Toyota in Joplin, MO. The place has been there for eons, so I thought it was very reputable. I am going to give the benefit of the doubt and say they didnt know, but dont see how.

To answer the question after this; 'Wrecked' mean front-end collision in which the front and side curtain airbags deployed. If it was a fender bender I wouldnt care in the least. I don't think that would show up either on carfax. I don't know what warrants carfax worthy.

I thought people wouldn't mind when I tried to sell because I did discount the price considerably trying to sell it. I disclosed the new knowledge, and told the truth that I drove it for 2 years with no knowledge of any issues, so it has been fine for me. It is marked with the red 'A' (for airbag), and no one wants near it.

Thanks for all the feedback - I have contacted MO's Attorney General's office. No news yet, but we will see. The venting does help.