help a newbie buy a used prius

Welcome to Prius Chat!

1. For your budget I think you can find a nice low milage late year 2005-2007 no problem.

2. Make sure the vehicle has the options you really want but that are not easy to see, i.e. front and rear air bahs, Vehicle Stability Control, etc.. Look for maintenance records and have a CarFax Report printed to ensure it has had no major accidents. Generally speaking if the car is ding free and with minimal scratches it was likely taken care of well.

3. Very resonable. After 100k you may have to spring for an inverter or water pump replacement and anytime bwteen 100k-400k you may hav to replace the hybrid battery but it is not a very common occuance but something to think about. Since hybrid batteries can be had for $1000-$2800 installed I don't see this as a big deal. Any normal car with 300k on the ODO is likely to have needed a tranny swap or 2 and an engine rebuild plus all the little stuff like fuel pumps, alternators, clutch, etc. etc. I've got 94k on my late model 2005 and I've only had to replace a burned out tailligh bulb.

4. I wouldn't limit yourself to one geographic region. You could likely find smoking deals in some of the "Prius Rich" states/cities and drive the car a few hundred miles home and still come out ahead. An example of a Prius Rich are is Calfornia's Sacramento Valley area, Bay Area, and LA area. Yesterday I was driving by the dealership I purchased my car from and there were at least 4 used Prius in the front row of the parking lot. I was paying to much attention to the girl next to me to catch the prices though.

 

These two recent/current threads may be a good place to start exploring some differences between the model years:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/63816-best-year-2004-2007-a.html

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...w-tell-if-gen2-has-stability-control-vsc.html

 

Where are your priorities? Pay attention. :madgrin:

 

I would expect nothing less from F8L! ound:

At the risk of thread jacking: only two more days to go! WOOHOOO! Hope you're feeling OK.

 

I was focused on my priorities.... both of em.

Thanks alot Lewis! Make me out to be a sex crazed maniac...

I'm feeling awesome! I feel better this week than I did the last few. Good enough to give a walking tour of one of our preserves to a Native American educational group in 95deg heat.

Hijack over.

 

You've gotten some great advice. Last year, I bought a used 2001 and I just love it. I searched mainly two sources:

1. AutoTrader.com
New Cars, Used Cars - Find Cars at AutoTrader.com

2. Carmax
CarMax - Browse used cars and new cars online

There were some listed on Craig's List, but they wanted a crazy amount of money for a used Prius with carpool stickers.

Also, be sure to get a carfax report. I think I was able to get it directly from these sites (I honestly don't remember which site I actually found my car on).

Good luck!

 

EBAY is loaded with them. Not to mention autotrader.com

 

I MAY BE ABLE TO HELP, I AM CURRENTLY AWAITING A 2010 PRIUS IV AND AM SELLING MY 2007 PRIUS W/ PACKAGE 4. IT IS CURRENTLY LISTED ON AUTOTRADER.COM, I'M IN NOBLESVILLE,IN.(46062) PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION([email protected]), ITS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND THE PRICE IS IN YOUR RANGE.MY WIFE IS FROM KY., ARE YOU NEAR BOWLING GREEN OR LOUISVILLE?

 

here are a couple photos forgot to add to my earlier reply,(CASUMIK)