2010 Prius V, 11,000 miles, $19,900. Good deal?

Well, that car did sell yesterday morning. But, I found another one that was almost as awesome, and turns out my current vehicle is actually worth what I thought it would be (not enough), so I get to wait a little while to save up more money. Thanks for the feedback! Next time.....

 

Yeah, I actually never stop shopping, even when I find what I want and buy it... I'll keep looking (less intensely, of course) to prepare for the next purchase... it's a very fun process for me! Glad you like it, too! So many people I know get really stressed out by it. Thanks! Looking forward to the possibilities! And, if I wait long enough, I can keep the smart AND get a Prius! I'd be in heaven then... I really don't want to have to part with Little Ike.....

 

Well, I bought the smart for one reason. It could fit in my garage with my motorcycle... no cold car/scraping in the winter! Turns out, I loved everything else about it, too... The ridiculous questions and conversations... (like when I was putting gas in it and was asked if it was electric)... And I'm a 6'2, 215# bearded tattooed biker, the looks on people's faces when I get out, or better yet when they're staring inside of it and I walk up to unlock it and they look around for who the owner is... and it's me... they explode with questions and interest instead of laughter and criticism. it's actually really fun to drive if you shift the god-awful transmission yourself. And parking in town? Let's just say I'm usually waiting while a friend I'm meeting is circling. Pay for an expensive parking spot at a Vikings/Twins/Wild/Gopher game and then wait in a long line to leave after the game? Screw that! I park for free within 3 blocks, and I'm gone before anyone else is on the street! I've driven it from home here in Minneapolis to Boston, Dallas, Denver, San Diego... even drove it to Sturgis one motorcycle-less year... it was talked about and looked at 10 times more than any of my buddies' Harleys... It was in a MASSIVE hail storm there... some cars were totalled... my car had $300 worth of damage. Didn't even meet my deductible. Never fixed it, can't tell unless you know about it (in fact, my appraiser yesterday didn't notice anything... cause it's very hard to!). The car has been simply amazing. I've owned about 16 cars so far, and before the smart, the longest I could stand any of them was 3 years. I've had this one for 6 years (in March). AND I want to keep it.

It's funny... all my friends can't believe I drive this thing... they all think I should drive a massive truck or something. (I was a tractor/trailer driver for a while). Now that I'm wanting to buy a Prius, they still can't believe I'm not buying a truck. But I ideally want a Lexus (just for the quiet/plush/feel-good).... hatchback... good gas mileage, and cheap to own over time. The Prius, to me, is basically a Lexus (especially after driving a smart for 6 years!). And it meets all my other needs! And one of my riding buddies here has been driving a Prius for several years now. He's got 195000 miles on it right now, and it's killed 3 deer, and mangled an Escalade and another big car... 5 accidents later, other than the body work, he's had to replace nothing. Not even brake pads. Just tires, couple light bulbs and oil. That's it. So, sign me up for that $h!t! )

Plus, I'm a geek at heart... and I love technology... the Prius just intrigues me. I've "lusted" after them for years. Actually was a car salesman out in Boston when the Prius first came out.. Lunch runs were never the same. hehehe. And, I can finally afford a used one. So, that's the plan.

Hope you enjoyed the overly-informative response! I tend to get a little excited about stuff... hehehe.