Looking for quick some advice...

welcome! just a thought, brand new 4th generation 2016's are going for 20k.

but to your point, you probably don't need an inspection. it's certified, nothing is likely to to be wrong, and everything is still under warranty except the overall 12/12, which is probably covered under the certification.
do you have the first four 5k services info? it's just oil, tyres, filters and inspections.
learn how to reset one of the trip meters, take it for a good long drive without a sales weasel, and see what it returns for mpg's.
hybrids make a lot of funny sounds, so if you have any concerns, drive a new one while you're there to compare. all the best!

 

$19K is too high. KBB prices a CPO as $15.7K-$17.8K, and that is here in California, Prius world.

Independent inspection likely wont turn up much b/c is so young/few miles. I would want an auto body repair person to look at the car inside, outside, and up on a lift. Given how you are not familiar w/ Hybrids, have a good mechanic w/ lots of Prius experience/knowledge have a look.

I'd walk away, as it seems you are not hard pressed for a replacement. They will beg you to buy. Gas is cheap. Hybrids are moving slowly.

 

i don't have one, just what's being reported in the pricing thread. but no, not out the door, so probably another $1,500. - $2,000.
it's a completely different car though, so worth taking a look at and pricing.

as long as the oil was changed at 10 and 20k, the other stuff is minor. there's no major service on a prius until 120k, but air filter check/clean/replace at 30k intervals and cabin filter at 15k.

 

Mechanically, that Prius is probably fine. And I am not even there to see or hear it.

Biggest concern is cash (off the books) body repairs. Any time insurance pays for something, CarFax will catch that. Cash repairs aren't caught unless the owner notify's CarFax this was done; but who will do this?

If it were me, I would just pay a shop to fix that rear bearing ($500-$600, guessing). This assumes the car is mechincally sound. Sucks to pay, but it buys you time to shop around more.

It is your money, and you will do what you feel is in your best interest.

 

DO NOT.

First of all, I'd like to know if this is a factory CPO program or just some fly-by-night "CPO certification" that only guarantees that the vehicle is certified to have been pre-owned.

Secondly......I drive a company Prius. My company has many of them, and they're all lovingly maintained by white-suited mechanics in a dealership, and the drivers take care of them as if they were their own vehicle.........
NOT!!!

See also: Car rental sales.
In my book? It's not a resume enhancer, and the dealer should have said that it was a fleet vehicle before-hand.

Thirdly,
You're only about 2-3 thou off the street price of a new 2016 or a new left-over 2015....not some auctioned-off car.
I get the fact that some do not like the 2016, but you're talking about less than 100 bucks in the payment.

Forthly.....been following the election?
OK.
So....in case you're wondering why somebody has repealed the political law of gravity, it's because in some parts of the country, people aren't standing in lines 3 blocks long to buy a new car, new i7, or a new home (roughly in order of expense....)
I get the fact that the i-thingy is going for MSRP+ because of supply and demand.
I do not get Priuses going for MSRP+ (KBB+ in your case) because the inverse of the same law is applicable.

Here's the thing.
You can mail order the ifone, but you pretty much have to go and get the Prius.
If you're budget constrained?
Throw a wider net.
You could save thousands.
Eggs are cheaper in the country not because you're closer to the chicken (although that helps) but because of the same supply and demand thing.


I'm suspicious of this dealer.
It sounds like they came into a number of commercial-(ab)use cars and they're trying to razzle-dazzle you.
It also sounds like you may be trading in another vehicle...further complicating the deal.


Good Luck!
Please.......be original.
Tell us how it shakes out.

 

I'm with the others. If you are only looking for a two, I would really consider the 2016s. I bet you could get a really good deal, maybe only a couple thousand more, and they're improved. Especially if you keep your cars for a while. If you don't maybe the extra few thousand isn't worth it. I would at least drive one.

 

If you have AAA, AmEx, Costco, see what their pricing is for a new 2016.

 

OK....
Let's back the wagon up a bit.

If it's a factory CPO (backed by an extended OEM warranty) then it may not be a complete fleece job by the dealer.....jusr a case of an over-priced G3.

Figure that they were selling G3's for 20,000.00 OTD in the fall of 2015.
Now....figure that 10 percent of the car's service life has been depleted by the previous owners.
That leaves us at something like 18K HOWEVER.....(comma!) much more than 10-percent of a car's street value vanishes like smoke when it gets transmorgified from a NEW car into a used car........even in a Prius friendly market.

I'd street price this car at 16-17K.
...closer to 16 for a usta-be commercial unit....and a base model car (like mine.)
You're smart by the way for buying base.

Did the dealer provide a maintenance history?
How scrubbed in are the tires?
Are they original?
Have the wrench that you hire FULLY inspect the rotors. Nothing handles like a rental car!

My feces detector popped positive for crook when they tried to steer you away from an independent inspection.

Good Luck!

 

Hey I respect that you are sticking to your budget. That's tough for me when it comes to these things sometimes. The Prius has excellent reliability and if you find a 2015 you should be able to easily get 10 years out of it. We are just trying to make sure that particular one doesn't have something wrong with it or they aren't trying to rip you off. But the gen 3 (2010-2015) is a great car. I have a 2012 and I love it.

 

Anthony,

I bought my 2013 Prius used from a Dealer.
It was also a Rental fleet with 20k, still under factory warrantee.
How does the car look overall?
Clean interior, no strange odors? decent exterior? Normal tire
wear?
Go with your gut feeling. Price sounds fair.

stt

 

I bought my 2012 last year with 40,000 miles and it had already had two owners as well. But one owner had only put 2,000 miles on it or something. I haven't had any issues and it was CPO as well. I feel like if they are ok with the inspection it's less likely they have anything to hide. Price doesn't seem too bad, especially with such low miles

 

have you considered a non hybrid? might be cheaper.

 

As cast your net wider:

Steve @ Autobeyours is a Prius guru w/ an excellent reputation. He buys insurance write offs for parts and makes good salvaged cars when possible. Rebuildable Prius and Electric Vehicles

How about a used Gen2? And just buy a new OEM HV Battery for $2K, to realistically get 8-10+years of no battery issues?
2006, 103K miles, for $7K? People who maintain their Pri's seem to easily hit 200K+ miles.
2006 *Toyota* *Prius* 4dr Hatchback