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Is this plug in a fair deal? 8k-ish...with pics

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by MilkyWay, Aug 4, 2017.

  1. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I bought all four of my Prii from the same dealer and he gets much of his inventory from auctions. He's able to offer competitive prices. So I know they are not all sky high. But, as you mentioned, you have to know what you're doing and what it's worth. That's why I don't go to regular auctions anymore; because so many people let their emotions get away from them. I would expect that to happen much less when it's business people doing the bidding.

    Interesting stuff about Cox, btw. I didn't know they had their fingers in so many pies.
     
    MilkyWay likes this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how on earth is anyone gonna unload this pip at a profit? maybe they're worth more in your neck o' the wood.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  3. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Simple! A local buyer (in Pennsylvania where it is located will have $7700 into it after fees)...That's not a terribly bad deal. They list it anywhere from $10,000 to $11,000 and take no less than $9000 + taxes/title/plate for minimum of $1300 profit.

    My costs skyrocket because of shipping and doing paperwork to transfer to personal name and out of dealer name (where secretary of state collects tax/title/plate fees).

    But, more specifically....I am located in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area...It's a very liberal university town I'm sure you are familiar with...A great market for Priuses....Two things:

    1) A 2012 with a bit less miles is going for at least $8000 if it's under 125k miles...roughly speaking. I know this has higher miles but it has plug-in option..So essentially you get to pocket the premium for it being a plug-in which leads to point 2....

    2) I tried searching on craigslist for "plug-in prius", "plug in", "plug-in", "pip", "2012 Toyota Prius", etc....and I am getting ZERO RESULTS...It's not California over here! The plug in feature literally adds thousands of dollars to resale from standard prius...You'd stand out from all the gen 3s and everyone would want the plug-in....Because it is so rare it means there is going to be many units of demand but only 1 unit of supply. If they don't like the car or price they cannot go look at a few more models as it's the only one on the market.

    Long story short I'd probably list for $11,500 and try to get $9500 plus the tax. If I wasn't getting calls I'd slowly drop it towards $10,000..And with extreme luck might even get full asking. But who knows what would happen.

    Edit: I checked Boulder, Colorado for my various searches and only found one for sale (a 2015 only 30k miles for $18,500)....

    Then I went to Portland, Oregon (craigslist for sale by owner) and am only seeing 3 for sale:

    A: 2012 with 53,000 miles for $11,400 but it is a rebuilt/salvage title
    B: 2015 with 66,000 miles for $15,400
    C: One that is basically brand new 2015 with 5,000 miles on it for $25,000

    These things must hold their value and be extremely rare. I do recognize that these ads have less miles....But with the extra mileage it is reflected in the price (big difference between someone spending $10,000 and $15,400).

    Looks like the hub of plug-ins is San Francisco...returning a lot of searches...and cheapest one is $11,600 but it again, has a salvage title.

    Better question is can you find one for under $10,000?

    SF bay area cars & trucks - by owner "plug in" - craigslist

    And yes, I do see that the miles are lower in the other ads....but still...they seem to be extremely rare and pricey.
     
    #23 MilkyWay, Aug 6, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2017
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what happen to 'a bit over 8kish'? you should take a florida vacation, visit jerry mildred's buddy in tampa and drive one home.
     
  5. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    Most dealer "car auctions" are heavily affected by

    1. Export market (used cars are rarer now days for a reason)
    2. Unforeseen reciprocal deals, in effect peter gets a discount when buying from Paul.

    The salvage market is dead due to exports over said cars overseas.

    Very strange market
     
  6. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Watched auction again today bidding ended at $6500 no sale....Hard to tell if they were fake bids. (The auctioneers will do a little run..saying, $6000, $6100, now $6200, $6300" in order to get someone online to click in or someone in lane to click in. Just how it works.)

    Anyways, price has been lowered to $6800 (before auction fee, shipping fee, and tax/title fees).

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If he drops it to $6000 next week I'll probably get it....The timing is just not right for me...Want to save another few thousand but no way I'll come across a plug-in in excellent condition after this one is gone.
     
  7. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Well, I can sadly report that it sold for $6000 today to an online bidder...I should have bid him up but wasn't right time for me I was just watching.

    I will keep an eye on it and I am nearly certain he'll be throwing it on his lot for $11,995 and make a killing. I would have kept it. Looking back, I could have did a fire sale on my 2007 Prius (in thumbnail) and dumped it for $3000 or even $2500 over the weekend....That way I'd only be $3000 to $3500 out-of-pocket for an amazing upgrade....

    There is a 2011 with solar roof running today in the south with 110k on it....I'm sure it will go for $5000 or maybe with luck less...but I really have my mind set on the plug in!!! Give me a few months I'll hopefully have one.

    jet.png
     
    Tracksyde likes this.
  8. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Finally scooped one up. My cost delivered from NY will be approximately $4750. It has 220,000 miles on it. Literally bought less than 10 minutes ago! I am shocked I outbid all the online freaks.

    If I can't sell for 6k or better I'll keep it.

    Capture.PNG c2.PNG


    Everything I buy has high miles. This is actually on the low side compared to this months purchases (see yellow highlights):

    miles.PNG