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need help deciding which prius to buy

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by hibberd.r, Jun 5, 2017.

  1. hibberd.r

    hibberd.r New Member

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    Hi folks,

    Totally new to hybrid ownership, or even really investing any significant amount of money in a car, here. I've always driven shitty burner cars because I don't care a bit about the driving experience or cosmetics. But, now I live far away from work and want to save carbon and $, and I think it actually makes financial sense to buy a better car. So, Prius time for me.

    Here's what I need help with: if my main priority is spending the least amount of money over the next ten years... am I better off buying a Gen2 for less money with less mileage (I'm seeing them for 3-4k with under 150k miles in my area) or a Gen3 for more money with a little more mileage (seeing them with 160k or 170k miles for about $7k). I know this is grossly oversimplified and a generalization, but I just can't figure out where to start crunching the numbers to make this decision.

    Help??!!
     
  2. solrunner

    solrunner Member

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    I'd say regardless of which generation you get, keep an extra 2-3 grand in the bank in case you need to do a major repair on it during ownership.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    in general, it's probably a wash. but the car you buy specifically will have everythingvto do with tco, due mostly to potential expensive repairs as mentioned above.
    how many miles/year will you drive?
     
  4. hibberd.r

    hibberd.r New Member

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    TCO is exactly what I'm trying to get an angle on. I drive about 130 miles/week plus vacation travel, so that's maybe 8 or 9k miles/year.

    In terms of the specific car, any recommendations other than taking it to a hybrid-savvy mechanic to get it checked out before buying?
     
  5. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    Neither of the examples you gave really qualifies as a "better car".

    Reset your requirements to something around 5 years old and 50K miles and then you should be able to get something decent......and still have time left on the hybrid system warranty.

    Expect to find something like a $2K premium for a good used Prius over a similar Corolla though; maybe even a bit more.
     
  6. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    What's your budget?
    Personally, I'd go for a 2012 or later Prius with 70K to 95K miles.
     
  7. hibberd.r

    hibberd.r New Member

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    Well, by "better" I mean better than my 2003 Mazda Protégé with 190,000 miles and a falling-off bumper. Our max budget is about $7,000.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the problem with 'better'. of course, the les you pay for a car, the better. but the older/higher the mileage, the more likely expensive repairs may be need. after that, it is impossible to know.
    you can read feel good stories and disaster stories with high mile prius.
    i would tend to look for aused car with the highest depreciation, meaning you can get more for your 7k.
     
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  9. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    That should be able to get you a good used Prius; much better than what you first suggested.

    It will also get you a REALLY good compact conventional car; some almost new.
     
  10. hibberd.r

    hibberd.r New Member

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    Hmm. That's what I've been seeing on Craigslist here in the Durham, NC area-- is there another place where people sell cars by owner that tends to garner better deals? (I know I'm inviting spammers just by asking that...). It's been a long time since I bought a car.
     
  11. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    First......Craigslist tends to be a dumping ground for "junk", partly because buyers have even less protection than normal from fraud.
    Sometimes the item offered for sale doesn't even exist.

    Second....my opinion.....don't be stuck on buying from an individual.
    Not all dealers are crooks and most will give you at least a short warranty.
     
  12. hibberd.r

    hibberd.r New Member

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    That's a helpful tip. I looked at dealers in my area and they are actually offering deals as good or better than the owners on CL. Any tips on how to not get fleeced by a dealer (other than, obviously, don't do the financing through the dealer?). I def. will plan to have the car looked at by an independent mechanic, will bring a list of to-look-fors when I got look at the car, etc. But, never bought from a dealer before... anything to know?

    Thank you so much by the way!
     
  13. harrysprius

    harrysprius Active Member

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    There's one for sale here south of Nashville I looked at and liked. It was a one owner lease turn in with maintenance records, 100,000 miles nice optioned, in red. I think it was a 2012 and they wanted $8900. I'll get the info if you want. I ended up getting my one owner with 83,000 miles for $9500 and it's a V. How do you like Durham? I got out of the Army in Fayetteville and went to college in Raleigh. I love that area, miss it. You get all four seasons without any of them being to extreme.
     
  14. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    Sure. Look up your perspective "new" car on KBB, NADA and Edmunds to see what a reasonable price is.
    NEVER commit to buy anything on the first visit.
    Go home, research the price and think it over.

    Be sure and ask point blank: If the car has been wrecked or flooded......and if there are any known defects.
    This is regardless of who/where you are buying it.
    Most people won't blatantly lie to your face.......but they sometimes conveniently forget to mention things.

    Almost everything they tell you will be slanted in their favor somehow.
    If it doesn't sound right, it probably isn't.
    There is no such thing as "offers only good for today".
    There likely is nobody else thinking it over who will swoop in and take it away from you.
    Their first offer isn't the last.
    They will NOT lose money on the deal if they sell it for less than their first quote.

    On the other side of the coin, if everything looks good and it all checks out and the asking price is fair, don't try to "low ball" them with an unreasonable offer. You can often safe a few hundred dollars with negotiation but more than that is rare, I think.

    Good luck.
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Why the 2012 or later, oil consumption issues with 2010~2011? Could be urban myth? Our 2010, with only 41K miles, is consuming zero oil between changes, so far.
     
  16. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    2010 was first year of new model designs. In 2012, the radio got a very nice refresh, and I think they'd worked out some other kinks. Just my opinion.
     
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  17. SunnyPriusGA

    SunnyPriusGA Junior Member

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    I totally agree on keeping some side money for that rainy day. I expect the hybrid battery to go out at anytime and have taking a Gen 2 battery pack apart to replace a cell so i'm fortunate enough to have that type of DIY experience. Worse off, from previous research, i've seen some local repair mechanics that sell refurb hybrid battery packs (various price range) that would be a reasonable alternative. If the engine blows b/c of the EGR thing then... that would suck lol