What to do with 2002 Prius that needs too much work?

theres a for sale forum here, and i have read that facebook and craigs list are places you can try

 

Sell it as a whole car as a parts or project car for cheap.

I bought my Gen1 as a going to salvage, needs HV battery, needs 12v battery, stolen cats/needs full exhaust system, needs tires, and front shocks deal for $500 + I had to have it towed for 65 miles.

Of course that was a great deal, and you could sell it for a little bit more, but consider the costs that the buyer will have to take on before you try to get "profitable" about it. It has given you a great lifetime and moneys worth of service, so it may be better to release it from your life in a way that is more of generosity, to somebody who could sincerely use it and is enthusiastic about retrieving these classics.

If you are any where near NH, and the interior is pretty decent, I might consider it just for the interior. Mines not bad, but has a few minor issues, mostly because a housepainter used it as his company's go getter car and has paint stains that won't clean out of it.

Otherwise, take on a project of selling individual parts and assemblies off of it before sending the rest out to a scrapyard.
You will probably make more money this way than you could ever convince somebody to pay for it as a whole parts or project car.
Once again, it would probably do you good, and do your customers good, to not go profiteering for top dollar but to be very reasonable in regard to condition and below what the parts are typically extorted to be worth.

 

If the car still has the catalytic converter, that adds considerable value immediately. It's probably okay if it isn't functional, as long as it is generally intact.

 

Without the cats, it's only worth scrap metal value. I gave one away last week with a working drive train in exchange for the guy hauling it off. I just wanted the battery out of it. Those are the only two things of value left on these cars - the HV battery and the cats. Otherwise, there's so many of these being thrown away you can't give away all the other parts. I have 4 sets of seats in my garage now if you need any. I have a standing offer on this site of any parts off my spare car and no takers.

Where there is value left in these cars is driving them. But with that rear end damage yours isn't worth fixing. But, I see so many that could still be driven, lots of miles left in them, and all they lack are a battery or cats to be great cars again. And still, they're getting thrown away.

If you could do the work, that's the answer - just get one of those being thrown away and use its parts to fix yours. I just got one of those project cars running today. I usually end up with a couple thousand dollars in them, which seems cheap for a nice car. But, I can only drive so much.

Idea - replace your car with one just like it - I got a cherry 03 for sale and another 02 that's beautiful too. Both run wonderfully.

 

Oh yes, I agreed. Just saying, starting over with another one at 150k miles is pretty cheap driving. I've been driving these since 01.

 

I know where there's one right now cheap with less than 100k miles. I just don't have room/time for any more. Too old now.

 

Just saw where you do still have the cats. That will get someone to come haul it away for you. Total value to a recyler, cats + scrap metal = $1000. To a dismantler, maybe a couple hundred more, but I doubt it. Best ROI: sell the cats to an end user living in one of the states that require CARB compliant cats - any other option they have is at least $2000. Those are the Prii getting thrown away. I have an ad running for my spare cats in those states but haven't gotten a hit. I ended up selliing one set for $800 to a recycler.

 

It's not hard to take off. 4 bolts and a couple of rubber grommets. Maybe a bit rusty in CO. Still, piece of cake with an impact wrench. They rent them at Home Depot. Takes 20 minutes. Here in Tx, I might even hire an illegal at the Home Depot to do all the work. If the car can drive, limp to Home Depot. Pay the guy $20, rent the ratchet for $20, and tell NPR where it's at and leave the title is in the glove box. Take your $760 profit and call it a day.

 

Oops, you need your title when you sell the cat to the recycler. So go back and put it in the car after you've done that, then call NPR.

 

Before you do anything advertise it on here. Now you know roughly the value of various items. Quite a few people who are good at DIY look for donor cars. No need to give it away.

 

I was saying to go put the title back in the car. You have to show the title to the recycler in many states that are trying to crack down on thefts. In Tx gotta show ID too.

Then, take the title back and leave it in the car - NPR needs it too to show the recycler they give the rest to. If you don't have Mexicans, pay a neighbor kid. It takes no expertise except turning a bolt and cutting a thin wire.

The only pain is if you don't have a truck or SUV to haul the cat to the recycler. The entire assembly is too long to fit in most cars. But, you can cut the pipe off in front of the resonator - from there back has no value. The dual cats left easily fit inside any car. Final alternative - find some "place" you can wedge the assembly into up to that resonator, a place that's strong enough that you can just bend the pipe. Like between the branches of a stout tree, for example. Doesn't take a lot of strength if you find the spot. So happened that it fit iike that into a spot on my trailer's frame, bent in two easily, and easily fit in my back seat.

Apologies - I'm a person who overcomes obstacles. I enjoy it, the sense of accomplishment. I understand that most people enjoy a life of ease and convenience and see success at avoiding obstacles and taking the easy way around with that same sense of accomplishment. I don't judge. Do what's right for you.

 

Surprisingly I was able to fit a Gen 1 exhaust assembly in my Gen 1 with room for a driver and a passenger in the rear. It's a bit of a jigsaw puzzle but not too bad.