Looking to buy a 3 years old Prius. What should I be aware of?

Hi there!

I myself just bought an 07 Prius, package 5 (everything but leather) from a dealer w/stellar feedback on Ebay. I've had it a month now and it's been AWESOME. It was a lease/return vehicle that he picked up at an auction. It was a heckuva deal for $16,600 and had 30,500 miles when I got it. All of the dealers in my area wanted 18,900 and up for a package #2 vehicle. The car I got is in great shape, both mechanically and cosmetically. We didn't have it checked out prior to purchase although we were given the option to do so, and if my husband weren't so good w/cars etc, I probably would have. We had put down a small deposit and could have walked away had we thought something was amiss. This is our 3rd vehicle we have bought via Ebay, and we've been extremely happy with each one so far....Is worth watching, if you have the ability to travel and can find a reputable seller w/good feedback, just gotta do a lot of research. (which we enjoy)

I am SOOOO glad that I didn't buy a brand-new car this time around. I have a great car that I just love, that didn't depreciate thousands the moment I drove off in it. And how 'green' is that, buying a USED hybrid? Also, I won't be sweating the first lil/dent like ya always do with a 'new' car.

Strongly reccommend the carfax etc. and as many records of maintenance as you can get your hands on. Always good to have a Toyota mechanic check it out if it will give you peace of mind. And on Ebay, the seller's feedback speaks VOLUMES. Know the car you want thoroughly, what options are in each package etc. and learn what is and isn't a good deal on a used Prius, and then watch. The really screaming 'deals' are usually salvage titles and I would never ever touch a salvage. You never know how well they were fixed or by whom, and they are difficult to resell.

Anyways, just wanted to tell you about my personal experience in buying used. There are GREAT deals to be had if you know what to watch/look for and do your homework. Good Luck!