Buying used, help me decide.

Hi All -

Long time listener, first time caller.

I'm buying a used Prius to replace my V6 gas guzzler and I need some advice. I've narrowed it down to two and I wanted to see what the forum thought:

Option 1:

• 2008 Prius Touring NR
• Smart Key System (SKS), Backup Camera, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Anti-Theft System, Electrochromatic Auto-Dimming Mirror, Homelink, JBL Audio AM/FM/6-CD/MP3/WMA w/ 9 speakers and Satellite Radio Capability, Auxiliary Input Jack, Bluetooth Handsfree, Voice-Activated DVD-Based GPS Navigation System, Leather-Trimmed Interior w/ Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
• Second owner (doctor bought it used for 6 months until he took delivery of his Nissan Leaf)
• ~36,000 miles (literally when I test drove it it had 35985 miles so by the time I take delivery it will click over)
• $16,000
• Clean AutoCheck (95/100)
• Did have one pretty badly orange peeled paint section on the passenger rear door and fender area. He said it was a 'scratch the dealer buffed and repainted when he bought the car'. AutoCheck showed no accidents. I trust his description of the issue but it's pretty noticeable - I noticed it in the shade that it seemed like the paint was VERY dull there.
• Plusses for me:
  • Low mileage
  • More options = better resale?
  • Powertrain warranty / Hybrid warranty still intact
• Minuses for me:
  • "too many" options
  • Weird paint section
  • 30% higher cost than option 2
  • JUST out of 36k warranty. Owner has extended warranty but wants to charge me ~$1000 extra to transfer it.

Option 2:

• 2007 Prius Base #3
• JBL Audio AM/FM/6-CD/MP3/WMA w/ 9 Speakers, Auxiliary Input Jack, Smart Key System, Backup Camera, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Bluetooth Handsfree, Electrochromic Auto Dimming Mirror, Homelink Integrated Garage Door Opener, Theft Deterrent System
• One-owner, older couple, WELL cared for
• ~83,000 miles
• $12,000
• Clean AutoCheck (92/100)
• Plusses
  • One owner
  • Just the options I wanted
  • Priced well
  • Hybrid warranty still intact
• Minuses
  • No leather seats
  • Extended warranty / Powertrain warranty options are long gone

Option 1 would last me 5 years longer (just based on mileage) and has some nice options, but would end up costing me a bit more which means a longer payoff period. Based on the value of the car I'm selling ($5500) I'm looking at 11 years to break even on option 1, and 6 years to break even on option 2 ($933/yr saved in gas vs my current vehicle at current gas prices).

@12000 miles/yr both put me in the 160k range after their payback period.

Based on the options I want, #2 has everything I wanted (except for leather), and #1 has more than everything I wanted (nav/satellite radio were on my 'rather not have' list) but has way less miles. #2 is better taken care of than #1.

So, am I going to be kicking myself for not spending the extra $4k on the nicer model? More gadgets normally means more stuff to break - and to be honest I'll probably hack the video in to plug in my iPhone for navigation purposes because I don't love in-car nav systems. I also get the itch to switch cars after about 4-5 years and when they get above 125-130k miles. That's not my plan with this one, but 4-5 years is a long ways off

Bottom line is I think I've talked myself out of the more expensive one - and the BIGGEST reason is on the one-owner I think it was well taken cared of and driven 'tenderly'. If Option #1 had been even 1000 miles UNDER the 36k warranty window, I'd be much more inclined to take the risk. Since it's just out, paying the 36k miles price without any associated warranty becomes a sticking point.

Help me fellow Prius owners. What to do?

 

Texas.

Based on that list, it's a 2007 #3 w/83k miles vs a 2008 Touring NR w/ 36k miles I can tell because the 2007 #4 has foglights which this didn't have, and the 2008 Touring NR has leather (only available on the NR Touring) and the larger wheels,.

 

Pictures:

Option 1:
http://i.imgur.com/gIp2B.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/v6txJ.jpg

Option 2:
http://i.imgur.com/42hIU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/XnP39.jpg

 

Based on KBB, Option 1 is a slightly better deal price-wise than what it should be but Option 2 is also good.

warranty gets me to 2018 on the '08 and 2017 on the '07, but with the miles I'd say that '07 will be out of warranty by 2014 and the '08 by 2017.

God damn your logic. I was ready to pick up the 2007 today from the owner, and now I'm questioning. The '08 owner said I gotta wait until he gets his Leaf in the next 7 days.

 

(edited the original post to remove the part about the A/C vents. thanks)

 

Oh I almost forgot - the 2008 guy said he would leave his extended warranty intact for a week so that I could drive it for a week and make sure nothing has an issue before he cancelled it and got his money back. Not a really long time, but not bad.

 

The '08 navigation also apparently isn't upgradable to the newest maps which require a gen 6 navigation system.

As a gadget person, this makes me twitch.

Nevermind. It's harder to find, but they make a gen 5 11.1 disc.

 

^^ Yeah for $200 I can get the thing that unlocks the video input and plug in my iPhone to power my navigation - vs $185 to update the nav system on the Prius.

I'd likely have little use for the nav system. I'd really want the better one for the leather seats.

 

KBB says $19.7K on option #1 and $13.2K on option 2. Both a good deal

 

Edmunds:
Option 1: $17100
Option 2: $11708

NADA (only retail, doesn't give trade-in):
Option 1: $17535 (retail)
Option 2: $14975 (retail)

I think my choice is becoming clearer.

 

Thanks again for all the advice. I think I should have this done by tomorrow!

 

Done! Drove it back to work today!