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Help me decide between two cars

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Bham_prius, Nov 29, 2016.

  1. Bham_prius

    Bham_prius Junior Member

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    Hi All, I am looking at two cars and having trouble deciding
    Car one
    2011 red five with 60K. Local car but I don't have service records

    Car two
    2012 white three with 36K


    Pricing of the two cars is the exactly the same right now at ~$14K

    I am torn, I like the look of 2013 more, but the features of a five would nice. On the other hand all the bells and whistles of five are just more junk to break.

    Or should I just wait for better deal?
     
    #1 Bham_prius, Nov 29, 2016
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The five options are overrated. If it has the atp package, the only useful thing there is the dynamic cruise control. The self parallel parking thing is a joke
     
    #2 JC91006, Nov 29, 2016
  3. Neohippy

    Neohippy Active Member

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    The dynamic cruise control is a nice feature to have
     
    #3 Neohippy, Nov 29, 2016
  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Neither of your listed cars is a 2013, so I am unsure which you are referring to.

    If the 2012 is really a 2013, that would make more sense.
     
    #4 JimboPalmer, Nov 29, 2016
  5. CNYhybrid

    CNYhybrid Member

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    If the service records are an issue run the Vin number on a carfax and see what is listed. In fact, you should run a car fax on both. I own a white 2011 Four and love the color. The leather interior and fog lights are also nice to have.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #5 CNYhybrid, Nov 29, 2016
  6. Bham_prius

    Bham_prius Junior Member

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    I have a carfax for the white 2012 (sorry is said 2013) but because it is a canuk car no service records are shown. I am a bit worried about a car from the great white north. Although this is a BC car, but it could be northern BC which = ice = salt = rust...
     
    #6 Bham_prius, Nov 29, 2016
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    If you can have a test drive and opportunity for a good look-over, with both, I think it'll be easier to make a decision. I'd hazard a guess the canuck car is from the lower mainland, but who knows. It could be even from back east, the land of snow and salt.

    Again, a careful look-over is needed. Just up the road from you, same climate, our rear suspension looked really gone-to-pot rusty after about 4 winters. Suspension pieces, especially at welded joints, exposed bolts, all starting to rust-bloom. Toyota seems to suck at this.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Nov 29, 2016
  8. Bham_prius

    Bham_prius Junior Member

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    Thanks, i would post a link but I am not allowed to, the car is at MB motors in ferndale and they call it a "model three" but it sounds the model names are different. Not sure now bham toyota will deal with recalls etc on this car.
     
    #8 Bham_prius, Nov 29, 2016
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah, US car might be less complicated, no import/compliance complications. And you can look over more readily.

    The 17" rims (on the US level 5) are sweet, and the steering maybe a bit more positive. The steering mechanism for our 2010 Touring (Can model with 17's) was noticeably "surer" than 15" we also test drover, hard to explain, but the feel was better. Maybe in 2012 they all adopted the 17's steering mechanism? @Tideland Prius maybe knows, and could comment.

    Also the 5 will have LED headlights and fogs, very nice. The fogs are mostly cosmetic, but do look good, lol. Also homelink (garage opener) mirror. A lot of other bells and whistles, you may or not appreciate. I'm meh.
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Nov 29, 2016
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome! 2012.
     
    #10 bisco, Nov 29, 2016
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    oof. Tough choice. I don't like a car without service records as you can't check how often the previous owner(s) serviced their cars.

    Here's the link to the 2012 for you guys

    2012 Toyota Prius Three Hatchback for sale in Bellingham, WA - $14,499

    It's the equivalent of a US Prius Two (It's a base Canadian model.... a Prius Three would have navigation and 3-dr SKS and the Canadian equivalent with navigation is the Moonroof Upgrade package so that's why I say it's the equivalent of a Two).

    Exchange rate is favourable enough that they're importing Canadian cars, eh?


    Toyota of Bellingham has a number of Prii on sale, $14k after discounts

    Used Toyota with keyword "prius" for Sale - Toyota of Bellingham

    I'm not sure for 2012-2015. They all have the same steering feel but the steering ratio is still different between the 15" models and the 17" models. As for the EPS motor, they are different for 2010/2011 but I can't remember if Toyota made them all the same for 2012.
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, Nov 29, 2016
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  12. Bham_prius

    Bham_prius Junior Member

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    Thanks the Bellingham Toyota is had a red one I was looking at but the car was beat! Trashed interior, cigarette burns, mismatched tires and they refused to move on price...
    I ended up with nice 2011 from the Subaru dealer, local trade, super clean, IV with solar package and sunroof.

    Edit here is link to the trashed car, avoid
    2013 Toyota Prius Two Sedan Prius Toyota
     
    #12 Bham_prius, Dec 13, 2016
    Tideland Prius likes this.
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Weird, the pics look so good. I suppose it has full service record too? :whistle:
     
    #13 Mendel Leisk, Dec 13, 2016
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  14. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Same here, pics makes the car look the deal of the century! LoL
     
    #14 Montgomery, Dec 15, 2016
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Hah: maybe pics are of another car!
     
    #15 Mendel Leisk, Dec 15, 2016
  16. Bham_prius

    Bham_prius Junior Member

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    $13.5K for a 2013 two with bad tires and a bit of funk + cigarette burn doesn't seem like a screaming deal to me, but it seems like prices are going up around here with all the uber drivers buying them. Most cars I am seeming are from auctions, I think this was a California car
     
    #16 Bham_prius, Dec 15, 2016
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