How much should I buy a Prius for?

5k

reset the mpg display and take it for a good long ride under various conditions. see what she returns for average mpg's

 

The obvious, is ascertaining the potential value of a purchase, or what that value should be, is really impossible sight unseen, non-hands on, on the internet.
The often repeated advice in similar situation is to check Kelly Blue Book and what prevailing prices in your region for similar vehicle happen to be.
But even then? Any specific vehicle could be worth more, or less depending on a LOT of criteria.

I think all you can do is establish a baseline "average" price for your area, and what you are looking at, THEN you absolutely have to inspect the vehicle yourself.
There are threads here, but basically all the things recommended to do in evaluating any used vehicle. That's exterior condition, interior condition, mechanical condition, tires, accident history...etc, etc.

I would also add, for myself "Gut Feeling"---I've backed both into and away from deals just based on a gut feeling (good or bad) about the vehicle or seller. My philosophy is that if you do NOT feel good about the deal before making it, for any reason, you're probably not going to feel good about it AFTER making that deal.
So I give some credit to gut feeling despite it really being a mercurial, mostly intangible aspect.

So the cop out answer, is How Much Should I Buy a Prius for?
Really depends on what prices are around you regionally, what you want, and what the reality of what you are considering turns out to be.

Is that vague and useless enough for you?

 

Check KBB, Edmunds and NADA price guides.
Then take that figure and see how much Corolla you could get for the same price.

 

60k is a bit low for a 12 yr old vehicle, be sure to check the VIN at https://toyota.com/owners

And or run a Carfax in addition, just to be safe.

 

$2500-3000. Doesn't matter if it has 60k or 600k, an '08 Prius will need a battery within 4-5 years, maybe sooner.

 

Regardless of the understanding, please run the VIN at http://toyota.com/owners and make sure everything is as expected.

If spending 7k+, then add an extra $5 and pull the carfax for chits and giggles.

 

Time is more of an indicator of battery life than mileage. In fact, a lower mileage 2008 could be closer to battery replacement than a high-mileage one, simply because it's sat more and has more chance for battery cells to slump.

 

Batteries can't read odometers, but they are subject to getting old and decaying. They can last even longer than 200k miles- as long as you put those miles on in a hurry. On a Prius, low mileage can be a warning sign that things are not as they appear.

The seller is hung up on the idea that he has preserved the value of the car by not putting many miles on it. And if it were not a hybrid electric car, that would probably be correct.

Unfortunately it just doesn't stay good with lack of use as time marches on. This seller doesn't understand what he's trying to sell, and you should probably just break off and find another one.

 

TIME is more of a factor with the hybrid batteries than mileage on the vehicle, especially if it's been in a HOT environment.
A Prius is not necessarily an "upgrade". They are more complex and generally more likely to have serious problems later in life.

If you really want to pursue this, LOOK UP THE PRICE GUIDES and print them out.
Saying "People on the Internet said your price is too high" likely will accomplish NOTHING.

 

what package is it?

 

My dad's cousin in Silicon Valley unloaded his 2006 Prius with 197,000 on it. The hybrid battery was starting to go on it. He was the original owner. Like others have said. It doesn't matter how many miles are on it. Age is what kills the hybrid battery. Obviously a lower mileage car is preferable but a Prius is not like regular used cars. I agree with those suggesting a Corolla or Civic for those seeking value and good mileage.

$7,500 is way too much for a 2008 Prius because of the age of the battery. What is worse the success/failure rate of replacing the hybrid battery has been less than spectacular from what I have read priuschat members.

 

Now you're going to scare him off. Replacing the battery with a new one from Toyota should provide many years of reliable driving but costs well over $2000 installed. So called "refurbished' batteries are much cheaper but are the one's that cause problems. A reliable alternative would be a battery from newpriusbatteries.com for $1600 that can be installed by the owner.

I agree that $7500 is too much. Eventual cost of a new battery should be figured into the deal.

 

Sometimes that is for the best.

In the 2-ish years since I joined this site I've noticed that there's a certain type of used-Prius buyer who is really hoping for a low maintenance car that they can keep for the next 10-15 years of relatively light-duty driving. They're hoping to buy a 10-ish year old car and stay faithful to that one fantastic machine for a full decade after.

That really sounds wonderful, but a Prius is absolutely the wrong machine for this duty. They're just too sophisticated, and while that sophistication unlocks some incredible economy and performance, it just doesn't (usually) last beyond roughly the 15th year after assembly, and the cars nearly inevitably become money pits along the way. There are always lucky outliers, this isn't about them.

A proper new HV battery can unlock another decade of service, assuming the upholstery and suspension isn't too beaten-down from the first decade, but at $2500+ it's a real commitment.

If you want a Prius as a low-maintenance car for 10 years, buy a brand new one, or at least a very young one. Or jump in cheap on something with a truly dead battery, and rehabilitate it yourself.

If you want a cheap old car as a low maintenance ride for 10 years, buy something simpler than a hybrid.

 

I watched a youtube video where in real time showed how to replace a Prius Hybrid battery. It took about an hour to do. The problem is the longevity of the hybrid battery. In the video it offered a $1600 all new hybrid batery with a two year 30,000 warranty. Obviously if it's a genuine Toyota Hybrid battery the outcome should be quite good. But obtaining a genuine Toyota battery is like getting a bill of goods. That is slang for being rolled. Doing the install yourself is not difficult. But the quality of the aftermarket new batteries is questionable.

People post here all the time about having their failing hybrid battery re-balanced. Or having individual failed cells replaced. They are always trying to save money and come here asking for advice when those inexpensive options fail. The consensus by the veteran priuschat members is to replace the entire hybrid battery. Always asking if the price of admission is worth it.

I am open minded. Just curious if the newpriusbatteries.com and others around $1500 have lasted more than 3 years without failing.