Opinion: Would this prius be worth it?

i'm thinking more like 2,500., but location is everything. no, i wouldn't expect it to go another 100k without expensive repairs, but i might hope it would. does it have a new hv battery?
in any case, your parents shouldn't drive a vehicle they are not comfortable in.

 

The Nav on my 4 year 2012 has led me to closed businesses and highway detours. On an 8 year old? It's not much of a perk.

At 302k miles, I'm more worried about structural integrity than the battery or drivetrain. Rust on the muffler, suspension, worn bushings or springs. Air conditioning compressor failure... And the list goes on. I'll take the $5500 with 160k any day. I would go so far to say it's a sure thing you'll pay out more than the $2000 you think you're saving on the 2008 due to repairs and maintenance.

 

Here's a question I would ask...the sellers and yourself.

If they recently went to the trouble and expense of investing into replacing both the engine and transmission, why are they selling it now?

I mean, they evidently have gone from believing it was worth replacing BOTH the engine and transmission...to now cutting it loose and selling it.

Which is always a suspicious "Red Flag" to me.

That's a pretty inexpensive "buy in" for a Prius. BUT...even then, that's no excuse for throwing money away.

As with all used cars, who really knows?
But I don't like the vibe here.
You're buying a vehicle with high miles, and it needed both it's engine and transmission replaced.
These weren't replaced with "new"...they were used, salvaged.-Not necessarily a bad thing, but they come with no guarantees.

My fear would be that the original owner, may of made this investment into "fixing" The Prius, then started to notice new problems, and now is cutting his losses.
You get stuck with the "new" problems.

I think, just on instinct alone, I'd avoid this deal.

 

It doesn't sound good to me either. Valid points from The Electric Me. I also don't consider built-in nav to be a perk--use a hand-held nav or smartphone!

 

i suspect it went from no value, with a bad motor, to some value above the cost of the transplant. but at 300k, i would be more concerned with everything but the drivetrain.

 

why are you buying a car with the same miles and abuse as a NY taxi cab???

go for an older one with less miles for the same price
or
save more money for something that's going to last

 

This isn't even a contest in my book. An extra two grand for half the miles and sans the shady repair history? Sign me up for that all day long.

 

Gonna have to agree with THE ELECTRIC ME on this...They can't verify even if the replacement motor/trans is 140K from the VIN number of the junk donor car can they? I think you need to look elsewhere and see whats out there. Some how my minds says..."RUN RUN!!"

 

+1
It's a bad choice.

Also +1 on the Nav. For $99 at Best Buy you could get a much better GPS system.

 

Run, don't walk.

 

If the car spent its entire time in your region of the US, thats a lot of winters with salt on the roads, and screams RUST.

If you have mechanic capabilities, or like to tinker, $2K firm. Butmthey wont want to go there.

Keep on looking.