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Does this 2012 look decent for about $5500?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by MilkyWay, Feb 17, 2018.

  1. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    So long story short I have a 2008 with 166K miles (leather/nav) that I want to sell and get a lower mileage gen 3....I want to sell it before I hit 170-180K (probably around May this year the way I drive)....I feel like I am at the last chance mileage level before the value plummets. Thinking I can list for $4500-ish and worst case get 4k.

    I have opportunity to get this 2012 with 138K for about $5500 so I'd only pay a $1500-$2000 "upgrade fee". Do you think I should swap her out or run the 2008 to the ground? I like the body style of gen 3s, the way they drive, the extra legroom, and free satellite radio.

    And in a few months my 2008 will have about 175K miles and I'll be lucky to get $3500, in my estimation.

    Also, notice the 2012 has a moon roof....I could probably drive it an entire year, push the miles from 138K to 165K....and still get $5000 back --- assuming I keep it in similar condition!


    20180216234731-0b8b64fc-bd2e-41e9-933e-a5bab26de324.jpg 20180216234731-72ce9b25-4e2f-4d69-b1be-7876c9d8b1d8.jpg 20180216234731-1345cdd3-a232-4045-b0b2-9c51db7a0045.jpg 20180216234731-88974a9d-07c9-4e24-9b04-d926211ccb57.jpg 20180216234731-a0d52428-5e4a-4a40-b01c-87cd67c7ea52.jpg 20180216234732-59eb423a-1712-4e03-a3ce-4636e706f2ca.jpg 20180216234730-284fa4bb-1904-4345-9a87-43e59f82b8d1.jpg 20180216234730-be897e5f-8e7e-4afc-8cd2-e16ebe167885.jpg 20180216234730-c2b531b3-94c0-4c38-bc90-49100736d2cc.jpg
     
    #1 MilkyWay, Feb 17, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2018
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  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Go for it, you only live once
     
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  3. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    Assuming your numbers are correct, you will have all the fun of a new (to you) car for $1500-$2000. From the pix, it looks to be in very good condition. Note: there is no free satellite radio.
     
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  4. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    That's an AMAZING deal. I wouldn't even think twice on that one. Are you sure its only 5500 bucks?
     
  5. Kramah313

    Kramah313 Active Member

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    You might have to do an HV battery repair or something, but that could apply to your current car too. I’d go for it. I have a 2012 like that one (without the moonroof though) and it’s a great car
     
  6. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    My sistsr has a 2010 with 240,000 miles and the battery still works flawlessly. The engine started burning oil and drinking coolant around 185,000 and we replaced the engine close to 200,000 mark. I'd say the battery is about the last thing to worry about.
     
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Can you get a test drive in?

    One Achilles heel of third gen is the damn EGR clogging; be interesting to start it up cold, take it for a decent drive. That can be cleaned up, just food for thought.
     
  8. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Nope, sight unseen from Toyota dealer-only online bidding. They run about 3000 cars a week....And every week I select the option, "under $5000", and only 20-30 come up, which is less than 1% of their massive weekly inventory!

    I have to factor in fees/shipping ($500)....And already have 2 dealers that boosted price up $200....And for all I know they will bid it way up! If I didn't have competition i'd get it for $4600 (before the 500 in shipping/fees). One bid 4600 and another 4700 and the next bid would be 4800.

    So if absolutely no other bids but me then my cost is $4800 + $500 in fees = $5300. I'm assuming it will go for 5k or a hundred or two hundred above 5k. Ends in 2 days.

    I have experience with the EGR, bought a 225K mile 2012 also sight unseen....Drove great but after 500 or so miles got EGR code...It was pretty clogged but not terrible. Cleaned out the pipes and replaced the cooler/valve and it's been driving fine last couple thousand miles.
     
    #8 MilkyWay, Feb 17, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2018
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  9. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Sounds like a good plan to me.
     
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  10. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Last 3 priuses I have owned all sold the EXACT SAME DAY I LISTED THEM. If I could predict future and no other bids on the gen 3 then I'd probably take 4k for this baby doll that I just listed minutes ago: 2008 Toyota Prius (Leather/Nav/Backup Cam) - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale....I just don't want to sell my car today/tomorrow and next thing I know the 2012 gets bidded up to $6000.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Stupid fender bender kinda killed the near flawless condition it had 2 weeks ago. Still cleans up ok and should get around 4500 for it. I put 25,000 miles on it in the 6 months I had it. So in 6 more months it will have 190K miles and no way in hell I could even ask 4995....Right now is good time to sell.

    THE DAY I GOT IT (no dings/dents on door or fender)...pinstripe there

    20170910_123356.jpg


    FENDER BENDER

    prius2.jpg

    MATCHING FENDER FROM SCRAP YARD CAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH PAINTING IT....You can see a little ding on the middle left area of the door....pinstripe gone...

    20180217_104910.jpg
     
    #10 MilkyWay, Feb 17, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2018
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  11. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Remember you’ll have to pay a use tax. I’d ask $4500.

    Edit: just re read this thread. Didn’t realize it was an online auction only. Most likely the car is fine but I wouldn’t buy a car u can’t test drive. Come on you don’t even learn that in Car Buying 101, that’s like from elementary school.

    Run your 2008 to the ground. Who knows maybe it’ll be totaled and you’ll get a lot more than $4000 for it...hope not though. The totaled comment I meant.
     
    #11 macmaster05, Feb 17, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2018
  12. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    I am used to it. 90% of what I buy is online. We sell 10-20 cars a month. We are used to selling 300K mile and 350K mile diesel trucks. All are bought sight unseen. You wouldn't want the ones that are local because they are covered in rust and rot!

    Also got my 08 Prius from a toyota dealership online....I think I paid $2500 and that was 6 months ago @ 142K miles...It was a no brainer but after $500 in fees/shipping cost jumped to 3k....It arrived and tires were maybe 60% (was still sellable but I wanted to keep)...And really only major malfunction was very loud humming which was the front 2 wheel bearings....Well, we dug in there and said screw it, I'll replace the struts and the brakes/rotors don't look amazing so let's do that to. Next thing you know my cost was quickly over 4k...

    Here are a couple recent purchases....

    304K Miles sight unseen:

    dually.jpg

    Around 350K Miles sight unseen:
    red diesel.jpg

    Around 350K miles sight unseen (pending delivery):
    white diesel.jpg

    338K Miles (gas!) sight unseen...

    chevy.jpg
     
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  13. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Seems like you know what you’re doing then. Why ask us? Good luck!
     
  14. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Reassurance and looking for feedback/input. I have no doubt it is an upgrade and not a lemon or anything. It's a 1 owner no accidents on the autocheck.
     
  15. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    I get sick of the colors. For gen 2 I've personally owned the gold, light blue, light silver, and light green. I really like the dark blue color on the gen 3. Looks amazing. To me it is like going from a piece of junk (current prius) to something nice. But if I don't sell by tomorrow I may have to sit on the sidelines and wait until I find another good one.

    prius.jpg
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    too cheap, what wrong with it?
     
  17. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Toyota runs 3000 cars online to dealers per week. Less than 1% of their inventory is under $5000. I'm not sure how they set their prices but you would think they leave enough room for a dealer to make at least $1000. And also they don't really care because they are worth so many billions. Guessing they are just trying to unload them.

    Even if their formula is "cost + $100" that leads to $300,000 a week for their 3000 cars....Not to mention dealers bid them up from the starting bid all weekend.

    They have what they call a market report that is just a guesstimate on what it should go for at the auction based on the miles and condition report. The CR is a 2.9/5.0 which is actually good for 138,000 miles. It will also show you recent auction sales. I guess $6650 is avg. on a 2012 Prius however the mileage is 114K on avg. and the CR is 3.3.

    The market report estimates it to be worth $5175 so they aren't that far under.

    Capture.PNG
     
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    pretty amazing, when you think about it, that means the original owners are subsidizing everything.
     
  19. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Got a 3rd dealer to click in...$46..$47....$48....all different dealers...Not sure why they don't have common sense. It's just like eBay. You set your alarm on your phone to 5 minutes before the auction ends and then bid. They bid days in advance and push up the price.

    Will update later but still all of Sunday and half of Monday before end.

    Highly doubt no more bids before then. @ $4900 I'd be at about $5400 delivered and that is before tax/title/plate transfer fees.

    Gets much higher I'll just take my money elsewhere and probably find a similar model (minus the moon roof) for less. :mad::mad::mad:
     
  20. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Your estimation won't determine the value of the car, KBB sets the market price value. Go to the site and type the mileage and you'll get an idea of depreciation rate/value.