Which Prius V should I buy?

I prefer the Prius hatchback over the c. Stronger engine, larger trunk, smoother on the highway, and much longer battery warranty for Californians. The last part could be relevant to you because you don't have a repair fund for a new OEM hybrid battery.

If you can't find a good deal with private party sellers, then check out dealers for a much larger selection. I prefer to go with private sellers, but only if I can purchase at kbb book value or lower. If your budget is around $10,000, then you should be able to find a private party 2012 hatchback in good condition with around 85k-100k miles, shown here. That is, if you're patient. In theory, that could give you a hybrid battery warranty for another 4 years.

Below are some dealer offered Prii near your price range before taxes. You can always try to negotiate near the end of the month (that's usually when dealers are more willing to drop their prices), or look at models a year older. In theory, similar models sold by private party sellers should be less.

2012 $9.6k, 117k miles

2012 $10.9k, 99k miles

2012 $9.98k, 104k miles

 

Those cs are much newer/have much less miles!

 

You're best bet is to post the ads here and you'll get some good feedback from board members. Or send it to me via pm if you don't want to post them. And check to see if the trim levels are a 1-2-3 or 4. If you don't know a lot about the c's, go to youtube and watch some new car reviews on them. There is a difference between the 1.5 and 1.8 liter engine- my previous car had Toyota's 1.5 liter engine.

I think the c at 35k miles could be a very good buy. But then again, it might have been in a bad accident and has a salvage title. The c at 72k miles would have a warranty that would cover the hybrid/traction battery for 28k miles. How long would that last you?

 

2014 c? Bit small to haul anything and hybrid battery warranty is not 10 years like the regular prius

 

If you have a child and equipment a prius C is going to be too small and you'll want to sell it after a month.

It's better to shop for the right size vehicle than to shop based on year and mileage.

Try looking for cars with newly replaced hybrid batteries

 

2015 Toyota Prius V Three III | eBay
It will go for more, but is in a CARB state. 2015 has better crash tests.

Prius V Three | eBay
You could make a lower offer.

Both cars would need airfare and driving home.

 

I tried looking up the Prius c on facebook and couldn't find it. I found one with 52k miles at ~$12k though. The one with 35k miles, how much is it and find out if it's been in an accident?

Here are a couple of more close to you. They are a bit over your budget, but probably near what the Prius c with 35k miles is being priced at. Stay away from the salvage one. Used car selection is cyclical and the Prii selection right now seems a bit thin for what you're looking for. If you can afford to be patient, that would be a plus. Your selection increases if you're willing to travel a bit. Just remember that Prius v and hatchback (from California) have CARB warranties. Prius c doesn't.

Toyota Prius for Sale in Grass Valley, CA 95945: cars under 12000 - Autotrader

 

If money is tight, an older car might be a better fit even if it its fuel economy is worse.

My 95 year old father sold his beautiful 1998 Buick LeSabre a few weeks ago for only $800. It was at 70,000 miles, ran perfectly, always garaged, rust free, no dents or dings, clean interior, obsessively maintained by the Buick dealer, three year old tires that probably hadn't covered 500 miles. He was able to get in the high 20's mpg on road trips and over 20 mpg in town. Our Prius v has been averaging barely 35 mpg the past year but it is not on low rolling resistance tires and the tire pressure is kept at the door jam sticker values for comfort.

$10,000 will buy a lot of gasoline even at California prices. If you are looking for an inexpensive car, bulletin boards at assisted living facilities and senior centers sometimes have amazing deals.

 

I like Fits and looked at them before buying the Prius. This one is a 6 speed. Today's CVTs are superior to manuals with much lower rpms at highway cruising speed. On the surface, it seems to be priced fairly without knowing the details.

 

I'd buy a Pontiac Vibe for less than half of your budget and put the rest into your repair fund. It's a steal because you get Toyota quality at the Pontiac price. But if you can't stomach that, get a Fit. Everyone I know who has one raves about it.