$4k too much?

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First check the VIN at https://www.toyota.com/owners

Have you already looked up the suggested pricing at Kelley Blue Book | New and Used Car Price Values, Expert Car Reviews or New Car Prices and Used Car Book Values - NADAguides ?

 

Offer him $3k and let it cook for a while. The fact that he's admitting a problem is honorable. Most do all they can to keep the problem secret and get warning lights to not come on just long enough to sell it.

If you have the mechanical ability and have done enough reading on here, you already have a sense of the work to be done and you know we'll do all we can to help you out and walk you through it.

Somewhere between $3-4K seems reasonable, especially if the problems don't have many miles on them. If you find out the problems have been around for a long time and they've been ignoring it for too long, it's likely more expensive and you oughta look for something better.

 

welcome!
find the cost of a new battery, deduct it from kbb value and make him an offer. but be prepared for a bad brake actuator, combo meter and other expensive repairs

 

If the battery is known bad, $1500 - $2000 sounds more like correct price. New battery will cost you around $1600 - $3000. Replacing modules in the bad battery is no longer a good option as most of the used modules out there are nearing end of life and the fix will not last.

Good luck and keep us posted. I am looking to buy my second Gen 2 right now and am also on a lookout for a car with a bad battery so I can replace with new. I would not pay $3K for a car with a bad battery, though. Carfax indicates that in my area a Gen 2 with close to 200K miles in good condition (that means GOOD battery) is worth around $3K retail and $2.2K in private sale. Subtract the cost of new battery and your $3K offer will be generous.

 

brake actuator

multi information display

hvac/radio display

oil burning

tranny

a/c compressor

 

Reading between the lines: I don't think this would be a good buy for you. Regardless of price. Maybe just pick up a comparable Matrix, something like that.

 

$4k it is too much. $1600-$2500 defines "a lot of cash". $3k for a dead car is still wishful thinking. Betcha the brakes and tires are shot, too.

 

What are the symptoms of a bad, or going bad brake actuator please?

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Will the vehicle 'Ready' and drive?

You need to be able to listen to the engine (at the very least), as the dealer will be no help.

Grab a mini-vci cable and a copy of techstream, then scan it for codes to see what you're working with

 

i have never experienced it. iirc, it starts by making funny noises, and can go quite a long time with no braking issues.
then the buzzing sound from pressuring gets longer and more frequent due to leakage, then the pedal gets funky and the dash lights up with associated trouble codes.
these may not all happen, or there may be more.
don't quote me

 

Project car:
Yes.
IF you can cash flow parts and are handy with tools and YouTube wisdom, have a place to work on it.....etc.

Something that you depend on for turn-key transportation?
Nope.

YMMV

 

The answer is quite simple. The dealer could not make a profit on a car with 188,000 miles after putting in a new battery. The dealer probably gave 1000 bucks for the trade in max. Have you seen the car in person yet, or just pictures? Could need new tires, brakes, who knows what else. Is this a dealer or a private sale? If it’s private how did he get the car?

 

So a private seller then? My guess is he works at the dealer or knows someone who does and got the car for 1000 bucks or so. Just remember tires 500 Installed? Brakes 150 for a full set? (Don’t get aftermarket for a Prius) little things add up.

You made an offer without even seeing the car? If I sold a car and someone lowballed me without even seeing the car I would put him on ignore and move on.

 

Plenty of Prius in you area for around 4000.

flagstaff for sale "prius" - craigslist

Unless it’s so good sparks fly out of your A$$ when you drive it, I would not offer over 2500 if the tires and brakes are near new. Less if they are not.

 

Walk away unless you have about $5,000 to put into it in the next year or so.

 

$500 to $2000 would be fair price for an 08 with 155k with a bad hybrid battery.

They are very hard to sell in the 4 to 5000 range when everything is perfect.