Deliberating what to purchase, need opinions please

i would get the 2016, far superior to past prius generations in almost every way. maybe no spare and less storage, but that's about it.

great car, and will service you well for a long time.

2005 will be a project car sooner or later. not that there's anything wrong with that, but it depends on your situation and needs.

 

yes, that's why i said maybe. some package levels do, and some don't.

if you're getting a great price due to the accident and wholesale, and you are confident it is good as new, i would jump all over it

 

Any used car is a risk of sorts, but you know what damage has been repaired. The 2016 is a far better car to drive and has more and better safety features. If you're used to a 2012 FIESTA, the 2005 will be a real step-back in driving.

My last car was a 2011 DIESEL FIESTA - great car - the PRIUS isn't quite the handler that the FIESTA was, close though. But a 2005 would be a real disappointment, I'd think.

Most repaired cars are fine. Between the 2, I'd go 2016.

 

I really don't like the back-story for either of these vehicles.

That's probably great, BUT it doesn't tell us anything about how much you'd be paying for either.

I'm guessing even at "Dealer Cost" there's a big, big difference between the cost of the 2005, and the cost of the 2016....that's an 11 year difference.
I don't particularly like what's being said about either.
But not knowing the real cost of either?
Well?
The 2016, is 11 years newer. Since they both could have issues due to accidents, I suppose my answer is go with the 2016.

But it would be a more precise answer if I knew the buy in investment for both.
You're kind of comparing Apples to much Older Apples here.

 

The 2005 is a much older vehicle.
Once you get in the 11 year old range?
Well the Hybrid Batttery could fail, and it's old enough anything going forward could fail.

Since IMO there is really a huge difference between the two things you are considering, I think it just comes down to you. You want to take the risk on a much older vehicle with much less of a buy in cost?
Or do you want a newer vehicle, at much greater cost, that potentially has many more years left?

If it was me?
I might walk away from both deals.

Consider something NOT a hybrid?
OR...
Maybe put a new Transmission in your Fiesta?

Good Luck with whatever you decide.

 

Before trashing the Fiesta, presuming it has the dreaded DPS6 transmission, check to see if there is an extended warranty on it through a Ford Field Service Action. Those things were so awful that many of them caught at least somewhat of a warranty extension.

That said, I'd be all over the 2016 Prius as well.

 

yes, i think your cost of ownership for the 05 will be less than 16k for 3-5 years. but then again, after that, the 16 will begin to look better

 

I am a cheapskate. I would go for the 2005 and put the $10,000 in an investment account for repairs and eventual replacement. However much better the 2016 is than the 2005, at 52 MPG for the 2005, it would take a long time for the 2016 to save you gas money.

 

I say this all depends on whether it's money saved vs. money borrowed.

If you're buying it with savings, get the 2016 and enjoy a really nice, safe new car for as long as you like.

If you're taking out a loan for it, get the 2005. Take it with as short of a term as you can hack. With a short time horizon on the loan, you increase the amount of payment-free time you are driving the car- and put that money towards its eventual replacement.

 

I think the problem is...the cost of ownership will probably be less than 16K BUT....

How much do you want the cost of ownership to be?
There still are many more things probably poised to go wrong with the 2005, just as a factor of it's age. You could have failure of the Hybrid Battery easily...at any point.

And then, as you say, with each passing year, the 2005 just get's to be that much older.

It might not cost you 16K ....but you could easily have a repair or breakdown that would make you question if the investment would be worth it, in relationship to the value of the vehicle as a whole.

 

Something to consider - how long do you hope to keep the car?

The 2005, in say 7 years time will be "x" years old (I don't do Maths at 11:10 pm - I'm heading for bed). But if you only intend keeping it a couple of years - that's a different consideration.

I've had some older cars in my life - because $€£ was limited - but cars were simpler back then, you could change belts, pumps, rip the head off or change a radiator almost with your eyes closed (OK I exaggerate) - but with modern cars that's less likely.

As suggested above, I would check the cost of the gearbox on the FIESTA - or see if FORD will come to the party. The counter-argument is that either PRIUS will be cheaper with fuel.

The 2016 is 2 generations newer - and fuel efficiency improved by 10-12% with each generation.

In the end, you need to draw straws followed by flipping a coin ... i.e. make a decision - which is never straight forward.

 

I really appreciate this thread. I'm having so many issues with my 2013 C and am considering selling it at a loss and pursuing a 2006 or similar to your situation. I definitely feel your strain!

This quote is really making me chew on the decision I have already made.

 

good choice. I had a second and a fourth generation Prius and the new one is simply better in almost every way!