2018 Prius V Base with brakes 42,000 km or 2016 V with technology package

TL: DR Should I buy a 2018 Prius V Base (42,000 km) with possible brake issues from a local dealership or a 2016 Prius V with Technology Package (69,000 km) from private seller. 2016 is ~$1,000 cheaper.

Test drove my first Prius V last weekend. Love it. It's a base model, would prefer the technology package, but my old car is dying and need sooner than later, and hope to have it for 10+ years so.. 2018 Prius Base, black VIN JTDZN3EU8JJ075286 was a lease. Carfax report attached.

Tried to negotiate a reduction last weekend, salesman (who knew nothing about hybrids, and this is a Toyota dealership) said, sorry, this is a no haggle dealership! I said "Buh bye!" Today, I get a notification that the price has dropped by $1,000. It's now $25,998 Cdn ($20,515 US).

Two red flags.

1) Collision record, but no record of repairs. There's a few scrapes on the driver's side back door. Could it be something worse?
2) It only has 42,000 km (26,000 miles), but the dealer machined the front and rear brake motors and service pads in May (salesman tried to say, no that was only an inspection, it cost over $400, I said they did work on it, he was belligerent). Is there the possibility of a bigger underlying brake problem? It's a dealership so I could have them agree to fix the brakes if there's a problem. There isn't a full pre-purchase inspection report, I could get one.

Also, the VIN on Carfax report for the updated listing doesn't match the VIN for the car I saw last weekend I'm wondering if there are a lot of lease returns, and they're pretending it's all the same car: Black Prius V Base?

So, is it worth it? Or should I wait until I find one with technology package.

Then, there's a 2016 Prius V in Victoria BC (I'm in Vancouver), $24,500 Cdn ($19,600 US) private seller, no accidents, 69,000 km (42,874 miles), with technology package, that I'm considering. It means a ferry ride. I want a pre-purchase Toyota Dealership inspection before I buy, but the last time I did that with a private seller, someone else snagged it as it was a one-week wait for the inspection. This ad has been up for a month though. Should I buy it without the inspection? What are my options if there is a problem? I haven't bought a used car from a stranger before. He said there was no rush when I couldn't make it out this weekend (no ferry reservations available if I want to return with the car). Waiting for him to send me the Carfax report.

What I'm hoping for: 2016 or newer, because it has advanced safety features like lane assist, front collision avoidance etc.; under 100,000 km as I want to have it for at least ten years, and I drive ~10,000 km per year, mostly city; and I prefer the technology package. And I don't like red. I like that a dealership will fix anything that comes up in the first few months. Private seller, you're stuck with it, without a pre-purchase inspection, what do I look for. And I don't need financing.

Any and all advice appreciated.

Thank you!

 

It has become apparent that this is the dealership that sells lease returns. These are all 2018 models. The Carfax report I got yesterday was a different VIN from the car I drove last weekend.

Tell me more about the Gen4 engine vs what a 2018 Prius V with technology package might have. Thank you.

 

Thank you rjparker. The dealership is Certified Pre-Owned, it's a Toyota dealership in Burnaby, a half hour drive from home. I think this is the dealership that sells lease-returns, so they keep the same ad up for the many, many 2018 black Prius V bases they are selling with expired three year leases. Today though, they advertised one that is a silver 2018 Prius V with luxury package. Waiting to see if that includes the technology package. The Carfax report shows it was serviced at Toyota dealership every 7,000 km (4,300 miles).

And yeah, salt air, if parked close to the ocean, could definitely do a corrosive number on brakes and rotors. Vancouver is an ocean city. I live a block from the beach but park in the underground.

So getting it from the Toyota dealership means that I can take the car home and drive it for seven days to really try it out, so that is good. My husband (who doesn't drive) would feel more comfortable buying it from a dealership, even if it means spending a bit more, to have the comfort of knowing there's protection.

I grew up in Winnipeg, Canada, where it would get to minus 30, so heated seats, yeah. More of a luxury in balmy Vancouver, but I'll take it. Especially as I age (gracefully), it can help with a sore back.

And yes, I took my old car (2002 Mazda Protégé 249,000 km) to check why the Engine light came on after the alternator was replaced on Thursday (for free, under warrantee). Service manager explained it to me, won't go into details. He knows I'm just driving this locally until I get a replacement car. But he said it would be safe to drive for another year or two, so that helped my husband relax too. So I'm no longer rushed to find a replacement, and you're right, it's important to have breathing room not to feel rushed.

I originally started with wanting a Prius, looking for a 2013-15. Test drove a 2013 (not V) a few weeks ago. Then realized I wanted the advanced safety features (lane assist, front collision avoidance etc.) that was only available 2016 or later. Then fell in love with the V. So last week test-drove the 2018 Prius V Base. Then realized how great the technology package is, so am holding out for that. I've learned a lot. Where will this end LOL.

And thank you for the feedback, it is very helpful.

 

Thank you gromittoo. Lots to think about.

 

2016 Prius V VIN JTDZN3EU9GJ046520 96,000 km (~60,000 miles). $21,900 CDN (~$17,500 US) at Jim Pattison Toyota in Victoria, BC


OK. So this one looks promising. I'm trying to figure out if it does in fact have the technology package. One of the items that makes me want the technology package is the surround-view parking camera system. I don't mind a few dings and scratches. But it has two $0 collisions, not sure if those are the scratch and dents seen in the photos. It says one owner, and it's leased. Not much on the service record. It's from a Toyota Dealership, but it doesn't say "Certified Pre-Owned".

Have to take a ferry to test drive.

Thoughts?

 

Thank you. It could be high mileage (km) because it's in Victoria (British Columbia), at the south end of Vancouver Island, so could have involved a lot of highway driving to other parts of the Island.

Yes, I'll ask for a full inspection of brakes, tires and brake pads before even booking a ferry to go over there.

And when I test drive, since I've never owned a Prius before, and have only test driven two so far, what am I looking for in terms of red flags? And is the head gasket likely to be an issue on this one?

Also, I only drive ~5,000 km/year (~3,000 miles), so wanted something under 100,000, thinking I could drive it for 10 to 20 years. So hoping this one would last that long.

 

Thank you. I looked up the VIN in the Toyota database, and it includes PCS: SFT001 Pre Collision System. So yep, 10% discount. That's why I'm looking at a newer model. Don't need technology package to get this though.

It also has the DRCC: CNV008 Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.

Those are both standard in 2016 or newer. But the technology package has the LED lights, and other stuff. Kinda sad it doesn't include the radar parking :-(

Talked to the salesman, waiting for the inspection report.

 

I test drove a regular Prius V 2018, and it had PCS and DRCC and did not have the technology package. So maybe by 2018 it was standard. Looking at the Toyota listing of the 2016 Prius V, looks like the car I'm considering has both the luxury and technology packages. Going over to test drive it on Tuesday.

The 2016 Toyota Prius v: The Most Versatile Member of the Proven Prius Family | Toyota Canada