Prii Gurus...please gimme some advice!

From recent articles I've read, the plug-in Prius won't be out until 2010. Therefore, the 2009 will probably be just about like the 2008. Therefore it's your choice. I have an 04 and will replace it with an 09, only because I usually replace my cars on a 5 year cycle.

 

$22K for a 4 year old car? It's not worth that much, considering the buyer will still have pay sales tax to the state to transfer the title, more than likely. Heck, I just bought an '08 and the sticker was only $25K! Granted you had the loaded package, but it would strike me as high.

Go to the kelley blue book site and plug in all the particulars - it will tell you the private sale value of the car.

 

That's what the OP did, and KBB came up with $22K.

I don't know the crazy market in that state, but a fair price is whatever the buyer is willing to pay. If it's too high, he doesn't have to buy it.

Tom

 

Actually, what LittleRedHen said was that she plugged the car stats into KBB and came up with $18K, which sounds about right for that year of Prius, and then added an additional $4K for the HOV stickers, apparently the going rate. I'd probably tack on another $1-2K to my initial asking price as it sounds like the prospective buyer is quite motivated, and also because it leaves a bit of room for negotiation. If he/she walks, no great tragedy, LRH sounds as though she isn't in a screaming rush to sell the car.

I'd heard at one point that the '09s were going to be "Generation III" Prii and feature lithium-ion batteries, better mileage, etc. Somehow I have my doubts. Lithium-ion battery technology seems to be struggling at present for this sort of application. I debated waiting on the purchase of mine (an '08 just this past December) but decided that technology is always changing and advancing, so decided to jump in now. If there is a major change to the Prius, whenever that comes, I suspect that demand will be high and initial availability somewhat low, resulting in "premiums" being paid again. Seems to happen anytime a new car (or product) that is popular initially hits the market.

 

If it is possible to transfer the sticker to the 2009 model Prius, buy it and sell it with the sticker. It will be a hot buy. Just a thought.

 

Looks like the HOV sticker is the main incentive for the buyer wanting this car.

So if you are not in rush/need selling, I'd also go by others have suggested here to raise the asking price somewhat reasonably to make the deal more favorable to you.

 

$4,000 for an HOV sticker???

where is this and why is this so high?

 

If you sell your stickers at a profit that incidentally happens
to have a car attached, you are still contributing to a broken
system that should be dismantled, not supported. Think about
that.
.
_H*

 

Whatever the market will support. It's in California, which is all I should need to say. The whole HOV thing out there has gone crazy. The transportation system (or lack thereof) in California is crazy. People pay that much because it's the only way to get one. The state has issued all it's going to issue at this time, so you have to buy a car with one attached, or do without.

Tom

 

hmmm...looks like its time to petition state of cali to remove single occupancy Pri's from the HOV lanes

 

Ummmm, actually she said that she's in Louisiana, not California. But I don't disagree that the systems seem screwy, based on what little I know.

 

ummm. ya right.... i can easily see how "LA" would translate to Louisiana ( ty post office) but i venture to say that it actually means los angeles

 

I would definately trade up to an 08 if I could get $22k on an 04. Escpecially since you don't need the carpool stickers. You should be able to get a loaded 08 for about $25k.

 

In CA, that's not possible. Exactly why the older model with stickers is a premium price.

 

I suppose it's slightly rude to respond to my own post, but I would like to add that the HOV lane privilege vanishes on Jan 1, 2011, unless the legislature extends the date again. This is currently considered unlikely.

So, Hobbit: it's only a matter of time until this gets "fixed."

Of course, it's much longer before anything else in the state's transportation system gets fixed.

I enjoy having the stickers and I will be bummed when I can no longer use them. But I hope to retire in 1-2 years after they go stale, so my exposure to traffic snarls (here, at least) will be minimal.

 

Red Hen:

I just wanted to give you my perspective: I am buying a used Prius for the HOV stickers.

I know the current market price is $3-4k for the sticker, however the longer you wait, the less they are worth. When I was considering how much to pay for the sticker, it was important for me to keep in mind that I would be buying a commodity that was declining in value. (I also agree that it is highly unlikely the 2011 deadline will be extended).

If you take a look at the websites out there (craigslist, autotrader, cars.com), the prices are all over the map. I will tell you the 2-3 cars I was seriously considering were KBB+$3-5k more for the sticker. The $5k markup one was really high I think, however I think the guy sold it for close to that amount (2006, fully loaded, 20k miles, asking $28k). I am going to be buying a 2005, 40k miles, fully loaded w/ leather, nav, premium wheels for $23k. i think that is actually a bit lower than other cars, but the seller doesn't really care about the money, I don't think.

Anyhow, I guess what I'm trying to say is as a seller of an item that has very limited quantity, you have the upper hand. However, if you're going to sell it, I would do it soon b/c as a buyer, I cannot personally justify paying more than $3000 for the sticker for 3 years (that's $1k per year, which I can handle, but more than that, is too much for me). I would list it at kbb + $3000 for the sticker + whatever extra you feel you need for negotiating room (or just list it as a firm price).

Just my thoughts...

 

Excuse me, LRH and DaveinOlyWA, I read LA wrong, took it to mean the postal code for Cajun country! Sorry.


LRH, the '08s are pretty nice and I suspect you could get into a new one, depending on which package you wanted, for not a whole lot more than what you might receive for the '04 with the HOV sticker. If you don't need the sticker and your friend does, it becomes a symbiotic transaction. What could possibly be sweeter?

 

Hi LilRedHen,

If your not driving on the highway everyday where you can use that sticker, I say DO IT! A - it gets a smog machine off the roads (what the other guy is driving now in slow traffic). B - you do not get any real proffit now but the depreciation of the 2008 should not be that terrible when it comes time to trade up to the PHEV Prius. I say this because you end up with a vehicle for another vehicle for driving with the addition of another $6K of your own money at this time to even up the option packages. If you do not do it, you will have a $14 K Prius (versus the $20K 2008 Prius) to trade in for the PHEV in 2011 . Remember cars are not investments. They are depretiating assets. This deal is a wash in that depretiation, but helps the enviorment. And who knows, maybe the PHEV's do not come out till 2013 ? And C - you will not have to resolder the MFD display connector (or get a refurb unit) when the 2004 MFD craps out.