This is my first post and I hope you can advise me. I am considering the purchase of a 2008 prius that is being sold by a dealer and has only 2,300 miles on it. The car is the basic Prius with no navigation system or any other bells and whistles. I have read many places that Edmunds TMV is the number to go by as a buyer and Edmunds says the TMV is just about $19,600. The dealer keeps referencing the Kelly BB number which is closer to $ 24,000. The car is a certified toyota that has been sitting on the lot for almost 2 months at around $23,000. The salesman says that his manager will never take less than $20,000 for the car because it is "like new". Please advise.....I don't want to rip the dealer off, but I also don't want them to rip me off. What do you all see as fair? Thank you so much, Kris
A 2008 with only 2,300 miles? That doesn't pass the sniff test. Are you positive it's not a washed salvage title??
Register the VIN at Toyota Owners - Official Toyota Owners Website to get the dealer service history. Who drives less than 800 miles per year? I'm not sure anyone in this deal knows what they are talking about. For 2008: Package 1 No backup camera, no Smart Key System (black emblem on fob) Package 2 CD player, SKS (silver emblem on fob) backup camera, VSC Package 3 add homelink dimming mirror & 6 cd changer Package 4 add HID headlights & fog lights Package 5 add nav Package 6 add leather The salesman's job is to screw as much money out of you as possible. Your job is to pay as little as possible for the car. They know what they paid for the car. It won't be sold at a loss. Verify the option package. Check on the service history. The very low mileage is very suspicious. A used 2011 would probably have more miles on it.
Thank you for your wise words....I will follow the advice of each of you, including checking into the 2011 with package 2. I agree with you all that the mileage seems oddly low, so I took Jim N's advice and ran the VIN number on the owners website and here is what I found (see below). The loudest bell to me is the fact that the battery needed charging 3 times in only 2397 miles. Since I am new at this, does that sound like a potential big problem with this particular Prius? Any further thoughts?? Should I run away from this particular car?? Service Type Service Date Service Provider Mileage Repair Order# Service Description Details By Dealer 06/24/11 Team Toyota 2,397 0722553 BODY SHOP REPAIRS View Details By Dealer 06/21/11 Team Toyota 2,396 0722328 USED CAR CK+CERTIFY View Details By Dealer 06/21/11 Team Toyota 2,396 0722328 *SAFETY & EMISSION View Details By Dealer 01/06/11 Koons Easton Toyota 708 0035038 LUBE, OIL, & FILTER CHANGE View Details By Dealer 01/06/11 Koons Easton Toyota 708 0035038 COMPLETED View Details By Dealer 08/16/10 Koons Easton Toyota 338 0030601 RADIO TUNER ASSEMBLY View Details By Dealer 08/16/10 Koons Easton Toyota 338 0030601 RADIO TUNER ASSEMBLY View Details By Dealer 08/16/10 Koons Easton Toyota 338 0030601 TECH USED ON BOARD COMPUTER TESTING, ALL SYSTEMS PASSED, TECH RESET CODE TEST DR View Details By Dealer 08/10/10 Koons Easton Toyota 260 0030505 PERFORM CAMPAIGN 90L View Details By Dealer 08/10/10 Koons Easton Toyota 260 0030505 BATTERY CHARGE Service Type Service Date Service Provider Mileage Repair Order# Service Description Details By Dealer 11/24/09 Koons Easton Toyota 184 0022583 BATTERY CHARGE View Details By Dealer 11/02/09 Koons Easton Toyota 117 0021957 COOLANT FLOW CONTROL VALVE STACK, TECH CHECKED OVER SYSTEM COOLANT FLOW ALL IS W View Details By Dealer 10/30/09 Koons Easton Toyota 33 0021886 COMPLIMENTARY LUBE, OIL, & FILTER CHANGE View Details By Dealer 10/30/09 Koons Easton Toyota 33 0021886 TECH FOUND SMART KEY TURNED OFF, TECH ALSO CHARGED BATTERY BACK UP View Details By Dealer 09/21/07 Koons Easton Toyota 7 0001088 PDI
Since it only shows battery charge, rather than replace, the 12V battery should be replaced. This is the little battery in the trunk on the passenger side. It is highly intolerant of being drained, which happens to a car that sits a lot. The big hybrid battery is fine. Dianne from Carson Toyota, California just posted her latest deals, $24K for a 2011 pkg II for example. http://priuschat.com/forums/dealers...ianne-in-carson-in-southern-ca-few-deals.html
Kris, I personally will not buy a used prius at this time, the price is simply does not make sense. I think the new ones at regular price, even with $1000-2000 markup, is a much better choice, because they are new, and they are newer model. Also, I will buy a Prius only if I drive a lots of miles, 25000 miles/year at minimum. The best value is always in used cars, but not use Prius now. So you might consider some other used cars if you don't drive a lot. For example, Used 2004 Toyota Camry LE with 100K miles in great condition for $7,995
