Trade in my 2010 P3 for a 2012?

Yes, but don't let that stop you. However,repainting both bumpers should cost about a grand, which is chicken feed compared to what you are thinking about spending.

 

I don't know why you would either. Even though there are some notable improvements on the 2012 model, it's basically the same car since '12 was a mid-cycle refresh. What's the reason? Is there some feature missing on yours? Don't like the color? Like the styling or equipment changes on the '12? Just want a new car? Something else?

You prepared to eat the depreciation from what everyone says is the time in which a car loses a large part of its value, the first 2-3 years, then pay for another? You'll again go through the losing a large part of its value again? Take a look at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...y-costs-to-own-owner-costs-drop-over-time.htm.

I'm still driving my 06 with >63K miles and haven't traded up to any Gen 3. I probably won't switch until Gen 4 comes out, whenever that is.

 

Yeah for about 2 grand you can get brand new bumpers put on. I just had the front one on my 2011 replaced because it got hit 3 weeks after I bought it and the bill was just under 1000. And that was for a new oem repainted bumper not for repainting the existing one. Carmax isn't going to recon the car for you, and even if they did they would probaby just sub it out and mark it up anyway. Find a good body shop in your area and get an estimate.

 

The 2012 doesn't offer much you don't already have, and it's more expensive. Get the bumpers repainted and have it professionally detailed inside and out, it'll look good as new! Maybe even replace the nav and head unit with a better aftermarket unit t give you some new toys to enjoy if you're bored!

 

Don't let impulsiveness get the best of you. Unless you get a miraculous deal on your trade in, just save the time, money, and effort on making your current prius more lovable.

 

you can probably get good trade in $ on your 2010. if you have the money to spend and this is what you want to do, just go ahead and do it. if you shouldn't buy new cars when you want, then we would all be driving old 4 cylinder cars we have had for 20+ years

having a place pull your bumper, fix it and repaint it is not a ton of money. don't let a parking lot repair guy do it, the paint will not last. let a body shop do it

 

1 visit to the stealership should cure your want for a tradeup. They will see a sucker and take full advantage.

If you need to have the latest and greatest and without too much money out of your pocket, consider this route:
Trade in your car for a leased prius. Toyota has a strange 39 month leasing term. This is what I did. I traded in a 2009 Accord for a 2012 Prius. It was also a dumb move money-wise for me, but I didn't lay the 7 grand in equity I had in the Accord on the lease. I pocketed the 7 grand difference and my car payment went from 250 a month to 350 a month.
I will keep or hand in the Prius at the end of the lease.
I drive few miles though, so this is a viable option for me. Many people might not be in the same position.

 

I would get the 2012 if I were getting the Plus package, and the HUD. I guess I will wait for the Avalon to become a hybrid. </shaking fist at Toyota for not announcing it with the redesign>

 

OP, this is about the only thing that makes sense in your situation. Trade up for a Prius that has more features than your current one, like leather, sunroof, nav, etc. But the money that you'll probably lose from trading and higher insurance/registration costs can be used to add these features with the exception of the sunroof.

 

There's actually not much price difference between refinishing the bumper and a whole new bumper (it was $100 in my case from being rear-ended twice). If you are so inclined, you can maybe get the refreshed 2012 front bumper cover retrofitted for a nominal cost over refinishing the existing bumper (unless there's some underlying cost-prohibitive structural change to make this retrofitting possible).

 

That's what I would also do. You'll already taken the depreciation haircut on your existing car, and it's not like the 2012 is a new gen.

 

You forgot to mention some vital information on your original post..OR i completely missed it.

1. Are you still paying for your 2010 Prius 3?
2. Why not go "all in" if you're trading.. Prius 4 or 5?
3. If you're spending money now to recondition those bumpers.. and then a few months down the road you finally decided to do a trade.. you will have wasted that money.

I think you should consider leasing as well.

 

In two or three years the gen 4 will be out, that's when we can contemplate if trading up is worth it. Till then, fixing minor damage and keeping the car in nice condition is good for the soul as well as improving future trade in value!

 

I thought about doing the same thing too since I like almost everything about the 2012 over the 2010 except the taillights.

In February I went over to CarMax out of curiosity and they offered me $16,000 for my II w/ 30,000 miles. I then searched for cars that they were selling similar to mines, they all ranged from $19,500-$20,500 so I think CarMax looks to "flip" $4K on each car they take in and decide to sell themselves.