Limited budget... need opinions

Lower mileage is my pick

 

Less stuff built-in the car is less stuff to break that has to go to the dealer. Most of the ancillary stuff can be bought cheaper than the dealer sells and if it breaks, toss it and replace with a much better, more recent model.

In 2001, we turned down a 2001 Prius in part:

• I did not want the navigation unit
• No cruise control!
• Hideous, June-bug, green

Bob Wilson

 

I don't like built-in GPS. I get free map updates for my Garmin

 

Get the lower trim one. The nav is so laughably unusable unless you bypass it, and unless you can't turn your head, the backup camera doesn't offer much.

 

+ 1

 

You didn't mention how much you would be paying for these cars. I would go for the lower mileage and buy a Garmin or use your iPhone gps/maps. I have the nav and back up camera and they are not that great.

 

Backup camera not absolutely necessary but can be VERY helpful when parallel parking or backing up close to anything. Big thing is to not rely too much on a backup camera: Can lead to trouble.

 

lower mileage if the price and year are the same.

 

That's very true. I have it and I guess I'm just so used to driving without having one, I rarely even notice it.

 

Save even more $$$ and buy a clean higher mileage CPO 2010 model II and add an aftermarket nav head unit. CPO takes you to 100,000 miles drivetrain warranty, 12 month bumper-to-bumper, and the hybrid system and battery are covered for 8-10 years depending on where you live.

For under $400 the aftermarket head unit gives you bluetooth hands-free phone over the speaker system, backup camera on the 7" screen when you put it in reverse, dvd player, satellite radio, iPod connectivity, streaming bluetooth music, and more power for better sound than the stock head unit.

Thread on the aftermarket nav.

After market Navigation | PriusChat

 

You've already answered your own question.

Limited budget.
Get the base model.

Done.


Add-ons are nice if you like getting yesterday's technology at tomorrow's prices....but if you're on a limited budget? Limit your spending to the CAR.

Easiest question I'll answer today!

 

The low mileage one should still have the balance of factory warranty, if it's less than 36 months old, and if it still has some factory warranty, you should be able to buy an extended warranty from Toyota, good peace of mind for a used car.

 

Go cheep. If it is too damn fancy/expensive then you will feel bad driving it in the rain, getting bugs on it or stone chips

Mike

 

From a strategy standpoint, I'd start with the one with lower milage, then see if you can talk yourself out of it. But the part I don't think you can overcome is that assume you drive 15K miles per year. In 3 years, the lower milage car will about the same miles on it than the one with 70K miles. I consider that to be a lot of free miles. If you drive 30K miles per year, that difference might not be as important.

There was another thread on this same issue and a lot of people liked the car with more stuff including more miles. You might try to find that thread. I tried and failed. Sorry.

Mike

 

My mental accounting says that the 40,000 mile difference is worth at least $6000. The built-in GPS and backup camera do have some value, but nowhere near $6k.

 

Sounds like a fair price. You can always add options later if you like. Everything is bolt on and the parts are available. That 0% financing is a killer deal.

Mike

 

Out of curiosity, how did you measure the seam to the panel to figure out the frame was bent?

Also, it sounds like you are on a budget in general (not just for buying a car.) Just because you've sold your car for more than you first estimated and just because you have the 0% rate doesn't necessarily mean you should spend more on a new car. It might make sense for you to continue browsing used cars to try and save 5-7k, and you can pocket the additional money off your car sale for a rainy day, investment - retirement, or home improvement.