Would you buy a 218K mile 2005 w/ new battery?

If there's nothing wrong now, it's worth $2800. Drive it until it breaks and sell it for $2500

 

For $2800 I would. That's if it didn't need a boat load of repairs. I'd definitely take a look at it. Especially if it's not to far away

 

Depends on the service history. Also depends how clean it is. If the interior is clean, it usually means it's been taken care of well in and out. Look for details, negotiate.

 

Lot's of namby pamby comments here on mileage. I own a small used car dealership and see high mileage prius at auction all the time. Dealers would pay 3-4k for the car if it was in decent shape, and I assume they plan on making some money on it. Because I like these cars, I try and check every one out. Several check engine lights, but almost all drive like mine.

I bought my 2005 off an individual for $4500 with 165k. Ever major component is original as far as I know and shows no signs of slowing down.

People buy these to drive, the vast majority could care less to post on forums about them.

Here's a list of completed auction listings of 2005 cars sold in the last month. Vague condition reported as well (below average, average, above average)

09/04/14TAMPARegular$2,700196,437AvgGREY4HAYes
09/04/14SO CALRegular$4,800194,776AvgWHITE4HAYes
09/04/14PALM BCHRegular$3,200219,475AvgWHITE4HAYes
09/04/14FRDKBURGRegular$3,200253,677AvgGREEN4HAYes
09/04/14DARLNTONRegular$6,10078,651AboveSILVER4HYes
09/04/14CHICAGORegular$4,800100,988AvgRED4HYes
09/04/14ALBANYRegular$2,800121,052AvgTAN4HANo
09/05/14NEVADARegular$5,700119,840AboveBLUE4HAYes
09/09/14PENSCOLARegular$4,100128,840AvgWHITE4HAYes
09/09/14ORLANDOLease$6,90073,779AboveWHITE4HAYes
09/09/14NYMETSKYRegular$5,100106,015AvgWHITE4HAYes
09/09/14NEWENGLDRegular$900299,999BelowGRAY4HAYes
09/09/14ATLANTARegular$2,900191,639AvgSILVER4HAYes
09/10/14SF BAYRegular$3,550278,723AvgGRAY4HAYes
09/10/14NYRegular$3,300135,417AvgWHITE4HAYes
09/10/14NJRegular$4,200155,147AvgGREY4HAYes
09/10/14LAKELANDRegular$4,900120,180AvgWHITE4HAYes
09/10/14HRSNBURGRegular$2,300200,294BelowSILVER4HAYes
09/10/14FT MYERSRegular$5,60076,660AboveGRAY4HAYes
09/10/14DENVERRegular$3,900192,960AvgBLACK4HAYes
09/10/14DARLNTONRegular$3,500221,133AvgWHI4HAYes
09/11/14SO CALRegular$5,500158,238AboveWHITE4HAYes
09/11/14NORTHSTRRegular$4,300135,860AvgBLACK4HAYes
09/11/14FRDKBURGRegular$2,200174,734BelowBLACK4HYes
09/11/14CHICAGORegular$3,900185,684AvgBLACK4HAYes
09/11/14CHICAGORegular$3,500181,435AvgBLACK4HAYes
09/11/14CHICAGORegular$1,500299,999BelowGREY4HAYes
09/12/14PARegular$7,20062,470AboveBLUE4HYes
09/12/14PARegular$4,100138,625AvgTAN4HAYes
09/12/14PARegular$3,400195,105AvgRED4HAYes
09/15/14NCRegular$4,800162,949AvgBEI4HAYes
09/16/14ST LOUISRegular$5,500146,317AboveGOLD4HAYes
09/16/14ST LOUISRegular$5,300144,003AboveSILVER4HAYes
09/17/14TUCSONRegular$6,000114,726AboveBLUE4HAYes
09/17/14KCRegular$3,350153,263AvgBLACK4HAYes
09/17/14HAWAIIRegular$2,300177,641BelowGRAY4HAYes
09/17/14CEN FLARegular$3,100189,608AvgMAROON4HAYes
09/17/14CEN FLARegular$2,100238,121BelowRED4HAYes
09/17/14CALIFORNRegular$5,90095,540AboveBLACK4HAYes
09/17/14CALIFORNLease$4,700175,078AvgGOLD4HAYes
09/18/14ST PETERegular$5,000136,609AvgBLUE4HAYes
09/18/14ST PETERegular$4,300128,236AvgBLACK4HAYes
09/18/14SO CALRegular$4,600299,999AvgWHITE4HANo
09/18/14PHOENIXRegular$5,400142,520AboveSILVER4HAYes
09/18/14PALM BCHRegular$5,100127,258AvgGREEN4HAYes
09/18/14PALM BCHRegular$3,700176,262AvgBLUE4HAYes
09/18/14CHICAGORegular$3,500161,329AvgWHITE4HAYes
09/18/14ATLANTARegular$4,400152,103AvgSILVER4HAYes
09/22/14FRDKBURGRegular$4,800109,883AvgSILVER4HYes
09/23/14TUCSONRegular$5,600106,116AboveBLUE4HAYes
09/23/14STATESVLRegular$5,600158,272AboveWHITE4HAYes
09/23/14NYMETSKYRegular$3,900112,995AvgSLV4HAYes
09/23/14NEWENGLDRegular$4,500124,601AvgTAN4HAYes
09/24/14SF BAYRegular$3,000224,433AvgBURG4HAYes
09/24/14SAN DIEGRegular$7,00072,049AboveMARROON4HAYes
09/24/14NEW MEXRegular$5,400110,261AboveGREEN4HAYes
09/24/14NEW MEXRegular$2,600141,044AvgGRAY4HAYes
09/24/14MILWAUKERegular$2,300230,446BelowBLACK4HAYes
09/24/14LAKELANDRegular$4,500108,376AvgBLACK4HAYes
09/24/14HAWAIIRegular$1,100190,090BelowGRAY4HANo
09/25/14SO CALRegular$4,600235,694AvgWHITE4HAYes
09/25/14SO CALRegular$4,500145,809AvgSILVER4HAYes
09/25/14FRDKBURGRegular$3,500153,498AvgGRAY4HAYes
09/25/14EL PASORegular$2,300164,865BelowBLUE4HAYes
09/25/14CHICAGORegular$4,45099,460AvgRED4HAYes
09/25/14CENT CALRegular$4,700165,093AvgWHITE4HAYes
09/26/14PARegular$8,60051,211AboveWHITE4HANo
09/26/14DFWRegular$5,000133,842AvgGOLD4HAYes
09/29/14PALM BCHRegular$5,00093,194AvgRED4HAYes
09/30/14NYMETSKYRegular$3,950148,899AvgSILVER4HAYes
09/30/14NYMETSKYRegular$2,650176,770AvgSLV4HAYes
09/30/14NASHVILLRegular$4,100160,524AvgGOLD4HAYes
09/30/14BALTWASHRegular$3,000190,177AvgBLACK4HAYes
09/30/14BALTWASHRegular$2,100193,279BelowLT/GRAY4HAYes
10/01/14NJRegular$5,40083,722AboveSLI4HAYes
10/01/14NJRegular$3,700148,511AvgBLACK4HAYes
10/01/14MINNEAPRegular$3,700223,570AvgGREY4HAYes
10/02/14SO CALRegular$4,500183,231AvgBLUE4HAYes
10/02/14PALM BCHRegular$3,400181,236AvgBLACK4HAYes
10/02/14PALM BCHRegular$2,900165,526AvgBLUE4HAYes
10/02/14NYMETSKYRegular$2,50095,147BelowBLUE4HANo
10/02/14FRDKBURGRegular$5,600105,134AboveBLUE4HAYes
10/02/14FRDKBURGRegular$2,700229,516AvgSILVER4HYes
10/02/14ALBANYRegular$2,950165,966AvgSILVER4HAYes
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I imported that data into a spreadsheet. I then grouped by condition and sorted within that by ascending odo. Makes the data a bit easier to look at.

 

Auction data reinforces what KBB and all of us believe: asking price (218K miles for $5500) is too high.
Two auction cars sold w/ similar mileage and classified as Average condition, sold for $3,200 (219K miles) and $3,500 (221K miles).

At 218K miles
KBB Dealer Trade-In: $3469 (very good condition), $2917 (good), $2364 (fair)
KBB Private Party: $4649 (very good condition), $4452 (good), $3794 (fair)

 

I would not buy any car with 200,000 miles and expect much at all from it. though, there are several stories on this chat that have 300 even 500k miles. look up 2fas4u. he had a gen 2 prius with 500,000 miles. now he has a prius v with well over 300k. pretty incredible cars.

 

I bought my 2005 Prius back in 2009 for $6000 and 206,000 miles. I am still driving it. I have had to replace 2 electric water pumps, 1 gas engine water pump, and 1 module in the HV battery. Also cleaned out my Fuel Injectors. It runs strong and is still getting 44 mpg. It now has 294,000 miles. If history and maintenance is known, I would not hesitate to buy it, but the price is a bit high. I would be patient and get one in the ~ $3000 range especially at that mileage.

 

all the best!

 

i feel the best place to find any used car is at the dealer who sells them new. people who go to the dealer for service tend to trade them in for new ones. people who occasionally pour in a couple quarts of oil sell them used on craigslist. people who loved the car trade it in for a newer version of same car. people who got a bad one trade it in at a different dealer for a different make. i did pretty good got a 04 with 130k new york city miles for 3k. also came with new york city body dings. runs like new though...

 

If you don't mind high mileage cars, this sounds like a pretty decent price. If there are good maintenance records, then it'll be better. But prepare for the battery to go out soon.

 

firm 4k? a bit high for that many miles. IF it had a brand new HV battery, then maybe. trade-0in values it around $2700. I'd give the seller time to think about it and max offer $3500. usually carmax and those dealers will give BELOW trade-in value esp. on high mileage. I'd readily given kbb "good" trade-in value for a well-maintained one with a new HV battery.

 

I actually don't think you'll easily find a $4000 180k mile Prius in CA. People want more here

 

Of course if you can get the one with fewer miles, it'll be better. There have been slight improvements on the 2006-2009 models.

You should really base it down to service records and how the car is maintained.

 

I agree with JC. Run a carfax to see the service record of both. I wouldn't mind a 180K 04 Prius so long as the maintenance record is up to date. Also pay attention to when major stuff got fixed/replaced like the plugs, transmission oil, inverter coolant, water pump, belt etc.