Thanks that is helpful... but I need a car this week... latest friday would be ideal... the 2004 black prius for $5600 with 177k miles sounds risky to some... the 2007 grey prius with 163k for $6500 might be a better bargain.. but who knows.. they were asking more for that one originally and the lady said $6500 was the absolute lowest she would take.
Long thread... Lots of replies. I haven't read them all. But in general, it looks like you are considering older, high mileage Prius at a price point below $7000? I think in that market, you can mitigate risk, but there is no way to eliminate it. $500 dollars more? $500 dollars less? $1000 dollars more? $1000 dollars less? 10, 20 thousand miles more or less on the odometer? Very hard to determine in comparison which vehicle might be best. I HATE to say it? But if you're not just mindlessly devoted to owning a Prius, you might be better off in the price range in which you are seeking a vehicle in postponing your hybrid experience.
If you want something that *looks* like a Prius you might consider a second generation Honda Insight. Nope, too expensive
Thank you. Yes I am looking for a car that will last 5 years and for under $7,000 and that may need in the range of $2500 to $3000 in maintenance.. I'd be ok with spending $3500 on maintenance for the 2004 prius with 177k miles but im not sure that is even close to reasonable. I thought with the gas savings I could make a prius worth while. I would put 10k miles per year but I may even consider the once a month trip to a farther location in southern ca just to make myself go on trips.
So just to be clear $5600 for a 2004 prius with 177k isn't really a good idea right? i can tolerate $3500 repairs over 5 years... otherwise ill keep taking the bus and thinking
I hesitate to give advice in the situation you are in, because in my life, I've purchased used cars in the price range/age you are looking. And there is always risk. You could buy a Prius...and have it need a LOT of maintenance...you could purchase something else? And also have it need a lot of maintenance. I know that doesn't help you. I guess my feeling is, that if you aren't much of a maintenance DIY'er? And budget is an issue? Well I own a Prius so obviously I like them. But..I think there is more risk in potential maintenance cost in a older Prius than perhaps a standard ICE vehicle that might be newer, with less miles---even though that is no guarantee. I would think, if the vehicle is in decent/good/great shape to start? That $3500 dollars in available maintenance budget would be a reasonable safety net. But hybrid repairs can add up quickly. A HV battery could take a large sharks bite out of that quickly. My instinct says...go with as nice a ICE vehicle as you can afford. My Prius brethren can now crucify me.
Thank you I am pretty hand overall... It's tough... I've looked on craigs for other cars.. it's a risk but not sure what i should do. I dont like most newer cars and the dark prius' with tinted windows look ok to me. im almost wanting to take the risk on the 2004 prius for $5600. i would spend more on gas for a different car that i liked more aesthetically.
I'm basically just at a crossroads in my life and i could even get a newer prius in a couple years when i figure things out. I'm thinking I should just take a risk and get the 2004 prius with 177k for $5600 or the 2007 with 163k for $6500. i dont know what is a better bang for the buck. i was already factoring in a battery for $1500 witin the next couple years.
yes.. for under 7k.. the only thing i like without crazy mpg is a black prius... i guess i have issues. i could buy a mid 60's c-10 hot rod truck but mpg would be awful
Here's another thought.. because im so desperate.. maybe i can get the 2004 with 177k for $5600 and sell it in a year for $5000.... and then get a newer one with more time.. i just need something now ... i guess it doesnt need to last 5 years.... Or I can get the 2007 for $6500 and sell it for $5800 in a year from now. Is this even too risky to try? I will have more savings next year, also im selling my house so i will have more cash to play with next year.
I wonder if I bought it for $5600 and sold it in a year for $5000 if its a worthy risk.... i just need something real soon. i could play with more cash next year. i could tolerate 1-2k of repair if something goes wrong horribly with this risk
Buy the cleanest of the two! Check them out as you did the black one. The women is probably honest?. A 2004 is new as far as gen 2 goes. 2007 will be more refined. H
Thanks, assuming they both looked ok... should i go with the 2007 for $6500 to be safer and hopefully take less risk in 1 year time and sell if for $6k in one year from now?
I would go with the '07. I loved mine. And they are correct, it was the 4th year of the GenII. They had three years to improve things here and there.
if you can test drive both, and they both feel good, i wouldn't hesitate to go with either one. newer if you like newer, older if you want to save some cash. one thing i would do, if i could, is reset the average mpg and take them on similar drives to make sure they are getting around 50mpg. that's really about all you can do in a hurry to test operational satisfaction.
