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What’s the value of this?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Tenknots, Sep 2, 2022.

  1. Tenknots

    Tenknots New Member

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    My son inherited his grandfather's 2004 Prius a couple of years ago. It’s in terrific shape and mostly garage kept and was previously driven by a little old man to get around town. Literally. He’s got the original documents, bill of sale, etc when it was new. It has 70,000 miles on it and a new catalytic converter. He’s moved to New York and found he doesn’t need a car and feels he should sell it.

    Any ideas on what this car is worth?

    Thanks in advance!
     
    bisco likes this.
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    A new catalytic converter meaning the new $1,900 or so part with about 300 or so to put it in by most places seriously That's the first question that's going to come up or is this an aftermarket catalytic converter that's about under $200 on eBay That's one thing that Prius people are going to want to know The 70,000 mi and in perfect condition or terrific shape and if it's not the ugly gold with the horrific tan velor interior or whatever that is You're way ahead of the game so like if it's a black car with gray interior a blue car with the same gray interior that's a winner The gold car with the tan it's the most popular most sold one probably and they're all trashed inside the armrest turn black and on and on and on so anybody buying that if they want to fix that they got to deal with an upholstery shop and it will cost some money today. So if you're the dark gray you're a miles ahead of the game if it's got the pull out shade for the trunk and all of that is intact and not sun damaged and ate up way ahead of the game realizing that the battery is near 20 years old or whatever it is I don't do the math and it's very close to possibly getting time just by the age alone the 70,000 mi is kind of a red flag to a Prius because that means it's not been driven at all in these 19 17 whatever years it is and that's generally not good. It's the kind of opposite of a normal car if I see a Prius a 2008 and it's got much under 180,000 mi on it I start looking for why because it's been a lot of time broke down the people bought it didn't drive it and now I need to be looking for things to start to be failed etc in the southeast United States if your car looks the part it could go in the marketplace here for $9,500 if it is pristine and white with leather tan interior or something along those lines and in good shape I've seen one recently for 12 was very similar mileage that's 12,000 I don't expect anybody's getting this but that's what they're asking. People have gotten a lot smarter about these cars and they realize all the problems so low mileage in 2004 to 6 or even seven is kind of pushing it to two lower mileage makes you start wondering
     
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I would think this is possible in New York City but not an upstate so he must be in the city with public transportation abundant I would never sell that car and that kind of shape but then my days in New York City are long over and wouldn't be back there again
     
  4. Tenknots

    Tenknots New Member

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    Thanks for the detailed reply.
    This was literally a grandpa car and he drove it to the post office and grocery store and a few trips between Palm Springs and Philly. He bought it new and when he passed his grandson got it and used it when he went to college in Virginia for a couple of years. He’s in Brooklyn now and realizes he doesn’t need a car. He thought about storing it because he loves it so much but I advised against it knowing a car not driven for a year or two is going to deteriorate and rodents may feast on it.

    The car was mostly used in Palm Springs and kept in a garage. Grandpa was a stickler for maintenance and there’s a stack of records. I don’t recall the color but I know it’s not trashed. I rode in the back seat a couple of months ago and I might have been the first person back there.

    The cat was replaced a few months ago when it was stolen. Insurance bought and installed a new OEM one. It was well over $3,000.
     
  5. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    If you'd actually like to have an answer to your question......

    If the car doesn't have rust problems, has a great condition body and interior, and has the Toyota OEM or OEM replacement catalytic converter (because that will be required in NY), he could probably get 10k or better for it.
     
  6. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    And as a person who buys a lot of cars or a lot of cars happen to fall in my possession for whatever reason. I would say get on that now because the bottom is fixing to fall out of this pretty quick people are getting wise to this and whatever is going on and cars are coming down the pipeline and yeah the four people keep spending 10 grand on 2007 cars they'll do what they have to do to get newer and prices of fixing you know do other things if I had a car like that and that was my target to do with the car I would be getting on that because there's certainly not going to be going up.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes, a low mile 2004 in good running condition is worth a healthy amount. at most, it might need a hybrid battery someday. i would be very interested if i were in the market because your car has a couple hundred thousand mostly trouble free miles left in it
     
  8. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    I saw a mint condition 2005 Prius with only 27K miles out here on west coast sell for $17K. Prices out here are crazy if you want a way to pay for a vacation driving it out here and flying home.
     
  9. Tenknots

    Tenknots New Member

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    As a follow up, the car sold for $7500, which seems fair.
     
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    man, there's a guy here from dc that would have loved to have bought it. congrats!
     
  11. Another

    Another Senior Member

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    Good move selling it. A Prius that is being underutilized is not a good thing to own, it just dies a slow death.