Just for kicks I've been watching the used Prius prices at sites like cars.com. This week I noticed that Freedom Toyota in Hamburg, PA has 7 2008 Priuses for sale, with between 5 and 17,750 miles on them, for the low, low price of $31,995. The only feature listed is a CD player - is this a Package 2? Base model? They're all promoted as "Toyota Certified Used Vehicles" - even the one with 5 miles and the two with 6 miles. I guess that's one way around being accused of price gouging for a new Prius...
It's not just the used car sites; even the Toyota DEALERS are asking high prices for used. They say it is because you can have the car NOW, no waiting! One dealer near me had a 2007 blue package 3 with 18,000 miles on it for less than 24 hours; sold it for $28,000. The person COULD have ordered a brand new one, blue, package 3, for $25,000 and waited a few weeks. He must have a money machine in his basement, is all I can say!
Yeah, I've been seeing used prices above new MSRP for a couple of weeks, but this is the first time I've seen essentially new cars (under 10 miles on the ODO) being sold as used at premium prices.
About a month ago I had a total stranger approach me in the parking lot at Lowe's and asked what year and how many miles I had on my Prius. I told him ('08, about 6000), so he asked if I still had the original window sticker, I said that I did, and he then offered to buy it from me with no further ado for $1000 over whatever that sticker showed. I was momentarily stunned, but recovered my wits in about 10 seconds and declined, realizing that there would be no way to replace it anytime soon for anything approaching an affordable (for me) price. This market is some crazy stuff.
Should have sold it and ordered a new one and got on the waiting list - even at 4 bucks a gallon, you'd have had to burn 250 gallons of fuel before making a loss! i.e. even if you drove an old piece of junk that does 30mpg, you'd need to cover 7500 miles before you were losing out!(and you;d have a brand new Prius!)
I was merely observing that this dealer appears to find it easier to charge these prices if he claims the car is used.
Interstesting way to sell a new Prius for more money. My local dealer has a 2005 Prius with 33K miles for $26,455. Can't tell from the website what package, but why would anyone pay the same amount for a used car as they would for a new package 2 or 3? That's why I never wait until I absolutely need a new car...don't want to be in that position when working with a dealer.
In April, our dealer had two new '08 Package 2s for $23,765 each. They also had a used '08 Package 2 with 8,000+ miles on it for $23,500. For the $300 difference, I'm enjoying the new car smell.
I love my new 08 Prius, but I have to say that if someone came up to me and offered me $30000 for my #5 I would have trouble turning them down. Prices have really gone wacko. G
Yeah, I can buy a lot of gas before I pay these kinds of prices to get a Prius. I will wait it out. I remember these kinds of dealers when I do get ready to buy.
I gave up looking for a new base model in May after being lied to and jerked around by several Toyota dealers. Went to Enterprise and bought a 2007 for $23,000. Had 21,000 mi on it and like new in and out. They deal with a "no haggle" price and their cars have a AAA 100 pt. inspection. 7-day return policy so you can have your own mechanic check it out. free car-fax report. If you're desperate, give them a look. They cherry-pick only the top 5% of their rentals for re-sale and the other 95% go to dealers to sell as used cars. A lot of used cars on dealer lots are previous rentals. found two minor things that needed service and they reimbursed me for it. Love the car and felt they dealt very fair and square.
I've been approached about selling my new '08 as well. I had no problem turning down an offer for more than I paid out-the-door because I'm on the Hymotion list for a PHEV conversion in a few months. Prices nowadays are so insane that it almost makes up for the additional expense of the Hymotion mod. I like the idea of having a real PHEV for about the same cost or even less than what some people are presently paying for a stock Prius. Used going for more than new - this current market is crazy (I know it is a time-based premium, but I still think its crazy!) BTW - an as interesting aside, the guy who made me the offer was driving a new(er) Cadillac Escalade and also offered to trade...
I have a 2005 #1 with 30,000 miles and HOV stickers. I would have said $5,000 over sticker and you have a deal. Then got myself a new #6, even if I had to order it. I could manage until one came in.
