Ok, I'm trying to narrow down these. I really like the idea of dynamic cruise control but not the reduced comfort of 17" wheels. Need at least 3-door SKS. Sigh. Always tradeoffs. 2012 Prius Three Liftback - Certified with 45,000 miles - $17,000 (one hour away) 2012 Prius Three Liftback - 39,000 miles - $18, 000 (15 minutes away) 2012 Prius Five Liftback with ATP - 41,000 miles - $20,000 (one hour away) 2012 Prius v Five with ATP - 35,000 - $20, 500 (two hours away)
i think you really need to decide between the lift back and wagon first. do you really need the extra space?
Apart from overall interior space you'll also gain rear seat headroom in the v over the hatchback. That being said, the v does pay a price in fuel economy. We've not regretted opting for the hatch (bought in Spring '12 when the v was available).
My advice is to buy a new one. Your region has 0% for 60 months and $500 off for both the hatchback and v. For me, interest free financing, guaranteed no accident history, 2 years of free maintenance, additional 40,000 miles of usage is worth the additional cost. <EDIT> Forgot to mention that a used one with 40,000+ miles is probably close to the end of its original tire life. Unless the tires have already been changed, you're looking at an additional $500 for 15" and $800 for 17" on a used car.
A new Prius Three is at least $24,000. That's $7,000 more than my cheapest option. I really can't afford more than $21,000.
Going price is $23,200 or less for a Prius 3 in your region, assuming 0% financing for 60 months and includes the $500 rebate. In your situation, I'd choose a Prius 2 for $22,200. The nav unit for a Prius 3 is lame and not even close to being worth $1,000, and the extra smart key on the passenger door/trunk is nice but not critical.
