Buying 2008 Prii for 6500 worthy ?

I had a similar situation to you about 5 years ago but I'm driving about 300 miles per week. My previous car which I still own is now designated as my fun weekend car(BMW M3) averages about 20 mpg. I say go for it if you don't mind doing DIY and you will enjoy the extra money in your pocket from gas savings and less maintenance. I bought my 06 prius with around 60k miles and now I'm closing into 150k and the car has already paid itself off in gas savings. Believe me if you own another car and deciding which car to drive you will choose to drive the prius most of the time.

 

It does sound like a used hybrid could be the right car for you, especially if you like to DIY when maintaining or fixing a vehicle.

Get the VIN and look up the vehicle at http://www.toyota.com/owners

6500 could be a bit high, check Kelly Blue Book and/or NADA online. Compare whats available on craigslist or in the local newspaper(s).

2008 Toyota Prius Liftback 5D Prices, Values & Prius Liftback 5D Price Specs | NADAguides

https://www.kbb.com/toyota/prius/2008/hatchback-4d/

She might lower the price if you showed her this 2008 with 82k miles for 5400 : 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS !! SUPER SILVER !!! - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

Have you already looked at or drove other used hybrids at this price point?

Would you be dependent on this vehicle for your daily transportation?

 

It's worth at the most 5k.

I bought an 09 2 years ago with 140k for 4900. Put 40k miles on it and sold it last year for 4500.

 

Last Fall, I bought a very similar car. I believe you're looking at a Base + Package 2 car, as mine is. Mine had 88k, four new tires, and a full dealer service history as well. I bought it at a Toyota dealership, for $7200 (+TTP).

From a private party, I'd say this car is priced at least $500 too high.

You also have to know going into this that sometime in the next 3-5 years you are very likely going to need a new HV battery, which will cost between $1600 (DIY) and $3000 (at an expensive dealer). That's what makes any 10-year-old Prius inexpensive compared to a similar Corolla.

I felt that even at $10k (purchase price plus cost of a new battery) the '08 Prius represented a good value. You may or may not feel that way.

 

Sounds like it could very well be, given the verifiable history.
Excellent questions above:
1. How much $$ for the car?
2. Would you be able to absorb a 4-figure repair bill?
3. Are you knowledgeable enough about cars to perform or supervise the basic maintenance on this car? Repairs?
This is critical, since not all 4-figure repair bills are necessary.....

A 10-year-old G2 with a known pedigree represents a great value....IF....you can manage this car for another 100,000 miles or 5-6 years according to your parameters. The car itself is phenomenally reliable......FOR A TEN YEAR OLD CAR.
Where I try to dissuade people from buying a car like this is when they are in the market for a $5,000 Prius and they overspend on the car and do not have enough money left over for the normal maintenance items that are a part of driving a downmarket car.
If I needed to take up a commuting hobby, a used G2 with around 100,000 miles on the odometer would be on my short list of cars to consider..........HOWEVER (comma!!) I can DIY all of the maintenance....we have 3 paid-for cars, and I can write a check for the car and a new traction battery.

This places the "10-year-old G2" in a completely different risk category for me, than it might be for others.

Good Luck!!!

 

Bought my Prius from a Toyota dealer. Within a week check engine light came on and within 3 months the hybrid battery failed.

Without at least a 30 day warranty, not much value in paying a premium at the dealer.

 

sounds like a good car, 2008 was a solid year.

 

You're right, of course. There are no guarantees on any 9-year-old car. However, most Toyota dealers do not put a 9-year-old car on their used-car lot without looking very deeply at it. Also, the car I bought was priced at $9600. Due to the fact that I will haggle a dealer to death, I paid $7200. Was that still too high a price? I felt it was fair, and in the end, that's all that matters.