Help w purchase: 2007 Touring $14,000 vs 2008 Touring $13,000?

Either car seems OK. When you actually test drive the two vehicles, you may discover something about them that will swing your decision one way or the other, with regards to vehicle handling, power train response, noise level produced, etc.

 

Both those cars sound phenomenal. The diff between them will be very subtle. I would just go drive both of them and see which one I like better. Other than that, they both appear to be top shelf cars and the price reflects that.

 

Hi Donner, welcome to PC.
Apart from the results of the test drive another thing to consider is the remaining guarantee if any on the two cars, and the millage you do in a year. Since you do not give a clue to your location it is difficult to know the guarantee terms.
If you live in a CARB state the hybrid guarantee is for 10 years/150,000 miles. This means the 2007 will have
3 years/103,000 miles guarantee left.
The 2008 will have 4 years 79,000 miles left.
If you travel less than 20,000 miles a year the 2008 will be under guarantee for longer. If you do more miles than this the 2007 would have the better guarantee.

John (Britprius)

 

Neither, both are too much for a 6/7 year old Prius, IMO. Unless you must have top of the line, I think a 2010 Prius 2 for $14k and 70k+ miles is a better deal.


iPhone ?

 

Well that made the decision easier. You're down to 1

 

FWIW - I bought my 2009 Gen II Prius Touring package (83k miles) (listed at around $13k) at the end of January (replacement for my 1993 Corolla DX Wagon (292k miles) - failed state inspection (rotten sills)); yet despite having no inspection sticker, the dealer gave me $1k trade-in, and 83k is still pretty young for a Toyota, and I've done almost 2k miles since I got my Prius, and around here (NE corner, USA) in the Winter, I'm getting ~48mpg!! Eat yer heart out GM/Dodge/et al. I love "Chuggypig" (see threads passim) - (to OP: ) sounds like either would be good deal! Welcome to PC, and Good luck with whatever you you decide!

 

Two things come to mind:
1. Most "Touring" used cars are misrepresented (just a way for the dealer to mark up the price). Check the tires they are 16 inches on the Touring and the wheels have 7 spokes vs 6 for the standard Prius.
2. The Prius is not a good match for you if you only drive 5k miles a year. You will probably have 12v battery problems within 6 months and you will not save enough on gas to pay the Prius premium. I suggest a Corolla instead.

 

Good point, and I'm glad to report that my salesman pointed out (1) also mine has the stiffer suspension, and HID headlights, and without knowing the OP's yearly mileage, I can't really comment on (2), although I had my 1993 Corolla for 21 years, putting 292k miles on it in that time. BTW I bought the extended 60k miles/5 year bumper-bumper warranty - Wil

 

Get 2007 no difference in 2008. Lower miles and touring. I just got - 2008 loaded. 30k miles $15k out the door that is


iPhone ?

 

I hear this a lot (#2.) but, I don't drive much more than that (about 7k). The Prius will keep the 12V battery charged if you drive it regularly. It def would be smart to get a charger/maintainer and put it on overnight every month or so to keep your 12V battery healthy. I think there are good points to what you said but, I also think since he's buying used, there really isn't a hybrid premium. A used Corolla with comparable mileage could easily net about the same price. The Prius (in my view) is a better, more practical car for animal transport and is very utilitarian. I'm very biased to the Prius as you likely know. I think all should have one.

Great point about the "Touring" models

 

Well, to my recollection, a Touring can have cloth seats but, the wheels and larger spoiler are the dead giveaways.

 

The Milwaukee Craig's List shows several Prius for sale.

Here is one in particular, 2008, 39K miles, $14K, leather, nav. It has the Touring wheels but I'm not sure that it is a Touring model since the rear spoiler looks kind of short. Hard to tell with the photos. It also has fake wood trim in the interior, you'll have to see whether that helps or hurts the overall appearance.
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID, NAVIGATION, LEATHER, ****39K MILES****

 

On the West Coast the Gen II Touring could be bought only with leather and every option Toyota made. Other regions may have had different option packages. When I bought our 2008 it was 7 or 8 thousand dollars more for the Touring so I opted for lesser trim level.