Prius: Basically, it's free

according to blue book, my car is worth about $1200 more than what i paid for it. (it's got 14.5k on the odo and is 14 months old.)

of course that's what i paid in taxes, registration and license fees....

 

heh, I remember walking into a dealership back in Dec. when I was in my "I want a truck again" phase, and got up and walked out when they told me they'd give me 14K for my trade... :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ May 19 2006, 03:55 PM) [snapback]258212[/snapback]</div>

Gas prices have went up quite a bit since last December. Chances are, they'd give you more than $14k for it now if you gave it another shot. Take a copy of the article with you, though.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mstar @ May 19 2006, 10:39 AM) [snapback]258137[/snapback]</div>

Yes.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mstar @ May 19 2006, 10:39 AM) [snapback]258137[/snapback]</div>

Could be because it was a package A. When I was last by the dealer for an oil change, they said they had the Yaris selling as fast as they could get them, but ONLY the top of the line, fully loaded package. They had lots of lesser packages available.

So while most knowledgable consumers may want good fuel efficiency in a new car, they don't want to sacrifice their luxury features...

Dave

 

I did esp. now that I have the carpool lane stickers. But after looking into it, it wouldn't be worth it. The problem is I didn't see that I could sell it for the price I paid including sales tax so I'd still lose $.

 

Coincidentally, this this article just showed up on CNN.com:


Mad market for used fuel-sippers
High gas prices are driving prices of pre-owned hybrids and compact cars.

May 18, 2006; Posted: 4:50 p.m. EDT (2050 GMT)

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - In an atmosphere of high fuel prices, the market for used cars with high fuel mileage has gotten red hot.

Gas prices can cause greater fluctuations in used-car prices than in new cars for two reasons: used-car prices are more flexible than new-car prices and used-car shoppers generally have lower incomes than new-car shoppers.

In one extreme example, used Toyota Priuses are in such demand that they lose almost no value in the first year or two of ownership even after being driven tens of thousands of miles.

For example, a 2005 Toyota Prius that, when new, had a sticker price of $21,515 could now sell for $25,970, even with 20,000 miles on the odometer, according to data from Kelley Blue Book. Since Toyota dealers usually charge a few thousand dollars over sticker for new Priuses, the buyer in this example probably wouldn't have made a profit, but nearly so.

Honda Civic Hybrids are also sporting near-immovable resale values.

The Prius is an exceptional case, though, warned Forrest Sherman, a pricing analyst with Kelley Blue Book.

Those paying top dollar for a used Prius now may see prices drop later.

"It will happen," said Sherman. "There are only so many people that will find (a used Prius) that attractive and will pay that much for it"

It isn't all just Beanie Baby-style insanity, though. There are some sound fundamental reasons for the high prices being paid for hybrid cars like the Prius and Civic Hybrid in the used-car market.

First, prices for all kinds of used vehicles are relatively high now because the supply of used cars is low. A few years ago, leasing wasn't very popular. Today, that means fewer cars being traded in at the end of lease contracts, a major source of well-maintained used cars.

Second, prices for used compact cars, including non-hybrids, are up because of high gas prices. It isn't just that people are buying them to save fuel, but that more buyers are considering these cars and discovering how good they've actually become, said Raj Sundaram, president of Automotive Lease Guide, a company that tracks used car values for the leasing industry.

"Resale values on mid-compact cars are jumping quite a bit," said Sundaram.

Mid-compacts include the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus. Prices for used compact cars, a category that includes mid-compacts, have climbed about 20 percent in the past year, according to data from Edmunds.com.

A 2005 Honda Civic EX with 20,000 miles on it is worth $55 more than its original $18,280 price, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Extra value for Prius

In the case of the Prius, the car is nearly impossible to find on dealer's new car lots. Customers generally have to wait months to get one. And in some ways, a used Prius offers a better value, said James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice and a Prius owner.

Shoppers trolling lists of used Priuses on Web sites like ebayMotors.com, for example, are looking at actual cars that are available immediately. They have choices of colors and option packages whereas, if they were shopping for a new car, they might have to take whatever is available or wait until they can get what they want.

So, a few thousand miles on the odometer may be a small price to pay, said Bell.

Bell has already bought a second Prius and intends to list his two-year-old one for sale at $25,000, just a few thousand less than he paid for it. He could ask for more.

"I want a quick sale," he said.

While these prices are a boon for sellers, they could prove to be a bust for buyers. The factors that are currently holding up prices for used hybrid cars could change quickly, said Sundaram.

Toyota and other companies are increasing hybrid car production. That will drive down the price of new hybrids and used ones. Also, hybrid technology will likely improve in coming years, said Sundaram, making today's Prius seem like a Walkman compared to tomorrow's iPod.

 

Here in Kansas City, it seems we have it both ways. Dealers don't seem to charge above list for the car in the first place, but the used ones are going for near new retail prices (maybe $2K off list max for 2 years old).

I had an opportunity to buy an 04 loaded for $25K, but stuck it out and picked up my 06 option pkg 2 (23,000) yesterday. With the tax benefits and fuel savings, at least for the first year, it basically pays for itself.

 

Just traded my '04 package #7for an '06 package #4. Lost HID lights in the deal but gained backup camera and tire pressure sensors. Tax, license and all I paid $3500 difference now with $3150 rebate I have paid $350 for a 2.5 year younger car, new tires and other wear items and new warranty period. That does not include the $700+ that I received from the first tax deduction. New car free???
Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined a deal like this. I have owned 27 cars over my near 80 years. All at great losses just driving them off the dealer lots.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ May 19 2006, 03:55 PM) [snapback]258212[/snapback]</div>

They were probably drooling at the prospect of getting someone stupid enough to take $14000 so that the dealership could turn around and sell it for $25000. I'd love to go to a dealership like that and let them drool and wait 'til they brought up whether I was going to trade in my Prius or not and I'd just say "F**K NO! I'd never sell my Prius. What, are you stupid? And THEN walk out. :lol: