primitive seeks help buying a new used car; squibble-squabble ensues

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025805844

Oh my.

derby378 (29,719 posts)  Wed Nov 12, 2014, 10:59 AM

Toyota Prius owners - I need help!!!

I may have an opportunity to buy a 2008 Prius with around 90,000 miles on it. I have no experience with hybrid cars other than that older models deliver great gas mileage. What are your experiences with the Prius, and what are the hazards or caveats of buying a used hybrid, if any? Any help will be sincerely appreciated.

NYC_SKP (62,819 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:03 AM

1. Buying a used hybrid is not much different than a used gas engine Camry

I have about 180,000 on my 2007.

I've only ever needed to replace the HID headlamps and the small $40 battery that manages the electrical (it's in the cargo area, passenger side).

I would want to check the engine for oil use, take it to a mechanic, look at the oil and the inside of the tail pipe.

I've begun burning a lot of oil and need a new motor, so I would NOT want that problem in a used car.

Otherwise, follow all the same guidelines as you would in buying any other Toyota.

tularetom (19,415 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:06 AM

2. If the hybrid battery takes a dump, you're looking at a $6,000 repair

I think they come with a 8-year, 100,000 mile warranty, (whichever comes first), so you have basically 10,000 miles before you're on your own. I don't know the frequency of battery failures but maybe there's a site that keeps track of these things.

Not sure how you can check the health of the battery, but ask around.

derby378 (29,719 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:23 AM

5. Will it run on just gasoline if the hybrid battery dies?

I know that defeats the purpose of a hybrid, but as long as it doesn't strand me, it'll do for a while.

tularetom (19,415 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:39 AM

10. Here's what I know about it

My brother owned a 2005 Highlander hybrid. One day the "Check Hybrid System" light came on. He had no idea what that meant so he checked his owner's manual which advised him to park the car immediately and call his dealer's service department.

When he called they told him to have the car towed in, don't drive it, that it could cause the battery to overheat and fail.

As it turned out it was a failure of the hybrid battery water pump but it still cost him a thousand bucks.

That's not a direct answer to your question, but it sort of implies that it wouldn't be wise to try to drive it after a battery failure. Even if you could. Maybe it wouldn't even run.

Worth some investigation probably.

On edit: I just noticed that they're asking $9k for it. Seems to me it might be worth a shot at that price.

CreekDog (42,519 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 12:13 PM

18. nope, hybrid battery replacements are now in the hundreds of dollars

but don't let facts get in your way.

tularetom (19,415 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 12:29 PM

20. The "hundreds of dollars" huh? - like 23 hundreds

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1078138_toyota-hybrid-battery-replacement-cost-guide

Below is a list of MSRP battery cost details for the three generations of Prius model, as well as those for the Camry Hybrid sedan and Highlander Hybrid SUV.

2001-2003 Toyota Prius (1st generation) - $3,649 minus $1,350 "core credit"
2004-2008 Toyota Prius (2nd generation) - $3,649 minus $1,350 "core credit"
2009-present Toyota Prius (3rd generation) - $3,939 minus $1,350 "core credit"
Toyota Camry Hybrid - $3,541, core credit deducted
Toyota Highlander Hybrid - $4,848, core credit deducted

Still more money than I would want to spend on a car with 90,000 miles on it.

snooper2 (22,157 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 12:34 PM

23. you can get them cheap on the interwebs

Dorman® 587-001 - Remanufactured Hybrid Battery Pack
2009 Toyota Prius
$1500

http://www.carid.com/2009-toyota-prius-charging-starting/dorman-battery-16420044.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAp4yjBRCE_enjmpug944BEiQATCpLvWz51enBgSQEt5RVaOSQhwTNqZyQETQKLx_jALLP3FkaAqBa8P8HAQ

CreekDog (42,519 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 12:38 PM
question directed to the tularetom primitive

25. well which is it? the 6 grand you first stated or this amount now?

so you admit that you just made up the $6000 number.

tularetom (19,415 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 12:59 PM

30. No, Einstein, that's the price my brother got quoted for his '06 Highlander hybrid

Did you just pull that "hundreds of dollars" crap out of your ass?

B Calm (22,156 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 12:37 PM

24. Damn, now that is something to think about. What is the life expectancy of a hybrid battery?

tularetom (19,415 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 01:01 PM

31. The warranty is 8 years or 100,000 miles

Actual experience, couldn't tell ya.

Rainforestgoddess (252 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:07 AM

3. I have a 2009. Mostly no problem so far

The one little thing is that the tiny battery is easy to drain . They have the big hybrid battery, but also a small battery like a regular car. I had a flat once and pulled over with my hazards on. My battery was flat in a half hour and I had to get a boost.

The front bumper is low and won't go over a normal height curb, so be careful or you will hear a horrible scraping noise when you Park.

If you stop and park, but don't get out of the car, either turn off your headlights (rotate all the way towards yourself) or open the door and close it again, or your lights will stay on, draining said tiny battery. (which, incidentally, is 200 to replace)

earthside (5,247 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:20 AM

4. We own two.

We have a 2002 and a 2006.

Both now have over 80,000 miles.

We are not hard on cars.

Best automobiles we have ever owned.

And ... getting 40 to 50 miles per gallon is psychologically comforting.

(One does have to learn to drive them to consistently get the best mileage. They perform best in warmer weather, but here in Colorado today where the temperature is like one degree, they both are out and going strong.)

csziggy (16,895 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:28 AM

6. We bought a 2006 Prius II a little over a year ago

It had about 107,000 miles on it. We had to replace the starter battery (normal 12 volt) but otherwise the maintenance has been routine. We LOVE it! It's mostly mu husband's car to commute to work in. According to the onboard monitoring he gets about 48 miles to the gallon and he is not a careful driver trying to increase mileage - he just drives normally.

We did check out the CarFax report before buying the car - we're the fourth owners, first out of warranty owners. That's about all it told us other than that the car had gotten regular maintenance.

My one regret is that we couldn't afford a Prius IV. My sister has one and the cargo space is much larger. But we took the Prius from Tallahassee, FL to Louisville KY about a month after buying it and had enough room to carry our bulky luggage and all the things I needed for the seminar I was attending.

I've read that you can buy replacements for the main batteries much cheaper than from Toyota. I'm not sure what we'll do when we get to that point. It will depend on how old the car is and what we think it's worth.

FrodosPet (2,526 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:28 AM

7. Headlights and taillights

Find out if they have ever been replaced. In particular, there are issues with the socket in the tail lights.

And you probably want a new battery for the key fob.

Darb (193 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:33 AM

8. I sold my aunt's 2003 for her at 175K, original battery pack.

Researched it a bit and found that cab companies use them in SF and they frequently cruise 300K without a batt change. Sometimes the packs do quit though, but an '08 with 90k should be a darn good vehicle.

I'd say go for it if the price is right. What are they asking?

derby378 (29,719 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:37 AM

9. Around $9,000

Sound like it's reasonable?

Darb (193 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:49 AM

11. I can value it for you, what is the exact mileage, is it

the Touring Package, does it have navigation and does it have leather seats?

Darb (193 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:50 AM

12. And what state are you in?

Then I can tell you what it is worth

Darb (193 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:53 AM

13. Oh yeah, how is the condition?

Should be pretty clean I would guess but does it have any damage from running into things? dents, dings, how are the tires, all the power windows work, shifts good?

derby378 (29,719 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 11:57 AM

14. 90,500 miles, Texas, cloth seats, navigation, clean.

Darb (193 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 12:07 PM

16. I get the following,

a blackbook (dealers use this) retail values of X-clean 12,425, clean 11,750, average 10650, rough 8000. That is all subjective of course and depends on each vehicle and close inspection.

Wholesale clean is $9,125. Trade-in clean $9,245.

Darb (193 posts)   Wed Nov 12, 2014, 12:08 PM

17. That is also on the low side of the mileage window,

window is 90K - 100K.

.....and more.

<<<suspects some of the posting primitive are used-car salesmen.

[whiffleball]

Gosh, Skippy's beginning to sound a lot like Gnow-it-all Gnads.  Been everywhere, done everything, owns or owned it all.

[franksolich]

Gosh, Skippy's beginning to sound a lot like Gnow-it-all Gnads.  Been everywhere, done everything, owns or owned it all.

Skippy, Skips, El Skippo:
http://conservativecave.com/index.php?topic=99226.0

[obumazombie]

If I was a potential buyer, i.e. a "Lib", I would buy it based on the bumper stickers.

[franksolich]

If I was a potential buyer, i.e. a "Lib", I would buy it based on the bumper stickers.

Good point, there.

[GOBUCKS]

The only possible rationale for buying a hybrid vehicle is ideology.

The fuel savings will never come close to offsetting the price premium.

Environuts and other DUmmies buy them to make a political statement.

Any other buyers are just stupid.

[DumbAss Tanker]

If I was a potential buyer, i.e. a "Lib", I would buy it based on the bumper stickers.

Well. 20 or 30 of them (I.e., the in line with the typical DUmmie usage) would certainly improve the crashworthiness of a Prius.

9K for a gas-electric battery-bank-buffered go-kart may be market per that DUmmie's book, but I'd tap out at 6k with that mileage and an aging battery pack, even if I had any use for one.