I would buy a high mileage hybrid again. I hope someone near me is cranking a Chevy Volt over 200k RIGHT NOW!!
My 3 hybrid purchases so far have been at 277k, 330k, and 217k. No real regrets.
I would buy a high mileage hybrid again. I hope someone near me is cranking a Chevy Volt over 200k RIGHT NOW!!
My 3 hybrid purchases so far have been at 277k, 330k, and 217k. No real regrets.
$2.20/gal gas isn't helping either.
Yeah, I imagine that the low gas prices aren't helping much nor is, to an extent, being completely up-front about the mileage. At the same time, I also still don't have the car really priced to move and I'm not really 'losing' any money in having it- all I'm really losing at the moment is the chance to pick up and drive something more fun now that the weather is getting better. But all-in-all, the Prius is a fantastic commuter car, and though not as much fun as say the Miata I want would be in the warmer weather it also gets even more efficient since the engine doesn't take as long to warm up.
Had someone call about the car a few days ago, but haven't heard back from her (was a kid who'd seen the car at the grocery store and had to talk to her parents about it). Waiting to hear back from the guy about the truck trade- I've not gotten any response from the guy with the Miata (this one: http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4950715753.html) despite emailing him twice. Though at this point, I'd almost rather outright sell the Prius since they keep dropping the price on the Miata (interesting note: when I first saw it go up a few months ago, it started out around the $3500 it's at as of this post- and shortly jumped up a thousand or so a day or so later).
Well, the trade for the truck fell through because the guy found a trade to make closer to home (lives 3 hours from where I am). Not moping about too much over it though, when stopped for gas on our way back from meeting up with my step-father-in-law to get some things he brought down from my MIL (he's a truck driver who delivers not too far from us on occasion) had someone ask about the car and take down the number and info for someone he knew who wanted a Prius.
And, thus ends the saga of the Prius- or at least my chapter of it. Traded it yesterday for $2300 in cash and a 2000 Toyota Echo. Depending on what I'm able to sell the Echo for, I'll either break even or make a few hundred. Regardless, the Prius was a great commuter car for the time I had it and I'd not hesitate to pick up another one if I actually needed a commuter car.
Well... the Saga of the Prius may be getting a few more chapters, depending what the current owner of it decides.
He's been going over it with a fine-tooth comb, and found that the AC system didn't have much of a charge and that the condenser may be the problem- and asked me to pay for half of the repair to it since I had missed it in my own work on the car. I replied that I didn't think doing so was reasonable, but if he was really that dissatisfied with the trade that I would be willing to trade back since I've not had the chance to transfer the title to my name at the courthouse yet. Somewhat surprisingly he's thinking it over given I'd say he probably got a bit better of deal out of the trade than I did, but I'll not complain about having the Prius back and not being out more than a few gallons of gas and the price of a cheap car wash.
If I do get it back, I'm done with trades- but will probably drop the price a bit as well so it hopefully moves back out fast (and I can buy something more fun).
Ashyukun wrote: Well... the Saga of the Prius may be getting a few more chapters, depending what the current owner of it decides. He's been going over it with a fine-tooth comb, and found that the AC system didn't have much of a charge and that the condenser may be the problem- and asked me to pay for half of the repair to it since I had missed it in my own work on the car. I replied that I didn't think doing so was reasonable, but if he was really that dissatisfied with the trade that I would be willing to trade back since I've not had the chance to transfer the title to my name at the courthouse yet. Somewhat surprisingly he's thinking it over given I'd say he probably got a bit better of deal out of the trade than I did, but I'll not complain about having the Prius back and not being out more than a few gallons of gas and the price of a cheap car wash. If I do get it back, I'm done with trades- but will probably drop the price a bit as well so it hopefully moves back out fast (and I can buy something more fun).
Wow. that was a lot of balls on his or her part. The time to discover stuff like that is during the pre-purchase inspection. Then it becomes leverage regarding the price or trade. Your strategy of offering to trade back was perfect.
Ashyukun wrote: Well... the Saga of the Prius may be getting a few more chapters, depending what the current owner of it decides. He's been going over it with a fine-tooth comb, and found that the AC system didn't have much of a charge and that the condenser may be the problem- and asked me to pay for half of the repair to it since I had missed it in my own work on the car. I replied that I didn't think doing so was reasonable, but if he was really that dissatisfied with the trade that I would be willing to trade back since I've not had the chance to transfer the title to my name at the courthouse yet. Somewhat surprisingly he's thinking it over given I'd say he probably got a bit better of deal out of the trade than I did, but I'll not complain about having the Prius back and not being out more than a few gallons of gas and the price of a cheap car wash. If I do get it back, I'm done with trades- but will probably drop the price a bit as well so it hopefully moves back out fast (and I can buy something more fun).
Ug, trades. I hate that crap. When you go to look at the car you are about to buy or trade for, CHECK to make sure the things you want to work actually WORK. Not your fault the AC system is low, its his fault for not checking. Does the AC work on his Echo?
Dude, I sold a neon that needed a motor. Buyer signed paparwork stating he knew it needed a motor.Month later dude calls me demanding his money back cause It kicked a rod. Yep. That didn't happen.
Some people that buy cars....
I'm sitting here wondering if I should have bought it from you.
rcutclif wrote: Ug, trades. I hate that crap. When you go to look at the car you are about to buy or trade for, CHECK to make sure the things you want to work actually WORK. Not your fault the AC system is low, its his fault for not checking. Does the AC work on his Echo?
Yeah, that's pretty much my mindset on it, regardless of which side of the deal I'm on: Caveat Emptor. I go more than out of my way to not be misleading and as up-front as I can when I sell something, but at the same time can't be expected to know EVERYTHING and be able to predict if something is going to fail. Likewise, I assume nothing when I'm looking at buying a car and look over everything that is important to me, and if I miss something it's my fault and not the seller's. Granted most of the time I'm looking at cars that are cheaper than dirt cheap so most little things like AC don't matter much, but if I did miss something that I discovered after I bought it unless it was a clear case of trying to rip me off by the buyer, I'd not even bother telling them about it (and if they had ripped me off, I'd be telling them off and not expecting a refund unless there had been a warranty involved).
Tell him he didn't mention the cracked windshield on the echo, so you will call it even. 
bgkast wrote: Tell him he didn't mention the cracked windshield on the echo, so you will call it even.
Heh. Difficulty with that was that I should have noticed it myself but didn't (unless it happened between when we test-drove the cars and when we made the trade)- but yeah, it's largely the same thing just with something much more obvious on the Echo's part.
Well, looks like I'll have the Prius back in an hour or so. He had good timing as I was on the way to get the new water pump when he finally texted back that he wanted to exchange back.
In reply to Ashyukun:
wow..some people..
Have the Prius back, same as before. Apparently the guy had gotten a quote for like $800 to basically replace the majority of the AC system and that was what he'd have wanted me to split with him. HAHAHAHAHA no. Was pleasant enough about trading back, but I think he's in for a rids awakening for when he goes to sell the Echo himself given he claimed to want $2k for it before fixing the water pump....
Will be digging out some refrigerant and recharging the system and seeing how it holds up and will be putting it back up for sale with a note about the AC.
Ashyukun wrote: Will be digging out some refrigerant and recharging the system and seeing how it holds up and will be putting it back up for sale with a note about the AC.
Use that purple leak test dye and find the leaking hose. Have a new hose made, then recharge.
Jerry From LA wrote:Ashyukun wrote: Will be digging out some refrigerant and recharging the system and seeing how it holds up and will be putting it back up for sale with a note about the AC.Use that purple leak test dye and find the leaking hose. Have a new hose made, then recharge.
That's largely what I'd like to do, but unfortunately it appears it's not quite so simple for the Prius- it uses a high-voltage electric AC compressor instead of the standard kind driven off the ICE, and apparently those need a different kind of oil (ND11) and most of the dye setups (and almost anything that comes with the oil in it...) use either ester oil or PAG which from what I've read can completely muck up the hybrid's compressor. Trying to find a product that has the dye and ND11 but not having much luck so far...
In reply to Ashyukun:
Call a yota dealer and ask?
Have someone who's quite interested in the Prius coming out to look at it this evening, hopefully we'll be able to reach an agreement on price and it will finally be out the door- and I'll be able to pick up something a bit more fun (though admittedly the top candidate at the moment is kind of a step back in my quest to try new cars since it's a kind I've owned before- an FC convertible).
I know you said FC but I have this bookmarked for Challenge potential and thought I would share it with you.
http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/5008303478.html
Here is also a genuine FC w/88k miles.
http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/4985065500.html
JohnRW1621 wrote: I know you said FC but I have this bookmarked for Challenge potential and thought I would share it with you. http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/5008303478.html Here is also a genuine FC w/88k miles. http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/4985065500.html
The SA convertible conversion is pretty cool- I've not seen one of those before (then again, I'd not seen a convertible Fiero until recently either). That is a nice-looking FC3C too- unfortunately both are sticks, and while personally I prefer a manual transmission SWMBO still hasn't learned to drive one so if I want a convertible we can both enjoy driving, it has to be a slushbox. I've already got a line on one that I'll likely be jumping on as soon as the Prius is sold. :)
Automatic convertible that is "unique"
Here is another one I have bookmarked.
Heh. 'Unique' is about the nicest you can probably say about a TC. If I'm going to get a Maserati convertible, I'd want a convertible Biturbo. :P
wow, really surprised that guy asked to trade back. Any deal I do is "as is where is". I mean what does anyone expect with a well used car?
You'll need to log in to post.
