Author Topic: What's going on with this car? Prius  (Read 1826 times)

Mgmny

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What's going on with this car? Prius
« on: February 19, 2020, 10:35:43 AM »
Hello friends!

I'm thinking about purchasing this car after someone bought it from this salvage auction: https://en.bidfax.info/toyota/prius-c/4215330-toyota-prius-c-2012-white-15l-4-vin-jtdkdtb37c1523018.html

So, obviously i can tell that the hood and bumper and lights are either out of place or not attached correctly, but in none of the photos do i actually see "collision" damage... what is going on here? Shouldn't bumpers be crumpled, etc.?

I am trying to do my due dilligence prior to purchasing it. He has it listed for $5500 OBO, so I would probably pay around $5k for it. Thoughts?

acepedro45

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2020, 11:08:30 AM »
The Prius is a wonderful car but I'd steer clear of that one.

Kelly Blue Book shows $5,427 as the value of a 2012 Prius with 112k in "fair" condition.

https://www.kbb.com/toyota/prius-c/2012/two-hatchback-4d/?vehicleid=374560&intent=buy-used&mileage=112558&pricetype=private-party&condition=fair

KBB assumes clean title, so it looks to me like you're paying clean title money for a salvage title car. Add to that the uncertainty of whatever happened to the front end, and it's an easy nope from me.

I'd look around your local Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and see what else is around from private parties. 

ETA: You can see some moderate crumpling in the hood from certain angles in those photos. I missed it initially.

« Last Edit: February 19, 2020, 11:10:33 AM by acepedro45 »

RWD

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2020, 11:33:09 AM »
I see crumpling of the hood and possibly the front left fender. It does not show up well in the pictures with that lighting and vehicle color. Absolutely don't buy this vehicle, especially if you can't see it in person.

They paid $2900 and now have it listed for $5500? Dreaming.

Mgmny

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2020, 11:48:11 AM »
I see crumpling of the hood and possibly the front left fender. It does not show up well in the pictures with that lighting and vehicle color. Absolutely don't buy this vehicle, especially if you can't see it in person.

They paid $2900 and now have it listed for $5500? Dreaming.

I just test drove it and it was fine? Here's the facebook listing: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/179782383258100/


Mgmny

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2020, 11:50:40 AM »
The Prius is a wonderful car but I'd steer clear of that one.

Kelly Blue Book shows $5,427 as the value of a 2012 Prius with 112k in "fair" condition.

https://www.kbb.com/toyota/prius-c/2012/two-hatchback-4d/?vehicleid=374560&intent=buy-used&mileage=112558&pricetype=private-party&condition=fair

KBB assumes clean title, so it looks to me like you're paying clean title money for a salvage title car. Add to that the uncertainty of whatever happened to the front end, and it's an easy nope from me.

I'd look around your local Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and see what else is around from private parties. 

ETA: You can see some moderate crumpling in the hood from certain angles in those photos. I missed it initially.


These are my craigslist results, which is how/why i landed on the car in question on FB marketplace. KBB might say $5500 for fair, but there needs to be one around to purchase...

 

Mgmny

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2020, 11:56:21 AM »

Kelly Blue Book shows $5,427 as the value of a 2012 Prius with 112k in "fair" condition.


Here's another one near me: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2833670386692119/

That one is same year and color, but 180k miles, and asking is $5800. 60k miles difference is like a decade of me driving 20 miles roundtrip to work 5 days a week.

RWD

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2020, 01:22:06 PM »

Kelly Blue Book shows $5,427 as the value of a 2012 Prius with 112k in "fair" condition.


Here's another one near me: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2833670386692119/

That one is same year and color, but 180k miles, and asking is $5800. 60k miles difference is like a decade of me driving 20 miles roundtrip to work 5 days a week.

Here's one that's similar mileage for $1k more but clean title and a Four instead of One trim (was 23% more expensive when new).
https://www.truecar.com/used-cars-for-sale/listing/JTDKDTB35C1503897/

RWD

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2020, 01:24:17 PM »
So did they fix the body work on the salvage one (pictures don't show the hood damage)? I guess that explains why they marked it up. But the branded title will always mean worse resale value. Also what is going on where the rocker panel means the front left fender? Looks misaligned to me. Have you had a third party mechanic look over the car?

Mgmny

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2020, 01:29:41 PM »
So did they fix the body work on the salvage one (pictures don't show the hood damage)? I guess that explains why they marked it up. But the branded title will always mean worse resale value. Also what is going on where the rocker panel means the front left fender? Looks misaligned to me. Have you had a third party mechanic look over the car?

No mechanic, no. That's a good find, thank you!

Mgmny

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2020, 01:32:25 PM »

Kelly Blue Book shows $5,427 as the value of a 2012 Prius with 112k in "fair" condition.


Here's another one near me: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2833670386692119/

That one is same year and color, but 180k miles, and asking is $5800. 60k miles difference is like a decade of me driving 20 miles roundtrip to work 5 days a week.

Here's one that's similar mileage for $1k more but clean title and a Four instead of One trim (was 23% more expensive when new).
https://www.truecar.com/used-cars-for-sale/listing/JTDKDTB35C1503897/

How can you tell the salvage car is a One?

Thanks for sending me that one!

RWD

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2020, 01:38:13 PM »

Kelly Blue Book shows $5,427 as the value of a 2012 Prius with 112k in "fair" condition.


Here's another one near me: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2833670386692119/

That one is same year and color, but 180k miles, and asking is $5800. 60k miles difference is like a decade of me driving 20 miles roundtrip to work 5 days a week.

Here's one that's similar mileage for $1k more but clean title and a Four instead of One trim (was 23% more expensive when new).
https://www.truecar.com/used-cars-for-sale/listing/JTDKDTB35C1503897/

How can you tell the salvage car is a One?

Thanks for sending me that one!

The Facebook listing says "2012 Toyota Prius c One". Another way to tell (if VIN decoding doesn't work) is by what features/options the car has and compare to the vehicle brochure for that year.

You're welcome!

RWD

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #11 on: February 19, 2020, 01:46:48 PM »
Another way to tell (if VIN decoding doesn't work) is by what features/options the car has and compare to the vehicle brochure for that year.

Okay, I'm looking at the brochure and I don't think either of those are listed correctly. The Four is supposed to have alloy wheels, fog lamps, and SofTex seats. The Two and Three have two-tone seats. The Three and Four are supposed to have navigation which I don't see in either of those so by deduction I think both your salvage title one on Facebook and the one I linked to on TrueCar are a Two trim.

RWD

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #12 on: February 19, 2020, 01:53:02 PM »
Chart attached.

Easy ways to tell trims apart from online pictures:
Fog lamps = Four
Navigation = Three/Four
Two tone seats = Two/Three

The One is really stripped down, definitely avoid that trim. No cruise, no split fold rear seat, no variable speed intermittent wipers, etc.

Mgmny

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #13 on: February 19, 2020, 02:39:33 PM »
Chart attached.

Easy ways to tell trims apart from online pictures:
Fog lamps = Four
Navigation = Three/Four
Two tone seats = Two/Three

The One is really stripped down, definitely avoid that trim. No cruise, no split fold rear seat, no variable speed intermittent wipers, etc.

Ah!!! That's why I was confused, they looked identical

RWD

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Re: What's going on with this car? Prius
« Reply #14 on: February 19, 2020, 02:46:49 PM »
Chart attached.

Easy ways to tell trims apart from online pictures:
Fog lamps = Four
Navigation = Three/Four
Two tone seats = Two/Three

The One is really stripped down, definitely avoid that trim. No cruise, no split fold rear seat, no variable speed intermittent wipers, etc.

Ah!!! That's why I was confused, they looked identical

Sorry for the confusion. I've definitely learned to take listings with a grain of salt and verify everything myself.