This was reported in the Yahoo Group "Prius Technical Stuff" by Cor van de Water. I'm not sure if you have to register to read the posting so I'm being a little free with "fair use."
OK, not really technical stuff per se, but i wanted to share my experience in selling my 2002 Prius which I bought SALVAGE in 2004 with 12k mi and fixed it, had the front repainted, but which my wife damaged (only superficial, nothing structural) as deep scratches and dents on the right side rear door, right and left quarter panels and the rear bumper. ODO now reads 56k. HOV stickers. OK, so far the details. Now the story:
When I announced that we are going to move to India, I had several people walk up to me and ask me for permission to allow them to buy my car. HUH? I could hardly believe it and I don't think this happens to a lot of Excursion or Yuckon owners these days, but I could select between interested buyers without even advertising.
The first one to respond was a colleague so at lunch I asked if he wanted to test-drive it. After a few miles and questions, he asked how much I wanted for it and if I wanted cash or check.
Uh - I was thinking about 8k, considering the damage and Salvage title even though it has HOV stickers, it still is a 6.5 year old car. And check is OK with me.
Answer: check is in the mail this weekend, we will arrange the transfer later.
OK, so you like the car?
BTW, do you see that the display shows 48 MPG?
Uh, never mind, that was the whole point of him buying a Prius. He likes his truck, but with a 100 mile commute priorities change. So, I already cashed the check even though I still drive the car to work for the coming 3 weeks, morally it is no longer mine. Strange feeling.
Did I say that Prii are *wanted*?
Posted by Cor van de Water, July 2, 2008.
Ok, now to find some of those "you'll never get enough gas savings to pay for your Prius" skeptics. <GRINS>
In the last 3 years this has been my experience. I bought my first Insight - a 2001 with 40K on it - drove it a year and 15K miles and sold it for $1,500 more than I had paid. Bought a 2004 Insight slightly used, drove for 20+K miles and sold it for $500 more than I had paid. I have a 2005 Prius and my wife has a 2005 Prius - we could probably sell them for what we paid right now.
Regular maintenance and fuel have been my only cost of ownership for the last 3 years!
Yeah, I'm not surprised.
I've started to worry a little bit more about theft. It has always been something I take seriously, having had one car and one motorcycle ripped off during my vehicle owning career. I park my Prius now only in a secure parking garage AND club the steering wheel on work days in Philadelphia. On weekends I park the Prius in at the end of the drive and switch over to my old pick-em-up (pinch hitter for the Prius for local short trips). Oh yeah, the old truck now has locking gas caps on its twin tanks; 38 gallons of gasoline, or over $150.00 worth at todays prices.
I now park only in an enclosed, multi-story, and private garage with security cameras at SEATAC. There have been lots of cases of gas theft, and at lease one case of hybrid battery theft in the open parking areas around the airport.
IMHO, its only gonna get worse.
It is the ignorant among us that will eventually destroy us all.
.... 2002 Prius which I bought SALVAGE in 2004 with 12k mi and fixed it, had the front repainted, but which my wife damaged (only superficial, nothing structural) as deep scratches and dents on the right side rear door, right and left quarter panels and the rear bumper
Hmm, something smells real fishy. Salvage tag, aka insurance totaled a 2002 Prius that was 2 years old with 12K miles and "only superficial, nothing structural" damage.
In addition it is staggering that new Prius sales are down again, 25.5% June 08 vs. June 07. First half 08 Prius sales are down 2.6% from first half 07. These are really surprising numbers since the average national (US) price for gas the first half of 08 was around $3.40 versus $2.57 for first half 2007.
...In addition it is staggering that new Prius sales are down again, 25.5% June 08 vs. June 07. First half 08 Prius sales are down 2.6% from first half 07. These are really surprising numbers since the average national (US) price for gas the first half of 08 was around $3.40 versus $2.57 for first half 2007.
Not when you consider the "limited availability" statement in the article. Both the Prius and the TCH were inventory limited for much of the last two quarters of the report. The bad news is that only limited numbers will continue to be availble until the new battery plant comes on line next year.
It is the ignorant among us that will eventually destroy us all.
Dont let the locking gas caps make you feel too secure, they are the easiest to pick, I am terrible with lockpicks (as a mechanic we have to access customers gas tanks without the key often) but can open these in under 30 seconds EASILY. The other option is to just take some channel lock pliers and break the thing open, you are in...many you can just press or squeeze the outer cap and they will unscrew
Quote:
Originally Posted by Whiterook
Yeah, I'm not surprised.
I've started to worry a little bit more about theft. It has always been something I take seriously, having had one car and one motorcycle ripped off during my vehicle owning career. I park my Prius now only in a secure parking garage AND club the steering wheel on work days in Philadelphia. On weekends I park the Prius in at the end of the drive and switch over to my old pick-em-up (pinch hitter for the Prius for local short trips). Oh yeah, the old truck now has locking gas caps on its twin tanks; 38 gallons of gasoline, or over $150.00 worth at todays prices.
This gas theft thing is gonna drive people to Road Warrior measures -- explosive devices hidden under the car in case anyone messes with the fuel. "Booby-trapped. Touch those tanks and boom!"
"I remember the Road Warrior
the man we called Max.
To understand who he was, you have to go back to another time
when the world was powered by the black fuel
and the deserts sprouted great cities of pipe and steel.
Gone now swept away.
For reasons long forgotten, two mighty warrior tribes went to war
and touched off a blaze which engulfed them all.
Without fuel they were nothing. They'd built a house of straw.
The thundering machines sputtered and stopped.
Their leaders talked and talked and talked
but nothing could stem the avalanche.
Their world crumbled. The cities exploded.
A whirlwind of looting.
A firestorm of fear.
Men began to feed on men.
On the roads it was a white-line nightmare.
Only those mobile enough to scavenge,
brutal enough to pillage would survive.
The gangs took over the highways
ready to wage war for a tank of juice.
And in this maelstrom of decay
ordinary men were battered and smashed.
[/indent]Hmm, something smells real fishy. Salvage tag, aka insurance totaled a 2002 Prius that was 2 years old with 12K miles and "only superficial, nothing structural" damage.
In addition it is staggering that new Prius sales are down again, 25.5% June 08 vs. June 07. First half 08 Prius sales are down 2.6% from first half 07. These are really surprising numbers since the average national (US) price for gas the first half of 08 was around $3.40 versus $2.57 for first half 2007.
you need to re-read that again. He bought a used prius that was wrecked...he then repaired it.....then his wife damaged the now newly repaired prius, but the damage was only superficial.
It does not mean that he bought a salvaged prius with superficial damage.
Did I say that Prii are *wanted*?
Re: Did I say that Prii are *wanted*?
IMHO, its only gonna get worse.
