I'm considering purchasing a 2008 FWD FEH with 56,000 miles. Found it on craigslist, owner is asking $9800 (KBB gives a value of $8000-8900, condition dependent), and the owner lives in my town, so I can go by and check it out easily. Location is in Kansas.

Since it's either out or coming out of the 8 year hybrid warranty, am I taking any sort of significant risk if I buy this? The pictures look clean and I believe it's the original owner. I'm kind of surprised they aren't running it until it dies.

What things do you suggest I check out or ask that are FEH specific?

Thanks!

 

I'd have it checked out by an independent mechanic. The battery risk is low as the batteries have proven to be reliable. Price is high, especially given the price of gas.

 

Private sellers usually match asking prices with prices posted by dealers. Dealers will sell for 75%-80% of asking price without too much fuss. They know if they ask too much you just won't buy it, and they know what they can afford to sell it for because they know what the car will fetch if they have to resell or send it to auction.

On the other hand, if you're too greedy, a car will be sold out from under you. That's useful in establishing exactly what you will have to pay, but in the case of an FEH it may be a while before another becomes available.

 

You want to establish that it goes into ev mode when it should. It's hard for someone who hasn't had an FEH to know when it should. But after it's warmed up, in nice weather, flat stop&go driving below about 30mph, it should often be in ev mode. Being unable to go into ev mode in the right conditions always points to a problem that could be one of many things. So proper ev operation means a lot of things are as they should be.

 

Depending on where this FEH has spent its life, I'd look closely for rust. My 2006, which spent half its life in Maine and the rest in western PA (heavy salt area), had issues with 3/4 of the wheel wells over the 4 or so years I owned it. Plus rust on the bottom of the lift gate and the driver side doors.