My Poor 2012... I need a South Florida Mechanic!

Thanks, Crow. Well, it's more like 10K, and the only reason I would get a Gen III now is because Tampa Hybrids specifically lists them as having new ABS, head gaskets, etc. If not, no... no... no...!! When I look at others, I'd say I find evidence of brake booster replacement to be rare, but I have seen it on Carfax reports and even mentioned once or twice in listings.

Cool thing about Tampa is it's only 23 bucks to take a train there and takes only slightly longer than driving. And that's with my own seat, wi-fi, power, etc. and I've got friends up there if I want to stay. I can also work remotely so that's not an issue either. Or I have gig up there next month, so I could go up and then drive home with a new (used) car!

O C

 

RAV4 would be a decent alternative. My car is in good shape, paint needs some help but my neighbor has a paint shop (they mainly paint Ferraris!!!) who'll help me if I need it, but that's not a priority. Interior is very nice and I've got new pads, rotors, tires, 12v battery, etc. etc. I can get a JDM for 1100 shipped or a rebuilt one for 1750, but haven't found a good price for installation. I can get Tampa or a local shop to put in an engine for around 4K, but I didn't talk to either enough to find out what engine that is. Best brake booster price I've gotten is 2500. So I'm really torn, and I'm kinda overwhelmed with options (or lack thereof). So you guys are my Council of the Wise, other than that it's my cat and my five year old, who very wisely picks cars based on color and talks to my car every day it just seems like 6500 (at least) plus tax might not be worth it. I guarantee you tomorrow I'll feel the opposite!

O C

 

Well, a van would be overkill for my gear. A RAV4 may work, I was thinking a Prius V though. There's one at Tampa Hybrids for 11K, it's a 2013 with ABS done and a new head gasket. It's just a bit too high for me (tax, tag, 399 dealer fee, etc.), but that would be ideal. 130K miles and my daughter wants me to get it lol But I heard they don't negotiate and I don't want to insult Todd by trying nor deal with that. I'm trying to sell some gear but that can be really difficult with pro audio/music stuff, so I can't rely on that. I do like Corollas. I do also prefer hybrids for a multitude of other reasons, and I enjoy trying to squeeze as much MPG as possible out of cars as a sport (but I don't drive like going uphill in a cement truck, either!).

They've got a cool '15 IV same upgrades, 236k mi for 9k (black, which I like), a '12 plug-in for 10k (head gasket as well but it doesn't say anything about the brakes), 10K, etc. etc. Most aren't colors I would want but beggars can't be choosers so it's not an issue other than it's a plus if it's one I like (dark blue!). I guess I just like Priora (yes, I'm aware that Toyota officially calls them Prii but I won't do it!!). I've got some time, maybe I'll get lucky and the price will drop. 'Cause, you know, 2025. Great year so far.

O C

PS I know I sound like some ungrateful sad sack whiner. It's just me speaking relative to fellow Prius enthusiasts. I'm well aware these are champagne problems and I'm very happy to have a nice place to live and clean water to drink! If I end up with a Pontiac Aztec, then... no... no... don't go there, don't tempt 2025...

 

Ok, so 2015 only (or a lucky 2014) if Gen III at all. Gotcha.

Yikes! As some one who got t-boned by a drunk many years ago that is not something I want to mess with. The MPG being lower would be a trade-off I'd be ok with for the increased room. But not safety. Wow.

I will take your words to heart. Whilst I can't seem to find anything else around the 10k mark that seems ok, I don't want to set 10k on fire either. I will either continue to get a price that I can do to fix Charlie (the siblings are not going to pitch with the cash for that, so it's back to around 5k-6k budget), or find something else I can live with. RAV 4's seem to be really pricey around these parts. Not a Honda fan. Sigh. But again, beggars... maybe I should just get a C for now and just wait til all this stuff is over and things get better? Or same problems? I know they're much smaller, but I've never much looked at one closely except when I was in NZ and there were some cool Aquas and Gen III Prius that had different body styles (G something? G Sport?). But that's a different engine, so maybe... course I have no idea how much they go for anyway. I'm just spit-balling. I could force my bandmates to carry my stuff or just take the (ex, whatever) wife's Gen 4 when I need it (she works at home as well).

The thought of getting 20-some odd MPG makes me ill. LOL I get the math, though. But not the carbon footprint. Then again, buying a used car is definitely a form of recycling to me. Til the doors come off! You should've seen my Beetle. No interior left to speak of. It was hilarious, and endearing. I refused to let it die. Of course, it already looked that way like three years in!

Alright, I should quit bothering, but maybe one more question to the learned chorus? For an older conventionally powered vehicle, ca. 10k, what would you guys be looking at? I mean years as well. I guess I could buy a volt, they're like 5k around here. LOL no, no. I am not putting a charger in my home til I know I am staying here permanently!

Someone offered me 2K for Charlie, as is. At least with that money I could buy a few Fisker Oceans and just run them down South Florida's non-existent hills!

O C

 

Well, that's a whole other subject(!!!), but no I meant the personal stuff in my other posts that has essentially frozen my purchase ability. Divorce (amicable, though), home stuff, work stuff, blah blah blah. If not, I would try and take advantage of the tax breaks while I still can and pick up a Gen 4 Prime, because that's what I would really love to have.

Every day, I wake up with a different mindset about this problem. Today I'm in "there's gotta be a (not that much!) less expensive way to fix Charlie" mode, and taking all the sage advice in this thread to try and make that happen.

Yesterday was the "let's see what's out there" mode. It's tough. But I have invaluable info from this group which is really helping me. I've got some time on my side (luckily, the soon to be ex is a very cool person and my best friend), so I'm selling some stuff and seeing what happens. I work gig to gig so a lot of time is spent finding clients and the like. But at least I'm working at home.

O C

 

Well, a sort of final update: it's over. I had all but given up on spending all that money on fixing the car. I started looking for something sensible to buy, although I kept looking for 2015s and ones that had the needed work already done. I took what you guys said seriously, though, and began thinking of an alternative vehicle because of the need. I have a very close relative who is high up in a dealership chain, but for a completely disparate line of cars, none of which I could afford no matter how good the deal. And he offered, he tried, even though he's on the in-law side of the family and things were a bit testy for awhile.

So whilst searching and just randomly looking at various older Toyotas, a random ad showed up on a page I was looking at, for the car I would actually buy if I had the money. Long story short, I realized this dealership probably had a relationship with BiL's and lo and behold I was right. It was a trade-in and they didn't know or didn't care what they had. I'm going to make it short (too late!), but the gist is this- I got a 2017 Prius Prime for dirt cheap AND I got the Federal Incentive to pay 30% of it! FINALLY something good happens this year. I took it home today- Charlie IV lives!!! I am absolutely over the moon, I can't even believe it.

I stuck it out and you guys here and in private messages helped me to sort out my thoughts and learn some patience, and it paid off. Yes, it was one-in-a-million lucky, but if I hadn't held out as long I would not have it today. So thank ALL of you for your help and advice, and will see you in the Gen 4 forums with Prius Prime Premium!! And now, like the proverbial hermit crab, I must dispose of his former body. Champagne problems!!

WHAT?! Amazing!!!

Optimistic for once,

O C

 

Thanks to you guys I will be watching this one like a hawk!!

O C

 

Wish I could afford it, but I can't, and I can't keep it around. A shame, too. Just gotta figure out what to do with it. And I'd just done pads and rotors, and the tires are in great shape. Oh well. I'll figure out something.

O C