I'm about to give up on my 2003 VW Passat 130,000 mi wagon. A nearby dealer has New 2013 Prius 2's for $21691, and a 6000-mile-Used 2013 Prius 2's for $20,999. Carfax says They bought the used one at auction, and it was "corporate owned" prior. Given the $692 difference in price New-Used, how much do you think I can negotiate them down on the used one? I don't like the color of their new ones, and would like to save some money. They're only offering the discount new price of colors in stock.
Stay away from Corporate and Car Rental trade-ins. Users beat the crap out of them with no regard. The penny pinched now will cost you later, I promise.
Because the dealer probably stole the used one for a trade-in price they most likely have a larger profit margin in the used car. In other words, at the price they are asking,they stand to make more money on the used one. Now you have to consider the financing on new vs used. Used cars typically will cost more to finance, where as new they are probably offering very low financing. Just weigh all the factors before you make any dicsisions.
Offer them 19,000 even and see what they say. I would lean towards new though just because its a small difference in price and corporate owned typically means that's a Prius 1 which doesn't have hardly any options. Look closely at the options list.
Carfax says the dealer bought the used one at auction somewhere in New York. I'll be paying cash, new or used, so the current $1000 Toyota cash back applies to new 2013, but not used 2013.
Buy new for sure. Don't pin your buying on one particular dealer. Do some shopping at other dealers. Also, don't even mention that you are going to pay cash.
Had the same options earlier this year. My budget limit was 20K. I was really hoping for an almost new 2 but couldn't get them to budge. Given the choice and budget between two 2's I would have gone new for the 0% and 2 years maintenance. I put all that on the back burner and stumbled on my 2011 4 . I got the options I actually wanted but couldn't afford new for well under my budget and still had some bumper to bumper warranty left.
***WARNING!!** I drive a corporate Prius. Don't!!! Given the very small difference between new and used I would not even consider going with a used car, ESPECIALLY one for which there were no owner that gave a rats about its maintenance other than how much it costs! For $1000 I'd go for the newer one. For $2000??? I'd consider the used one but I'd be asking why they illuminated the "change owner" light after less than a year and I would demand a complimentary extended OEM warranty. For $3000??? I'd take the lemon. Your call. Good Luck!
