A tale of 2 very similar Prii... but which one?
Discussion
Afternoon all,
As alluded to on another thread, I'm involved with looking at purchasing a Prius PHEV. Now, the deal is supposedly done at a local car supermarket for collection this Sunday, but there are a few niggles - and now along has come another option and I must say we're conflicted.
In the (literally) blue corner, at a Cheshire car supermarket local to us all:
- An 18 plate Business Edition with cloth interior, very clean apart from a stonechipped bonnet (promised to be smart repaired in time) and a lightly curbed front wheel which they say isnt bad enough to get repaired. It's cheap, at £14599, and has 34500 miles with a completely clean MOT history. Supposedly FSH but we haven't seen the handbook yet. It has 2 matching but lower-midrange tyres on the front, OE on the back. The big drawback is it has no charging cables included, and the supermarket say "its been priced accordingly" to this, and no they won't throw in the cables that are present in a much more scruffy example also on the forecourt. Now, I'm not sure on the exact part number for replacements and there's a few different versions, but it seems the 3-pin cable (which is the one that'll get used) is about £150 for a "genuine" one on ebay (I have misgivings on that) or £400 from Toyota. Despite this, a deal has been agreed in principle but the car hasn't been paid for yet.
The car seems nice, and I had a very good experience at this place when I bought a car from them last year but this time the (seemingly new) salesman appeared a bit clueless and unprofessional tbh, especially with the wranglings over the cables.
In the (literally) red corner, popping up as Approved Used at a main dealer in Telford (not a million miles away but a bit of a trek):
- An 18 plate Excel edition with a leather interior, no visible defects but then we know what photos are like and this one hasn't been viewed in person and we're wondering if we ought to.....
Despite being only £1k more at £15495, it has only 29k miles and a FToyotaSH pictured in the ad. And, it comes with both cables pictured in the boot. The red colour isnt quite as nice, but leather is probably more durable and the car also has premium tyres all round, with a clean MOT history other than advisory for low tread on the rear. Whether this has been sorted also isnt clear from the pictures.
What makes me suspicious however is that this car is ludicrously cheap for the stated condition and mileage. I know being approved used it shouldn't be a lemon, but why is it undercutting not only the rest of the AU cars but also most bargain car dealers? I cant imagine it's priced according to (percieved) relative poverty of the local area?
Quite the thorny conundrum, as you can see. I know the obvious thing to say is, go an visit the red car on Saturday and see, but as to what to do from there, one is baffled. The extra spend would be painful, but then buying a new cable would take up half of the saving (assuming one doesnt risk a fake ebay one that would no doubt invalidate any battery warranty should the charging controller in the cable go tits up). But then the red one might need 2 new boots anyway? Is there any real difference between Business and Excel? Google isnt very clear as it redirects to the current models).
Whats your thoughts please, PH hivemind?
As alluded to on another thread, I'm involved with looking at purchasing a Prius PHEV. Now, the deal is supposedly done at a local car supermarket for collection this Sunday, but there are a few niggles - and now along has come another option and I must say we're conflicted.
In the (literally) blue corner, at a Cheshire car supermarket local to us all:
- An 18 plate Business Edition with cloth interior, very clean apart from a stonechipped bonnet (promised to be smart repaired in time) and a lightly curbed front wheel which they say isnt bad enough to get repaired. It's cheap, at £14599, and has 34500 miles with a completely clean MOT history. Supposedly FSH but we haven't seen the handbook yet. It has 2 matching but lower-midrange tyres on the front, OE on the back. The big drawback is it has no charging cables included, and the supermarket say "its been priced accordingly" to this, and no they won't throw in the cables that are present in a much more scruffy example also on the forecourt. Now, I'm not sure on the exact part number for replacements and there's a few different versions, but it seems the 3-pin cable (which is the one that'll get used) is about £150 for a "genuine" one on ebay (I have misgivings on that) or £400 from Toyota. Despite this, a deal has been agreed in principle but the car hasn't been paid for yet.
The car seems nice, and I had a very good experience at this place when I bought a car from them last year but this time the (seemingly new) salesman appeared a bit clueless and unprofessional tbh, especially with the wranglings over the cables.
In the (literally) red corner, popping up as Approved Used at a main dealer in Telford (not a million miles away but a bit of a trek):
- An 18 plate Excel edition with a leather interior, no visible defects but then we know what photos are like and this one hasn't been viewed in person and we're wondering if we ought to.....
Despite being only £1k more at £15495, it has only 29k miles and a FToyotaSH pictured in the ad. And, it comes with both cables pictured in the boot. The red colour isnt quite as nice, but leather is probably more durable and the car also has premium tyres all round, with a clean MOT history other than advisory for low tread on the rear. Whether this has been sorted also isnt clear from the pictures.
What makes me suspicious however is that this car is ludicrously cheap for the stated condition and mileage. I know being approved used it shouldn't be a lemon, but why is it undercutting not only the rest of the AU cars but also most bargain car dealers? I cant imagine it's priced according to (percieved) relative poverty of the local area?
Quite the thorny conundrum, as you can see. I know the obvious thing to say is, go an visit the red car on Saturday and see, but as to what to do from there, one is baffled. The extra spend would be painful, but then buying a new cable would take up half of the saving (assuming one doesnt risk a fake ebay one that would no doubt invalidate any battery warranty should the charging controller in the cable go tits up). But then the red one might need 2 new boots anyway? Is there any real difference between Business and Excel? Google isnt very clear as it redirects to the current models).
Whats your thoughts please, PH hivemind?
My gut feel based on your words is that you would really prefer the blue one as it’s more of a known thing.
Ask the dealer to let you have the replacement cables at cost to them assuming they can get a discount from Toyota.
If they cannot or will not then I think I’d still be going Blue but would then buy them from Toyota.
Ask the dealer to let you have the replacement cables at cost to them assuming they can get a discount from Toyota.
If they cannot or will not then I think I’d still be going Blue but would then buy them from Toyota.
Go and have a look at the red one on Saturday, or earlier, as if its that much of a bargain it will be gone by then...
Contact the dealer and ask them for a walkaround video, when was it last serviced, what warranty are they giving on it being an AUC, and ask if they have changed the rear tyres yet?
I don't know which is the higher spec version but some of it may come down to which colour you prefer as well..?
Contact the dealer and ask them for a walkaround video, when was it last serviced, what warranty are they giving on it being an AUC, and ask if they have changed the rear tyres yet?
I don't know which is the higher spec version but some of it may come down to which colour you prefer as well..?
66HFM said:
Go and have a look at the red one on Saturday, or earlier, as if its that much of a bargain it will be gone by then...
Contact the dealer and ask them for a walkaround video, when was it last serviced, what warranty are they giving on it being an AUC, and ask if they have changed the rear tyres yet?
I don't know which is the higher spec version but some of it may come down to which colour you prefer as well..?
Warranty they're giving is almost irrelevant, with a full Toyota history it'll be covered until 2028 or 100k miles so long as it's serviced at a Toyota dealer once a year.Contact the dealer and ask them for a walkaround video, when was it last serviced, what warranty are they giving on it being an AUC, and ask if they have changed the rear tyres yet?
I don't know which is the higher spec version but some of it may come down to which colour you prefer as well..?
If I'm remembering correctly Excel was top of the range at the time.
The red one being approved used will likely be the best. Main dealers run the hybrid health check to confirm the battery/etc health.
Plus with a main dealer serviced car you get the up to 10 years/100k miles Toyota extended warranty.
Maybe they have had the car for a while, so dropped the price to get it sold.
People are tending to buy SUVs so the Prius and Corolla are getting cheaper secondhand.
Plus with a main dealer serviced car you get the up to 10 years/100k miles Toyota extended warranty.
Maybe they have had the car for a while, so dropped the price to get it sold.
People are tending to buy SUVs so the Prius and Corolla are getting cheaper secondhand.
ChemicalChaos said:
Afternoon all,
...Is there any real difference between Business and Excel? Google isnt very clear as it redirects to the current models).
I've got an 18 plate Prius (not plug-in, though). Excel gets stuff like Auto-Park (which is brilliant), Lane assist, Radar cruise, all of which were (I think) options in Business, but more importantly it gets the JBL Sound system which is a vast improvement over standard - in fact it's better IMO than the system in the Jaguar which it replaced....Is there any real difference between Business and Excel? Google isnt very clear as it redirects to the current models).
I think it's unlikely the red excel would have been used as a minicab as it was expensive, where as the blue business edition would be more affordable for minicab folks, especially since it comes with 15" wheels (tighter turning circle) than than 17" wheels on the excel. I'm not saying the blue one is clocked, but less chance of a clocked car making it through toyota approved network.
I had a business edition and kept getting mistaken for an uber driver every day so had to keep my doors locked to prevent randoms getting in when I was stopped anywhere in London.
Here is an interesting spec comparison chart for different prius models which should help you. It's from 2021 but should give you an idea.
Personally, from the description, I would go for the red one at Toyota dealer every time.
https://media.toyota.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/site...
I had a business edition and kept getting mistaken for an uber driver every day so had to keep my doors locked to prevent randoms getting in when I was stopped anywhere in London.
Here is an interesting spec comparison chart for different prius models which should help you. It's from 2021 but should give you an idea.
Personally, from the description, I would go for the red one at Toyota dealer every time.
https://media.toyota.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/site...
If that truly is the 2 horse race then I'd side with red, a benefit is it will look less like a secondhand taxi.
Have you looked a phev alternatives? These make the Prius look pricey imo.
A 20 plate Outlander is the same money https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408193...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407121...
Have you looked a phev alternatives? These make the Prius look pricey imo.
A 20 plate Outlander is the same money https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408193...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407121...
Thanks all for the info, I shall be arranging to view to red and see what happens!
500x said:
If that truly is the 2 horse race then I'd side with red, a benefit is it will look less like a secondhand taxi.
Have you looked a phev alternatives? These make the Prius look pricey imo.
A 20 plate Outlander is the same money https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408193...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407121...
It may be cheap, however the Prius will do nearly 70mpg on a long run (which I will also be doing a fair few of in addition to the battery only journeys) and an Outlander.... wontHave you looked a phev alternatives? These make the Prius look pricey imo.
A 20 plate Outlander is the same money https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408193...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407121...
It kinda all depends how many miles you do and how your cost base stacks up. If you're doing say 12k+ miles a year i suppose economy is a priority.
I've never done this cost base calc before but this is about what my previous car, a Fiat 500x cost per year in percentage terms of total cost in the 6 years I owned it. This was for 3k miles a yr.
Depreciation - 29%
Servicing - 17%
Insurance - 14%
Road Tax - 11%
Fuel - 29%
I've never done this cost base calc before but this is about what my previous car, a Fiat 500x cost per year in percentage terms of total cost in the 6 years I owned it. This was for 3k miles a yr.
Depreciation - 29%
Servicing - 17%
Insurance - 14%
Road Tax - 11%
Fuel - 29%
ChemicalChaos said:
Now, the deal is supposedly done at a local car supermarket for collection this Sunday, but there are a few niggles - and now along has come another option and I must say we're conflicted.
Can't believe nobody else has mentioned it. Will you not lose the deposit on the one you've already bought? Potentially another £500 cost to add in to the scenario.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff