[bigcat]

Looking for opinions re a purchase decision: Prius 08, (28,000 miles, package 2) vs. new Honda Insight LX. Price difference is $3500. I prefer the Prius but the Insight looks very attractive given its price. Feedback appreciated.

 

[Phoenix]

Unless you can afford it, trading in a two year old automobile (regardless of the model) on a brand new car really doesn't make economic sense. The depreciation will eat up any possible savings between the two cars; especially since the fuel savings would probably be extremely small considering the difference in mpgs between the Prius and Insight.

Of course, if money is no object, then buying a new car is always fun. I'm just not sure whether you are getting newer or better technology, and your Prius is barely broken in.

Just my opinion...

 

[Roger V]

Maybe I'm not reading the post correctly, but I took it to mean the choice is between buying one car or the other, not trading a Prius for an Insight. OP says the price difference is $3500, but which way? I think we need a little more info and clarification. For example, what optional equipment does the Insight have, such as nav, audio, etc., as opposed to a package 2 Prius. (I can't keep it straight in my head as to the standard equipment with each package.) I checked Edmunds, and a base Insight LX is priced in the vicinity of $20K, plus options, so what is the MSRP on it versus selling price? Again depending on optional equipment, the Prius is probably worth $20-22K according to Edmunds. I hope the OP comes back and tells us a little more.
If the Insight is $3500 less than the Prius, I would be going with the brand new car, no question about it. Even though the Prius would probably get slightly better mileage, it would take a long time and a lot of miles to make up the price difference.

 

[Phoenix]

Sorry Bigcat; in re-reading your post, I obviously misinterpreted your note. I thought you were trading in a Prius on an Insight.

If you are trying to decide between the two, many of us on this site would probably recommend the Prius. Not sure about the new Insight, but the previous model was a mild-hybrid. Personally, I think the Prius is a much better auto; although Honda makes good cars, too. (We are partial to Toyotas. Until recently, we owned three: A 1998 Camry, a 2002 Prius and a 2008 Tundra; but we just sold the Camry.)

The dealerships in Phoenix are offering $4500 off MSRP, which might make a new Prius very attractive price-wise. Or, since it is late in the model year, you might want to see what the new 2010 model has to offer. However, auto makers are hungry now. Later in the year, the incentives may be smaller or non-existent.

 

[hyperion]

For the comfortable seats and the standard size 12 volt battery and the standard shift pattern I woulld go for the Insight. All things Toyota has refused to change over the past four model years regardless of the complaints. Gas milage can't be that much of an incentive. And has been stated, Honda has a good reputation.
And of course, no one today would critisize anyone purchasing an American car. Irregardless of milage or emmissions!

 

[richard schumacher]

You must decide what are your decision criteria. Are you trying to minimize total cost of ownership? Minimize use of fossil fuels? Buy the coolest new thing? Buy a thoroughly tested and highly reliable design? Get the most comfortable car? These each lead to different answers, and different people would weight them differently.

 

[Joekingiam]

Hi,
Compared to my old 2001 Prius, a 2004 Prius and a 2000 Honda Insight I drive occasionally, the New Prius is the best,
Many reasons, too many to list. When I sat in the new 2010 Insight I was uncomfortably dissappointed in many ways , too many to list. If someone gave me a new Insight , I would sell it and buy the new Prius.
The price, you get what you pay for,
Joe

 

[Johnlewis82]

Hey, I found one 08 Camry in good condition. However, currently confused over the price and other technical matters. I'm not much aware on how to buy a used car as this is my first purchase and hence don't want to take a risk. How about buying a used car from a car rental company?

 

[Ct. Ken V]

Hi, Johnlewis82,

First of all, let me say I work at a car auction where we put through 3,500 to 5,000 cars per week & some of the dealers who buy cars there won't touch an ex-rental but others have no problem with them. The general consensus is that rental cars get abused by some of the renters (I don't think they get any more abuse than some lease cars). I personally treat any car I rent just as though it were my own & I wanted it to last forever, but I have met some people who just rent cars when they want something to beat up on a cross-country trip & not put the wear & tear on their own car. There may be some risk as far as the type of use/abuse by some renters, but the maintenance given the rentals is quite rigidly adhered to, so they should be in good condition as far as that goes. It used to be that you could get the car's maintenance records when you bought an ex-rental, but now because of privacy laws they may show them to you briefly but not let you have them.

A lot of rental companies turn in large batches of cars at a time to car auction places like the one I work at, but some companies like Enterprise have their own lots where the general public can go to look & browse, test drive, & buy & drive off the lot with a car on the same day. You may not be so lucky to have such a lot close by, but some of the other rental companies also have have internet listings of their cars for everyday sale (or even special sales at special locations) & if you so desire to buy with them online, they can even ship the car to one of their local lots or agencies for a fee. As for pricing at one of these rental locations, I think the ex-rental cars will list for about the same price as any fairly priced used car on a dealer's lot & you may still be able to negotiate. I also think that Enterprise (at least) gives you a better used car warranty than you get from a regular used car dealer's lot (but the rental companies can't sell you an extended warranty---you can still get that directly from Toyota if the car is less than 3 years old & has less than 36,000 miles on it). My credit union has worked out a deal that if you buy from the Enterprise lot & finance through the credit union, the credit union makes a $500 deposit into your credit union savings account.

I just couldn't get my Prius that way 5 years ago because Toyota mandated that all Priuses be returned to Toyota for auction back to their own dealers because of the high demand for the Prius back then. I understand that things have changed since then & Enterprise sales agents will even work with you to get you (or identify/claim/reserve for you a specific car when it becomes available for sale) the car you want (I doubt all the option pkgs Toyota offers will be available in the rental fleet) as far as color combinations & mileage.