How can this be? Well, it seems those who want a Toyota Prius hybrid are so impatient that they are buying used ones and paying more for them because they aren’t willing to wait for a new one to become available.
High gas prices and wait lists of two months or longer for new Priuses are reasons why buyers are paying about $27,945 in June for a 2008 Prius with an average 8,000 miles on it. This is about $1,300 more than the average transaction price for a new one, reports USA Today.
Even 2007 models with about 22,000 miles sold for only $276 less than dealers were getting for a Prius direct from the factory. The odd thing is that the Prius is virtually unchanged since the current version rolled out five years ago.
Hype, frenzy, perceived popularity and high miles per gallon can go a long way with selling a used vehicle at a premium price. Keep in mind though that it can take a long time to recoup the cost of a hybrid. You might not save as much money as you’d think on gas because of the high initial cost of the vehicle.
