We’ve noticed recently that even as the stock market plunged as if it had an anvil tied around its Dow-Jonesey neck, there is something has not only held its value, but has actually gained a bit of worth. And that...
We’ve noticed recently that even as the stock market plunged as if it had an anvil tied around its Dow-Jonesey neck, there is something has not only held its value, but has actually gained a bit of worth. And that amuses us more than a little.
That something? It’s, uh, how should we put this – the used Prius.
What’s going on, it seems, is a confluence of things. First, gas has gotten just a teensy bit expensive. You’ve probably noticed that.
As gas has gotten expensive, folks have migrated into cars that offer not just reduced emissions, safety and comfort, but also economy. And if you want those values, you can’t do much better than a Prius, with its EPA-rated mpg numbers of 48/city, 45/highway, 46/combined.
Folks are buying Priuses as fast as we can build them, and that’s apparently meant that preowned Priuses are holding their value, and then some.
Nextautos.com, using numbers they say were developed by a noted automotive survey firm, notes that “The average new 2008 MY [model year – ed.] Prius is selling for an average of $26,672, while used 2008 models with less than 10,000 miles on the odometer are selling for nearly $1300 more, averaging a sale price of $27,945.” Over at Autoblog, meanwhile, the editors there mirror those same numbers, and add, "More incredible: a 2007 model with more than 22,000 miles will only save you $276 compared to the price of a shiny new 2008. We're not sure you can even call that depreciation."
And at USA Today, author Chris Woodyard reports that same set of numbers in his story and explains, "Buyers are so eager to start saving gas with the nation's best-selling hybrid that they're paying more for a used Prius than they'd pay for a new one if they were willing to wait."
Additionally, if you live in California and your Prius happens to wear the stickers that allow it into the state’s HOV/carpool lanes with just one occupant, it’s apparently worth even more, to the tune of up to a couple of thousand bucks.
So here’s what it looks like: Even at a time when your 401(k) plan likely is taking a beating in this crazy market, at least your Prius has held its value, or maybe even appreciated a little.
That, along with a rating of 46/combined mpg, has got to make you smile.
- Jon F. Thompson, Editor, Open Road
More...
We’ve noticed recently that even as the stock market plunged as if it had an anvil tied around its Dow-Jonesey neck, there is something has not only held its value, but has actually gained a bit of worth. And that amuses us more than a little.
That something? It’s, uh, how should we put this – the used Prius.
What’s going on, it seems, is a confluence of things. First, gas has gotten just a teensy bit expensive. You’ve probably noticed that.
As gas has gotten expensive, folks have migrated into cars that offer not just reduced emissions, safety and comfort, but also economy. And if you want those values, you can’t do much better than a Prius, with its EPA-rated mpg numbers of 48/city, 45/highway, 46/combined.
Folks are buying Priuses as fast as we can build them, and that’s apparently meant that preowned Priuses are holding their value, and then some.
Nextautos.com, using numbers they say were developed by a noted automotive survey firm, notes that “The average new 2008 MY [model year – ed.] Prius is selling for an average of $26,672, while used 2008 models with less than 10,000 miles on the odometer are selling for nearly $1300 more, averaging a sale price of $27,945.” Over at Autoblog, meanwhile, the editors there mirror those same numbers, and add, "More incredible: a 2007 model with more than 22,000 miles will only save you $276 compared to the price of a shiny new 2008. We're not sure you can even call that depreciation."
And at USA Today, author Chris Woodyard reports that same set of numbers in his story and explains, "Buyers are so eager to start saving gas with the nation's best-selling hybrid that they're paying more for a used Prius than they'd pay for a new one if they were willing to wait."
Additionally, if you live in California and your Prius happens to wear the stickers that allow it into the state’s HOV/carpool lanes with just one occupant, it’s apparently worth even more, to the tune of up to a couple of thousand bucks.
So here’s what it looks like: Even at a time when your 401(k) plan likely is taking a beating in this crazy market, at least your Prius has held its value, or maybe even appreciated a little.
That, along with a rating of 46/combined mpg, has got to make you smile.
- Jon F. Thompson, Editor, Open Road
More...