[jyl]

This seems like a bad time to buy a car, no?

Wife’s Prius threw a code, main battery going bad - after 15 years and 230,000 miles, I’m not too unhappy. $1600 installed for a rebuilt third party battery. My first reaction was - nope, time for a new car. Then I went and looked at what’s available at what prices. Hmm, getting another year or so from the Prius is looking like a better idea. I’m pretty sure in a year I’ll be able to buy a new car for at least $1600 less than I’d pay today. And I’ll have a well-used but still sound Prius that I can give to someone who needs it.

Critique of that reasoning?