Compare Used Car Prices

Q.I'm car shopping and I'm constantly being told that the Prizm is virtually identical to the Corolla, they're made at the same plant etc.... What's the real story? Is there a difference between the two or isn't there?

A.They're 95% similar, and yes, they are made at the same plant in Fremont, CA. Check out the Consumer Reports small sedan review for another comparison, here's where I've noticed physical differences: radio make and placement (Corolla better) heater control design and placement (Prizm better) interior fabric (nod goes to Corolla) rear-seat locks on Corolla only body color choices different (Corolla has a nicer red) suspension (Prizm firmer) Prizm's sides are slightly more rounded trunk and rear lights different (I prefer Corolla's) As for actually buying the car, well, there are both good and bad Geo and Toyota dealers out there. Although this may be out of date due to the rising value of the yen, I compared _invoice_ prices for similar well-equipped cars and found the Corolla to cost no more than $50 more than the Prizm. However, your actual cost will depend on how little above invoice the dealer will accept, and how high his "advertising" and "documentation" fees are (please--let's not re-open this thread!). If you buy the Prizm, you can apply money earned on the GM card, and there's also a $400 college grad rebate available if you finance through GMAC. But Toyota might have some incentives, too -- call Toyota or ask the dealer. There is also the matter of resale value. Right now, used Corollas garner more than used Prizms, though the used-car price gap may narrow in the future as people realize that they are essentially the same car. You might want to compare the number of Chevrolet/Geo service centers in your area to the number of Toyota service centers. A final difference is that while they are both made in the US (with major parts like the engine imported from Japan), Geo sales go to a American company, and Toyota sales go of course to a Japanese company.

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