A 1999 car worth $10,000 -- sufficient for a down payment on a hybrid?

[Deja Q]

A solid car, I'll do my part.

I do have money saved up too, and would take a loan of course, but is a car, in good/excellent condition, enough on its own?

[huskerlaw]

1. I would think so.

I bought a car last year with a $5000 downpayment. It wasn't a hybrid, but it's similar in price to a Prius.

A $10K downpayment on a Prius would leave you with *about* a $15K loan (depending on options, of course). Honestly, you're not going to get much better with any sort of new car.

[REP]

2. We used my 1997 as the DP on my new (2008) car

Very unlikely you'll get $10K trade/DP unless it's something really high-end, but with good credit, using it as DP or trade in is very possible.

[Deja Q]

3. Low mileage? I checked Kelley's blue book...

Wow; not as much as I had thought, despite it being in very good condition, but I do have good credit.

In time...

[Chan790]

4. No, sadly.

If you just didn't live in the cold-9-months-of-the-year belt; I would suggest a Vespa LX50 as a very solid energy-efficient (90mpg!) and cheap ($3200 new, about $1700 used) form of daily transportation which doesn't even require a driver's license let alone a motorcycle license in most states. (Hence why my license-less fanny is buying one with some saved-up loot and my tax-rebate check when it comes.)

[datasuspect]

5. wholesale book value would be the figure you would get

what are the particulars of the vehicle?