The used car market has gained traction like never before after the recent viral pandemic. Due to chip shortages and driver nostalgia, cars that were once nearly worthless are now worth thousands more than before. But even with the popularity of this new used car market, there are still some popular models that are incredibly hard to sell.
Vehicles like the Acura SLX come to mind. There are also once-popular cars like the Isuzu Trooper and Toyota Prius that are tough to sell nowadays. Buying a car that’s going to be hard to sell is also a very bad investment. You’ll hardly ever be able to recoup the money that you spend on a shoddy vehicle. We looked at some of the most popular cars that are the hardest to sell on today’s market here.
First-Generation Toyota Prius (1997-2003)
The first-generation Toyota Prius was made from 1997 to 2003. It was the first mass-produced hybrid electric car and used both gasoline and electricity to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The Prius was a compact car that could seat up to five people. The first-generation Prius had a futuristic design and a unique shape. It had a similar size to the Toyota Echo, which came in at a much cheaper price (via Hot Cars).
It also had innovative features like a dashboard display that showed the driver how much fuel and battery power was remaining. When the 2008 recession hit, the Prius offered consumers a smart economical choice. The mid-2000s were the best time to be a Prius owner because the car hit its peak. The first-generation Prius was a groundbreaking car that helped pave the way for future hybrid and electric vehicles. However, the trademark egg-shaped design didn’t appeal to everyone. Some drivers thought that Toyota could have put a bit more effort into the design of the car.