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‘He’s Not Gonna Get Approved:’ Retiree Collecting $1,500 Monthly Eyes Toyota Avalon Hybrid at Dealership. Can He Afford It?
"I love it when Customer Service takes good care of the retirees."
Photo by: YouTube
Alexandra Samuels 
By: Alexandra Samuels
Aug 12, 2025 at 9:00am ET
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A small car dealership is trending on TikTok after it posted a snippet of a phone call with a prospective buyer.
In the clip from Star Auto (@star.auto36), a dealer talks to a man interested in a Toyota Avalon. It’s unclear whether the sale ever occurred, but the details the customer shared left viewers skeptical.
The caller stated that he was a retiree earning approximately $1,500 per month, admitted his credit wasn’t in the best shape, he didn’t want to go through a bank, but he had cash on hand. Despite the red flags, the dealer in the video remained optimistic, hoping the sale would go through and the buyer would be satisfied with the car.
As of this writing, the video has garnered over 8,000 views.
Can He Afford It?
Without more details about the specific car, it’s tough to say. Some viewers were skeptical that the man could afford it.
“$1,500 a month???? Oh, jeez,” one wrote.
“He’s not going to be approved,” added another.
On the phone with the buyer, the Star Auto employee said that if the customer could put down $5,000, the two could make something work.
“I got, like, $5,000 in my pocket right now,” the prospective buyer said.
The big question is the price. The dealer noted that brand-new Avalons can run up to $40,000—or more. The Kelley Blue Book lists a 2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid with a starting price of nearly $30,000, rising to around $38,000 for a new purchase.
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On the low end, some used Avalon Hybrids sell for around $9,000, with prices varying depending on the year, mileage, condition, trim, and location. Older models from 2013 to 2016 tend to be more affordable than their 2021 to 2022 counterparts, and low-mileage cars in good condition fetch higher prices.
Recent listings show the spread. Edmunds has a 2022 Avalon Hybrid XLE with just over 62,000 miles for $27,590, while in Austin, Texas, a 2020 Avalon Hybrid Limited is going for $31,998 on TrueCar.
For a retiree, affordability comes down to finances and priorities. In general, but especially if you’re living on a fixed income, it’s smart to keep car payments under 10% to 15% of your monthly income. A realistic budget should also factor in fuel, insurance, maintenance, and repairs. As Yahoo! Finance notes, picking a hybrid with excellent fuel economy can make ownership more manageable—whether that’s an Avalon or a smaller, cheaper model.
Is a Hybrid Car Good for Retirees?
While on the phone with the prospective buyer, the Star Auto dealer hyped up hybrid cars, describing them as starting in “a battery mode” before the gas engine kicks in, usually after hitting five to 10 miles per hour.
Regarding the Toyota Avalon Hybrid the buyer was eyeing, the dealer said, “You can’t get much better than that,” noting it was a hybrid limited.
The buyer, eager to try both a Toyota and a hybrid, said he’d driven other cars before that didn’t work for him.
For retirees, hybrids can be a wise choice. They deliver fuel savings, lower maintenance needs, and smooth, quiet driving. But they also come with trade-offs.
Hybrids excel in city driving and are known for having impressive fuel efficiency. Plus, with fewer moving parts than gas-only cars, they typically require less maintenance.
Still, the downsides matter. Hybrids typically cost more upfront to purchase, and while battery failures are rare, they can be expensive to repair. Additionally, the technology may be intimidating, especially for retirees not accustomed to hybrid cars, and fuel economy gains are reduced on the highway.
For retirees, though, the decision of whether to get a hybrid car should come down to budget and driving habits. If fuel savings and long-term value are top priorities, a hybrid may be worth considering.
“I love the Avalon,” one commenter wrote.
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“I love it when Customer Service takes good care of retirees,” a second added.
Motor1 has reached out to Star Auto via a direct message on TikTok.
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