To buy an ex press demonstrator car or not?
Discussion
Probably setting myself up for a public flogging here... but here goes.
Having a brief exchange with Dan Trent on twitter, absolutely the worst place for any kind of meaningful conversation by they way, about the merits of buying an ex press car (at least that was my intent, I assume he may see this).
In my head I used to have an idea that press cars would be maintained and serviced within an inch of their lives, meticulous care and attention so all the journalist would give nothing but the best reviews.
In experience, having nearly bought an ex-demo F-type, which was in the hands of Evo magazine and Chris Harris whilst he worked for PH, they are absolutely shagged. (long story, deposit paid sight unseen, on arrival the car was a wreck).
Dan posted a picture of him doing a dump run to the local recycling centre in the lovely new PH f-type, and I flippantly commented "this is why you should never buy a press car" or something similar. Not so much about the dump run in particular.
My main point being, press cars get treated in a way that most (not all) owners of a shiny new 60-70k coupe wouldn't dream of. Dump runs being case in point.
Likewise, not many would see much track action, where as most press cars would have plenty. Nothing is as fast as someone elses car! (or something to that effect).... Even for those that track their cars regualrly, the prospect of a trip into the gravel in someone elses car, on someone elses insurance (granted, I'm making an assumption about the insurance), is a lot more palatable than the respray costs out of your own pocket.
So, the main question, would you touch an ex press car with a barge pole?
For me, no chance, I tried, failed, never again.
Having a brief exchange with Dan Trent on twitter, absolutely the worst place for any kind of meaningful conversation by they way, about the merits of buying an ex press car (at least that was my intent, I assume he may see this).
In my head I used to have an idea that press cars would be maintained and serviced within an inch of their lives, meticulous care and attention so all the journalist would give nothing but the best reviews.
In experience, having nearly bought an ex-demo F-type, which was in the hands of Evo magazine and Chris Harris whilst he worked for PH, they are absolutely shagged. (long story, deposit paid sight unseen, on arrival the car was a wreck).
Dan posted a picture of him doing a dump run to the local recycling centre in the lovely new PH f-type, and I flippantly commented "this is why you should never buy a press car" or something similar. Not so much about the dump run in particular.
My main point being, press cars get treated in a way that most (not all) owners of a shiny new 60-70k coupe wouldn't dream of. Dump runs being case in point.
Likewise, not many would see much track action, where as most press cars would have plenty. Nothing is as fast as someone elses car! (or something to that effect).... Even for those that track their cars regualrly, the prospect of a trip into the gravel in someone elses car, on someone elses insurance (granted, I'm making an assumption about the insurance), is a lot more palatable than the respray costs out of your own pocket.
So, the main question, would you touch an ex press car with a barge pole?
For me, no chance, I tried, failed, never again.
cj2013 said:
If it was an older rare/classic example.
I'd love to have a rarer example that's in all of the original media photos - not sure if it adds value.
I'm talking 12 month old cars. Done the rounds of the magazines, end up in the main dealer network.I'd love to have a rarer example that's in all of the original media photos - not sure if it adds value.
Granted something a lot older could be different.
I loved the idea of having the f-type that was on the front cover of evo magazine, great provenance!!! The reality was not so great.
My pal works for a company that run tests for big manufacturers (he does aston, land rover, Jag, McLaren!) Anyway, they also run shakedowns for press cars and new releases. They had a fleet of F type SVR's recently that he got to drive (and get paid!!!) for a few days. He goes to the shops, gym, up and down the M6 and reports back any niggles. They are then serviced, issues fixed and sent out to the press. They may get driven hard but come back to a shakedown and service before being sent out again. I wouldnt worry
My Evo X turned out to be a press demonstrator though I was never told about that by the dealership. It went through 1 gearbox, 1 AYC unit, 4 sets of brake discs, 4 alloys and numerous other issues in the 3 years I had it. It only had 8500 miles on it when I bought it and it was sold with under 30k. That's £15,000 of warranty work on a car that cost £21k! Never again!
Ali_T said:
My Evo X turned out to be a press demonstrator though I was never told about that by the dealership. It went through 1 gearbox, 1 AYC unit, 4 sets of brake discs, 4 alloys and numerous other issues in the 3 years I had it. It only had 8500 miles on it when I bought it and it was sold with under 30k. That's £15,000 of warranty work on a car that cost £21k! Never again!
Why did it need "4 alloys"?To be honest, I'd always assumed that press cars were treated like hire cars. Thrashed to within an inch of their life while the bonnet is only opened for photos, and handed back at the end of the 'term' with bald tyres and warning lights. I can't imagine why anyone would want to own one...
My Alfa 155 Q4 is an ex press car. I bought it a few years back - 20 years old with 19800km. It came with a massive folder containing press articles and all the servicing data. I reckon a good proportion of its time was spent on track or being driven hard.
We gave it a full service - all fluids, filters, belts and water pump changed - and I continue to use it as intended. It's a keeper
We gave it a full service - all fluids, filters, belts and water pump changed - and I continue to use it as intended. It's a keeper
Oh no, taking some things to the tip! In a shiny new car! It'll be absolutely *ruined*!
It may surprise you to know that some people buy (very) expensive cars with their own money and don't treat them very well at all. Not everyone is going to be carefully warming up the oil before using all the revs, only filling up with premium fuel or obsessively 2-bucket washing and checking fluids every week before tucking it away in a dry garage. They buy them and use them and couldn't give a monkey's about keeping it in perfect condition, just stopping by the local car wash for a clean when it gets too dirty. Pretty much every trackday I've been to has had at one near-new premium sportscar with the owner using it as intended. All the scorn parts of PH heap on people leasing cars - some people are the opposite, can afford to just buy what they like and not care at all about what it'll be worth in x years time, regardless of how they treat it.
I wouldn't treat buying an ex-press car any differently to any other secondhand car. If you're not comfortable with how someone might have (mis)treated a car, then buy a new one instead.
It may surprise you to know that some people buy (very) expensive cars with their own money and don't treat them very well at all. Not everyone is going to be carefully warming up the oil before using all the revs, only filling up with premium fuel or obsessively 2-bucket washing and checking fluids every week before tucking it away in a dry garage. They buy them and use them and couldn't give a monkey's about keeping it in perfect condition, just stopping by the local car wash for a clean when it gets too dirty. Pretty much every trackday I've been to has had at one near-new premium sportscar with the owner using it as intended. All the scorn parts of PH heap on people leasing cars - some people are the opposite, can afford to just buy what they like and not care at all about what it'll be worth in x years time, regardless of how they treat it.
I wouldn't treat buying an ex-press car any differently to any other secondhand car. If you're not comfortable with how someone might have (mis)treated a car, then buy a new one instead.
I certainly wouldn't purchase an ex-press car. I was just listening to The Smoking Tire podcast (Matt Farah hosting with Jonny Lieberman as guest) and they were both laughing their heads off at the idea of someone buying an ex-press car.
They've been used and abused hard from the get go. Avoid!
They've been used and abused hard from the get go. Avoid!
cheeky_chops said:
My pal works for a company that run tests for big manufacturers (he does aston, land rover, Jag, McLaren!) Anyway, they also run shakedowns for press cars and new releases. They had a fleet of F type SVR's recently that he got to drive (and get paid!!!) for a few days. He goes to the shops, gym, up and down the M6 and reports back any niggles. They are then serviced, issues fixed and sent out to the press. They may get driven hard but come back to a shakedown and service before being sent out again. I wouldnt worry
Link to applications for a position? 
I used to work for a motorbike magazine as a staff writer. About 18 months before, I bought my first proper sports bike, a GSX-R600 (P716WFG). Imagine my surprise, when looking in the archives for something or other, I came across a dyno print for my bike.
A bit more research, and I found the relevant issue. Bike was an ex_Suzuki press bike. Anyway, it was fine. Probably blue-printed like mad like most press bikes! It was certainly a bit more powerful than most customer bikes. Sadly sold to buy an RSV1000.
A bit more research, and I found the relevant issue. Bike was an ex_Suzuki press bike. Anyway, it was fine. Probably blue-printed like mad like most press bikes! It was certainly a bit more powerful than most customer bikes. Sadly sold to buy an RSV1000.
Carnage said:
I used to work for a motorbike magazine as a staff writer. About 18 months before, I bought my first proper sports bike, a GSX-R600 (P716WFG). Imagine my surprise, when looking in the archives for something or other, I came across a dyno print for my bike.
A bit more research, and I found the relevant issue. Bike was an ex_Suzuki press bike. Anyway, it was fine. Probably blue-printed like mad like most press bikes! It was certainly a bit more powerful than most customer bikes. Sadly sold to buy an RSV1000.
Back when I was a student (20 years ago!), one of the big bike mags bought two identical bikes, then thrashed one from new and followed a running in procedure for the other. I think they were GSXR600s actually. Lter down the line they dynod them and the thrashed one produced more power and felt nicer to rev, but they didn't keep both for long enough to learn if it developed any problems that the run in bike didn't, which they thought it might.A bit more research, and I found the relevant issue. Bike was an ex_Suzuki press bike. Anyway, it was fine. Probably blue-printed like mad like most press bikes! It was certainly a bit more powerful than most customer bikes. Sadly sold to buy an RSV1000.
Had a Land Rover, got to obligatory Off road experience thing when bought and every time it got a main dealer service.
Went on a couple of them and it turns out that all the cars used on the off road course are cleaned, serviced and thrown into the approved used network as ex demos with relatively low miles. However those miles are all insanely bumpy/underwater/high stress. I'd never by a approved used demonstrator landy after that.
Went on a couple of them and it turns out that all the cars used on the off road course are cleaned, serviced and thrown into the approved used network as ex demos with relatively low miles. However those miles are all insanely bumpy/underwater/high stress. I'd never by a approved used demonstrator landy after that.
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