buy a dealer pre reg that was a courtesy car?

buy a dealer pre reg that was a courtesy car?

Author
Discussion

lord trumpton

Original Poster:

7,379 posts

126 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
With the ongoing search for wifeys next car she has seen a '64 plate car with 2500 miles from a main dealer

After enquiring it was their courtesy car for 6 months.

Now this is enough to tell her to keep looking as rightly or wrongly I would assume it has had its balls cooked from day one and although it drives fine and sounds sweet, the benefits of buying 'nearly new' are not really the same with this one imho

Anyone else share the 'courtesy car' snobbery?

Jonno02

2,246 posts

109 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
Yes. But at 2500 miles? Pfft, no. The car will be fine. Dealer courtesy cars are normally driven back home and left for the day, then driven back to the dealership. Hire cars on the other hand, now that's a different story.

jonwm

2,511 posts

114 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
I bought a pre reg leon 3 years ago, it had 500 on the clock at 3 months old, I was told it was used by the sales manager, I doubt it was but also doubt it was a courtesy car as its a 2.0 turbo petrol, the £9k off list was enough for me not to worry too much how it had been driven, it's now covered 10k and all is fine (now I've typed this it will probably throw the con rod out the engine tomorrow)

anonymous-user

54 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
Wouldn't worry at all as long as it's in good nick, cars are not fragile little things that can't take hard use. 20 or 30k miles of bring totally ragged is different but 2.5k is nothing even assuming it was constantly beasted.


VolvoT5

4,155 posts

174 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
Yeah why not? Only 2.5k miles and if the condition is OK I can't see the issue.

I often wonder where do people think all these nearly new / pre reg cars come from anyway ? Many of them will have been rental, hire, courtesy, etc, etc. The only difference here is the 'history' hasn't been hidden from you. And given the often massive insurance excess on many of these loan/hire cars these days I'm not sure people do still thrash the arse off them; too risky!


Trailhead

2,628 posts

147 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
It would put me off. What is the running in period?

Driver101

14,376 posts

121 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
As previous threads on here, some people get enjoyment thrashing the life out hire cars.

When I've ever had one, I treat it well and make sure it goes back with no damage so I don't have to face the excessive charges.

A lot of nearly new cars are going to be hire cars of some sort.

55palfers

5,901 posts

164 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
Still under warranty?

No problem.

RYH64E

7,960 posts

244 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
If you're only planning on keeping the car a few years then it doesn't really matter, any mechanical problems will be covered by the warranty anyway.

I don't think modern cars really need much running in, though my Elise isn't meant to exceed 3000rpm for the first 1000 miles at which point it needs a first service, I haven't been as careful with the revs as I could have been but am not particularly concerned.

Roo

11,503 posts

207 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
Trailhead said:
It would put me off. What is the running in period?
On a modern car there isn't one.

Trailhead

2,628 posts

147 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
55palfers said:
Still under warranty?

No problem.
Gearbox or clutch from being thrashed isn't covered

Roo

11,503 posts

207 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
quotequote all
hora said:
How much of a difference is it from a normal pre reg
About 2,500 miles.

aw51 121565

4,771 posts

233 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
D'oh! hehe

thumbup

Mark A B

166 posts

149 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
I've seen how they can be treated and that would put me off. Me and a friend of mine (member on here too) met a crossing island after hitting ice, ripped the sump off, so it was moved to a safe spot to wait for police. The car had less than 100 miles on it so I'm more than sure it was on the road again.

gazza285

9,806 posts

208 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
Mark A B said:
I've seen how they can be treated and that would put me off. Me and a friend of mine (member on here too) met a crossing island after hitting ice, ripped the sump off, so it was moved to a safe spot to wait for police. The car had less than 100 miles on it so I'm more than sure it was on the road again.
What else was damaged, other than a bit of bent tin with a drain plug in it?

The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

117 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
Mark A B said:
Me and a friend of mine
A friend and I

jas xjr

11,309 posts

239 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
Its not an ex rental is it?

A few years ago I had hired a diesel Mondeo ,it had 2500 miles on the clock.it ran like a rough old dog.I used to drive a diesel Renault master,so that was my reference.
I mentioned to the driver who came to collect the car.he replied that it was getting on,for their fleet.
Not sure if that is still the case these days.