To buy an ex press demonstrator car or not?
Discussion
Tryke3 said:
If i was given a free car to test for a few weeks rest assured i would test it to destruction 
i mean who knew a m3 can go offroading . I have friend who was given hire cars from work to drive around in, even now i remember him being specifically unimpressed by a insignia, which he put straight in 2nd gear at 80mph on purpose
why? bellend i mean who knew a m3 can go offroading . I have friend who was given hire cars from work to drive around in, even now i remember him being specifically unimpressed by a insignia, which he put straight in 2nd gear at 80mph on purposeandymc said:
Tryke3 said:
If i was given a free car to test for a few weeks rest assured i would test it to destruction i mean who knew a m3 can go offroading . I have friend who was given hire cars from work to drive around in, even now i remember him being specifically unimpressed by a insignia, which he put straight in 2nd gear at 80mph on purpose
why? bellend i mean who knew a m3 can go offroading . I have friend who was given hire cars from work to drive around in, even now i remember him being specifically unimpressed by a insignia, which he put straight in 2nd gear at 80mph on purposeJag_NE said:
andymc said:
why? bellend
because he can rinse the thing without any consequences. If that troubles anyone they should buy a new car and suck up the associated cost.I bought an ex press BMW at 6 months old with 4K on the clock
It was loaded with every conceivable extra
It was also featured in a group test
in Auto express magazine
I ran it for 4 1/2 years and 50k without any faults .. nothing fell off .. nothing broke .. it needed no warranty work
Just regular servicing
It had a special code on the build sheet for press prep from the factory so I knew what I was buying
I traded it back into BMW with no negative impact on price having been a press car .., in fact I got very strong money for it
Only regret .. probably selling it !
It was loaded with every conceivable extra
It was also featured in a group test
in Auto express magazine
I ran it for 4 1/2 years and 50k without any faults .. nothing fell off .. nothing broke .. it needed no warranty work
Just regular servicing
It had a special code on the build sheet for press prep from the factory so I knew what I was buying
I traded it back into BMW with no negative impact on price having been a press car .., in fact I got very strong money for it
Only regret .. probably selling it !
My old FD2 was an ex-press car. It appeared in EVO COTY and several other magazines and was seen on 5th gear being peddled around by VBH.
It was absolutely perfect while I had it and I swear to god it was quicker than other standard FD2s... In my mind I put that down to the fact it had a good thrashing from new and was loosened up... or it had been tinkered with?
It was absolutely perfect while I had it and I swear to god it was quicker than other standard FD2s... In my mind I put that down to the fact it had a good thrashing from new and was loosened up... or it had been tinkered with?
If i knew that this was the case and i was putting my own cash into it, i'd most like just steer clear but that's probably just the pessimist in me. At the end of the day, buying a used car is a complete gamble anyway. You don't really know how how it's been driven/treated over the years by it's previous owner(s).
I'd apply the same logic to an ex-hire car. Yes, there's a chance it will be fine but there's a much bigger doubt that it will be a complete dog in my eyes. I also work for a hire company so there's first-hand experience on that front. We've got a decent enough used market to take advantage of so there are always better examples out there.
I'd apply the same logic to an ex-hire car. Yes, there's a chance it will be fine but there's a much bigger doubt that it will be a complete dog in my eyes. I also work for a hire company so there's first-hand experience on that front. We've got a decent enough used market to take advantage of so there are always better examples out there.
Many moons ago I visited an automotive parts centre in the midlands (selling courier at the time), I don't think its there now for Subaru / associated brand, it was the dealers parts hub for the UK, out the back was a bay with 3 ramps, I was told this was where the press fleet came back to after every outing and were given a new set of brakes, tyres full service and anything else they felt it needed, he said brakes and tyres were changed regardless of wear.
He did say they often came back with damaged panels, suspension etc but were always put back to pristine condition before the next outing.
I would by one, my old LCR was a "Seat UK" car and had it at 58k to 75k it had no issues other than the normal things that went wrong on these cars, I had a 9 month old focus in 2001, this was a hire car, I didn't know at the time of purchase and that went through a gearbox at 11k miles, would never have one again.
My old company used to send people on training courses in hire cars, often entry level jobs and they would often be bragging about how they abused the hire car for the 24 hours they had them
He did say they often came back with damaged panels, suspension etc but were always put back to pristine condition before the next outing.
I would by one, my old LCR was a "Seat UK" car and had it at 58k to 75k it had no issues other than the normal things that went wrong on these cars, I had a 9 month old focus in 2001, this was a hire car, I didn't know at the time of purchase and that went through a gearbox at 11k miles, would never have one again.
My old company used to send people on training courses in hire cars, often entry level jobs and they would often be bragging about how they abused the hire car for the 24 hours they had them
I bought a press car nearly ten years ago, still got it. Had no expense other than servicing and consumables . It was mint when I bought it after going thro Reading Porsche and I am pleased to say it's just about in the same condition today.
People buying brand new cars with no road miles sometimes end up with a Friday car it's luck I guess.
People buying brand new cars with no road miles sometimes end up with a Friday car it's luck I guess.
I have an ex press car. 61 plate which was bought in February 2015, with 19,000 on the clock. No service history. I got it for about £4,000 less than any comparable model.
Funnily enough, I only found out it's an ex-press car this month.
The car has not missed a beat in the the 20,000 miles it's done in the last year.
BUY. ON. CONDITION.
Funnily enough, I only found out it's an ex-press car this month.
The car has not missed a beat in the the 20,000 miles it's done in the last year.
BUY. ON. CONDITION.
I currently have 2 ex press cars - an Aston DBS Carbon Edition and McLaren 650S Spider.
Both bought at less than a year old with over 2 year's manufacturer warranty left on very good deals. I was naturally careful with due diligence on both but at the end of the day these cars are generally extremely well maintained and it is possible with an independent expert assessment, oil samples, checks of bushes etc to see if cars have been abused in the way that some in this post seem to think acceptable. Both cars remain in lovely condition, continue to perform brilliantly and nothing adverse has come to light from their past. Absolutely no reason why not to buy one provided you do so with both eyes open, ask lots of questions about who has driven, where and when and then do appropriate diligence. Not all press cars are ragged round circuits in Clarkson fashion, and most have number plates so it's pretty easy to look up the road tests and see if the one you are looking at has been taken to more drift schools than you might think healthy!
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/6UGcJgMq.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/wLEZ5JnO" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/wLEZ5JnO.jpg)
Both bought at less than a year old with over 2 year's manufacturer warranty left on very good deals. I was naturally careful with due diligence on both but at the end of the day these cars are generally extremely well maintained and it is possible with an independent expert assessment, oil samples, checks of bushes etc to see if cars have been abused in the way that some in this post seem to think acceptable. Both cars remain in lovely condition, continue to perform brilliantly and nothing adverse has come to light from their past. Absolutely no reason why not to buy one provided you do so with both eyes open, ask lots of questions about who has driven, where and when and then do appropriate diligence. Not all press cars are ragged round circuits in Clarkson fashion, and most have number plates so it's pretty easy to look up the road tests and see if the one you are looking at has been taken to more drift schools than you might think healthy!
Edited by Brital on Thursday 27th October 11:03
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff