Buying an ex press demontrator!
Discussion
It'll have all the options, and generally, it will have been checked, checked, and checked before it went off to another press contact. They don't want their vehicles looking bad, or failing whilst with the press. I think if the condition is good, and the rear tyres look fresh, go for it!
If its a run of the mill motor no one is going to care, its probably had a better start than most,hopefully most journalists know how to drive i.e not riding the clutch etc , it will have had every snag ironed out at least you know what has happened and where it has been.
If its a modern classic waiting to happen eg gt86 or something then get a copy of the mag and keep it as part of its history. people love that sort of thing with old cars.
If its a modern classic waiting to happen eg gt86 or something then get a copy of the mag and keep it as part of its history. people love that sort of thing with old cars.
F-Type V8S
And would you believe it... It's the very car monkey drives here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruFXKEIPTvA
And would you believe it... It's the very car monkey drives here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruFXKEIPTvA
I suppose it depends on if you buy into the idea that modern engines need to be babied for the first X thousand miles, because you can be fairly sure this one wasn't 
I must admit I'd also be concerned about the load that the autobox and electronically controlled diff have been subjected too. If you're buying it for the long run it may mean these things give problems at 5 years old rather than 8/9/10? You only have to look at the pictures and vids of press cars to see that they spend much more time getting thrashed than your average privately owned car. If you're planning to keep it until the warranty is up and/or keep it under warranty the whole time you have it then why not.
I must admit I'd also be concerned about the load that the autobox and electronically controlled diff have been subjected too. If you're buying it for the long run it may mean these things give problems at 5 years old rather than 8/9/10? You only have to look at the pictures and vids of press cars to see that they spend much more time getting thrashed than your average privately owned car. If you're planning to keep it until the warranty is up and/or keep it under warranty the whole time you have it then why not.
It's highly likely that it was very thoroughly run in before letting the press loose on it in the first place, as they will have wanted strong performance figures from it. And quite possible that Jaguar changed the transmission and diff before putting the car on the market. Porsche are known to do quite a lot of refurb on demonstrators before they sell them on.
My humble E91 BMW 320D was a press demo car that I bought direct ex BMW, and I did 100,000 miles in it very happily. It went well.
My humble E91 BMW 320D was a press demo car that I bought direct ex BMW, and I did 100,000 miles in it very happily. It went well.
Seriously cared for cars, prepped to perfection before every loan, no expense spared, well specced, and they ensure they are bob on the quoted power too.
Journos go sideways, they go fast too, but they have mech sympathy too in that they don't get thrashed from cold etc. Driven hard yes, driven without care? Rarely.
Journos go sideways, they go fast too, but they have mech sympathy too in that they don't get thrashed from cold etc. Driven hard yes, driven without care? Rarely.
ILoveMondeo said:
F-Type V8S
And would you believe it... It's the very car monkey drives here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruFXKEIPTvA
That's what the car is meant for. And would you believe it... It's the very car monkey drives here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruFXKEIPTvA
Garlick said:
It hasn't.
Christ was just going for some milk in vid was he?
I'm afraid I agree with others here on the longevity of some of the gearbox, diff & suspension components & a need for a price incentive.
Even I as a Jag owner/fan would pass the car over in favour of something else.
weigh it up versus a similar spec car for the price. chances are the demo car will have bits on it that you just cant spec if you were to settle with a similar car.
Ok so you've seen the car thrown about a bit. chances are one or two things went wrong every now and then. but it would have been fixed to factory standard by the manufacturer. it may have had a prang or two, but you'r never going to know, as again it'll have been fixed to look better than new.
I'd say the ex demo cars are more likely to have had newer tyres & brakes far sooner than they actually needed them too. as after all the maker was picking up their own bill.
Go for it!
My mate bought a ex demo Fiesta (I know, massive difference in cars) but he loves it! it has all the toys. even a few fitted to it that were for the then upcoming facelift so he was in a win win with it. and no amount of searching the classifieds could he find a car with even a third of the toys he has on his.
Ok so you've seen the car thrown about a bit. chances are one or two things went wrong every now and then. but it would have been fixed to factory standard by the manufacturer. it may have had a prang or two, but you'r never going to know, as again it'll have been fixed to look better than new.
I'd say the ex demo cars are more likely to have had newer tyres & brakes far sooner than they actually needed them too. as after all the maker was picking up their own bill.
Go for it!
My mate bought a ex demo Fiesta (I know, massive difference in cars) but he loves it! it has all the toys. even a few fitted to it that were for the then upcoming facelift so he was in a win win with it. and no amount of searching the classifieds could he find a car with even a third of the toys he has on his.
Jim AK said:
Christ was just going for some milk in vid was he?
I'm afraid I agree with others here on the longevity of some of the gearbox, diff & suspension components & a need for a price incentive.
Even I as a Jag owner/fan would pass the car over in favour of something else.
There are one or two journos who can smoke rubber for the camera, Chris H, some Evo folk, Steve Sutcliffe....all are ex-racers, all own nice metal and all have sympathy. That car will have been prepped for track use and will have been serviced and refreshed afterwards. The care these cars get is incredible. I'm afraid I agree with others here on the longevity of some of the gearbox, diff & suspension components & a need for a price incentive.
Even I as a Jag owner/fan would pass the car over in favour of something else.
You don't have to believe me, the OP doesn't have to buy the car. Would I buy it (were I able to)? Yep.
Do you know if the privately owned example on the forecourt has been treated to maintenance regardless of cost, do you know if the owner redlined it all the way to the station car park? Of course you don't.
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