Would you buy an Elise demonstrator?
Discussion
It seems like you can still get the new lotus finance deal on demonstrators. Could be a bargain. I'm well tempted to grab one when I'm ready to commit.
But then, is this something I should really do?
I suspect a demonstrator is well maintained and the car well sorted, as otherwise people would not like it and wouldn't want to buy one. On the other hand it's like buying your car with the knowledge that dozens of people drove it as if they had stolen it, or tested the suspension setup on every pothole.
I suspect residuals can suffer, but how would you really find out (apart if you were the dealer)? Would it make a difference on the insurance?
Could it be as good a buy as a nearly new car, but with full warranty and new car finance? Surely it can't be much worse than any second hand vehicle... Or am I missing something?
As anyone taken the jump? What was your experience?
But then, is this something I should really do?
I suspect a demonstrator is well maintained and the car well sorted, as otherwise people would not like it and wouldn't want to buy one. On the other hand it's like buying your car with the knowledge that dozens of people drove it as if they had stolen it, or tested the suspension setup on every pothole.
I suspect residuals can suffer, but how would you really find out (apart if you were the dealer)? Would it make a difference on the insurance?
Could it be as good a buy as a nearly new car, but with full warranty and new car finance? Surely it can't be much worse than any second hand vehicle... Or am I missing something?
As anyone taken the jump? What was your experience?
Bebee said:
the more specialist the car the more likely you won't get the chance to thrash it solo.
I had a couple of test drives allowed with my partner and no salesman. But in these cases I always drive very conservatively. With a salesman though, I simply don't have that much restrain... 
RYH64E said:
On a car like the Elise it seems a bit daft to worry about how the car has been driven on (almost certainly accompanied) demos when surely the intention is to drive it like you stole it after purchase anyway? If an Elise can't cope with being driven hard it has no purpose at all.
Fair point.If I were to put my cynical hat on for a minute I might think that ex-demos were a way for Lotus to get low mileage second hand cars into the dealer network for sale to this people who don't want to pay full list. I'd happily have bought one if I could've found the colour/option configuration I wanted at a local-ish dealer. An ex-demo with just a few hundred miles on the clock is usually £6-7k below list for the Elise S, that's a good saving.
Look at the car. Evaluate the condition. Evaluate the price. If both are right buy the car. There's no difference to me between an ex demo or a private sale. If its under 3000 miles just go for it. When you see ex demo's at £34K its a big saving and for me a no brainer. Don't get hung up on the how many people might have driven it thing. Only area to check is that its done it's mileage on the road with little track use.
I would prefer an ex demo to a one owner - demo drives under supervision are never likely to rag the car in a way that some owners will. For similar reasons I would always prefer a car owned by an older driver to a younger one. And subject to nowing the owner was an engineer, I would always prefer a home serviced car to a dealer one where mechanics cut corners, miss things out etc.
bordseye said:
I would prefer an ex demo to a one owner - demo drives under supervision are never likely to rag the car in a way that some owners will. For similar reasons I would always prefer a car owned by an older driver to a younger one. And subject to knowing the owner was an engineer, I would always prefer a home serviced car to a dealer one where mechanics cut corners, miss things out etc.
There's a market opportunity Lotus are missing, elderly engineers who want a basic two seater sports car to potter down to the shops on the weekend. Might have to do something about the getting in/out of the Elsie though, that will be a bit of a challenge with a dodgy knee and an artritic hip...I think you'll find that NO MANUFACTURER is allowed to sell on development cars. At Lotus the development cars are registered specifically as that, and DVLA do not allow them to be re-registered as private use cars afterwards. I'm sure other manufacturers are compelled to follow the same procedures.
fridaypassion said:
Is it a demonstrator though? Lotus have a habit of knocking out development cars out for cheap to their dealers. If your clutch goes 2 weeks into ownership it might take the shine off a bit...
Why would Lotus want (or allow) potential customers getting demonstration drives in cars that are anything but the very best they can offer, how would that persuade them to part with a considerable chunk of money? Surely demo cars should be representative of the best that Lotus can make, not a way to palm off dodgy cars to the dealer.Fastpedeller said:
I think you'll find that NO MANUFACTURER is allowed to sell on development cars. At Lotus the development cars are registered specifically as that, and DVLA do not allow them to be re-registered as private use cars afterwards. I'm sure other manufacturers are compelled to follow the same procedures.
Which laws would that be then that prevents this? If Lotus produce a car, stick it on a AU plate, use it themselves to do some suspension tweaks on or drive to Scandinavia and back to test something they crush it then? If its registered for the road they can do what they like.fridaypassion said:
Because they are in a completely dire financial situation and need every single penny they can get?
And making a few quid by selling off crap and feeding the 'lots of trouble, usually serious' reputation is the answer? Cars that they will have to fix under the three year warranty anyway? Surely a better option would be more dealers, with first class demonstrators, persuading potential customers to spend lots of money buying great cars? Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff