Would you buy an ex-Evo car?

[tjob]

Hello people,

I've pretty much done a deal on a car, but during the usual checks it appears to have been owned (from new until 24k miles ish) by the boys over at Evo magazine, used and abused on track and abroad...Lots of motorway miles too, but lots of proper thrashing too!

Its now done 52,000 miles, with the second owner (He doesn't know the cars previous owner, so he clearly didn't google much)

The car is meant to be used hard, its the way manufacturer intended, but would it put you off? Its an RS of sorts...

I'm buying the car to retail, so what would you think if you stumbled across this fact when looking to buy yourself a new car?

Thanks

[DanielSan]

I'd think that it's no doubt been maintained to pretty much the highest standard a car could be and owned by a genuine enthusiast whose used the car as intended. A good buy.

[ajh38]

It wouldn't sway me either way at this point in its life. Some people will see it as a bonus.

[Bear Phils]

If this is the Clio, then almost all of them will have seen track time or hard driving. At least you know what this has been through.

[The Wookie]

Nope, plenty of 'well maintained' cars out there that haven't been given death for most of their lives.

I'd consider a manufacturer press car though given a decent deal as they typically are maintained beyond the call of duty.

[GregMac]

I wouldn't buy a press car

[The Wookie]

doogz said:

Often have blueprinted/not entirely standard engine too.

I doubt anything non-standard (at least at the time of de-fleeting) as it could introduce a liability issue. Best you could hope for is new or blueprinted parts.

[tjob]

Its not a press car as such, it was just purchased by Evo and run for a year as part of the long term cars...

[C2james]

tjob said:

Its not a press car as such, it was just purchased by Evo and run for a year as part of the long term cars...

can we have a picture please?

[chryslerben]

DanielSan said:

I'd think that it's no doubt been maintained to pretty much the highest standard a car could be and owned by a genuine enthusiast whose used the car as intended. A good buy.

you must be the owner Shirley?

If it was then its undoubtedly the first motoring journalist ever to have done so.

[Captain Muppet]

tjob said:

Its not a press car as such, it was just purchased by Evo and run for a year as part of the long term cars...

I'd regard it as an ex-hire car rented exclusively to the mechanically belligerent.

And avoid it.

[Garlick]

GregMac said:

I wouldn't buy a press car

I absolutely would.

[Muzzer79]

I wouldn't buy a press car - remember, it likely won't just have been EVO using it....

If it's just one they've bought and ran on the fleet then that's different.

I'd be more concerned about how the second owner has treated it, rather than EVO as that's more relevant to it's condition now.

[The Wookie]

doogz said:

I've read of ex Citroen press cars having higher than normal lift on camshafts, 70k miles later when someone's got around to rebuilding it for one reason or another.

Gallic shrug to liability I suppose!

[The Wookie]

Captain Muppet said:

tjob said:

Its not a press car as such, it was just purchased by Evo and run for a year as part of the long term cars...

I'd regard it as an ex-hire car rented exclusively to the mechanically belligerent.

And avoid it.

Spot on

[Digger]

By reading the documented Long Term blogs on the vehicle, it might appear useful to read about any of the ownership upsides, downsides, as well as any maintenance and/or parts replaced on the car, assuming of course that this was all done in a timely manner!?

A little bit of provenance, if you will.

[Shirt587]

Captain Muppet said:

I'd regard it as an ex-hire car rented exclusively to the mechanically belligerent.

And avoid it.

Good turn of phrase!

[Hoygo]

Absolutely go for it,whats to doubt here? Maintenance is well documented on the magazine and mag owned cars are always taken care of better than any car out there.

What car is it?

[GregMac]

Garlick said:

GregMac said:

I wouldn't buy a press car

I absolutely would.

Really?

[davepoth]

Ring them up and ask them maybe? They'll tell you if it ever ended up backwards into armco.

I'm in two minds. Yes it's a bit of a risk, but is it as much of a risk as buying a car that used to be owned by 74 year old Mavis, who would slip the clutch at 6,000rpm while parking, and used to run over kerbs because she didn't see them?