Ex demo?

[Windlepoons]

Looking at a used hot hatch.

Would you go for a low mileage (5.5k miles) ex demo with added extended warranty taking it to 2022, or a higher mileage (12-15k miles) with only 1 year warranty left

Both 17 plate prices very similar

Edited by Windlepoons on Monday 11th March 01:00

[Haltamer]

Seems like a done deal if they're a similar price?

Go for the ex demo with an extra year of warranty?

I can't imagine there would be much difference in the quantity of thrashing recieved.

[Windlepoons]

I did think that, but people telling me it would have been abused from cold put me off a little.

I've narrowed it down to 2 now.


67 plate (2080 miles) £32,666 runs out 2020 (this has heated seats and steering wheel which the other doesnt)

17 plate ex demo (5596 miles) £29,695 + 5 year extended (runs out 2022)

the 67 plate is nearly 200 miles away, while the 17 plate is about 60

just trying to decide if having a car thats up to 6 months newer, has heated seats and 3500 less miles and not a demo carn is actually worth 3k more.

[soad]

You'd think ex-demo had more options ticked.

[Rich1973]

So the ex demo is less mileage, less money, closer to home and much more warranty? No brainer surely. Think you are over thinking this one.

[anonymous-user]

What’s the car and how much is a new one from a broker?

[Djtemeka]

Most demo rides have the salesman sitting next to you. Unlikely that it will get ragged.

[Trailhead]

My car is an ex demo. Had no issues whatsoever. Albeit not a hot hatch.

[Cylon2007]

I've bought 2 cars previously that were ex demo, both at under 12 months old, low mileage and a good 15% below book price. No issues with either would happily do so again.

[SlowAndDull]

charltjr said:

What’s the car and how much is a new one from a broker?

Focus RS by the look of it

How about this one?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by SlowAndDull on Monday 11th March 06:50

[tomsugden]

I've bought a few ex demo cars. They tend to have very good spec, and certainly with Audi they are given to the managers and sales staff as company cars.

[jonwm]

Wouldnt worry about ragging from cold. Today's oils are far superior to what they used to be.
Genuinely where in the UK could you fire a car up and redline a hot hatch straight out of a forecourt for the first 2 or 3 miles? And who would actually want to do that?
I've had company cars for years and when younger never warmed or cooled then properly all of them were fault free for 100k plus miles.

When I first leased a cupra 290 everyone that wanted a drive nailed that pretty much from cold and all was fine.

[SteveR1979]

jonwm said:

Wouldnt worry about ragging from cold. Today's oils are far superior to what they used to be.
Genuinely where in the UK could you fire a car up and redline a hot hatch straight out of a forecourt for the first 2 or 3 miles? And who would actually want to do that?
I've had company cars for years and when younger never warmed or cooled then properly all of them were fault free for 100k plus miles.

When I first leased a cupra 290 everyone that wanted a drive nailed that pretty much from cold and all was fine.

Not heard of the BMW M3 and M5 engine problems caused by thrashing them from cold???

[eybic]

Djtemeka said:

Most demo rides have the salesman sitting next to you. Unlikely that it will get ragged.

I guess you don't know any car salesmen or have worked in a dealership? Demos are not treated gently.

[ninjag]

jonwm said:

Wouldnt worry about ragging from cold. Today's oils are far superior to what they used to be.

Was thinking this also, whilst never good to go bat crazy from cold but I don't think it's as bad as it used to be. Extra warranty could help iron out any niggles.

[Cudd Wudd]

jonwm said:

....
Genuinely where in the UK could you fire a car up and redline a hot hatch straight out of a forecourt for the first 2 or 3 miles? And who would actually want to do that?

...When I first leased a cupra 290 everyone that wanted a drive nailed that pretty much from cold...

Your mates, apparently

[paintman]

Windlepoons said:

I did think that, but people telling me it would have been abused from cold put me off a little.

I've narrowed it down to 2 now.


67 plate (2080 miles) £32,666 runs out 2020 (this has heated seats and steering wheel which the other doesnt)

17 plate ex demo (5596 miles) £29,695 + 5 year extended (runs out 2022)

the 67 plate is nearly 200 miles away, while the 17 plate is about 60

just trying to decide if having a car thats up to 6 months newer, has heated seats and 3500 less miles and not a demo carn is actually worth 3k more.

Demos will usually have all the toys & have taken the price drop that will happen when your brand new car drives onto the road for the first time.
Would be my choice if buying new. Old friend of mine had a whole string of ex-demo Mazdas - changed every 2 years - & never had any issues.
Only real question with your choices is do you want to do long trips if warranty issues occur & you need to RTB for them to be sorted.
Yes, I do realise that if the same franchised dealer group then getting it done locally may be possible but they may not prioritise you.

Edited by paintman on Monday 11th March 09:49

[strath44]

Ex-demo isn't quite what it used to be so far as dealers / manufacturers don't fling as many options on as they used to!

However they almost always make a good deal and the mileage is never high, personally I think this is a bit of a no brainer for the 17 plate especially with that warranty.

Would be worth double checking that all the consumables are ok ie tyres, brakes and maybe twist their arm to do an oil service although its a bit off mile wise....... why not!

[Windlepoons]

I ended up putting a deposit on the demo, was told it wasn't really a demo and that it was a car used by the owner and mainly used for local events (in a past life it was full of advertising decals), with only a couple of test drives.

The dealers location makes it hard for anyone to have abused it from cold

It's in good shape, only downside is the dealers carwash guy has had his fun and the paint is covered in swirls.

Nothing a week at KDS can't fix.

[Haltamer]

Windlepoons said:

I ended up putting a deposit on the demo, was told it wasn't really a demo and that it was a car used by the owner and mainly used for local events (in a past life it was full of advertising decals), with only a couple of test drives.

I'm a little dubious of that claim; Dealership owners / sales managers must lay down some serious mileage each year with the number of ex demo cars they generate! Seems everyone I know that has bought an ex-demo has that story:- Not to knock your choice though, definitely looks the best option of the two.