Demonstrator but used as service loan car
Discussion
How much would you be put off a "nearly new" as advertised 68 plater (nothing special, euro hatch for daughter) which on enquiry turned out to be not on premises but loaned out for a week to a service customer. Advertised 4,000ish miles but probably fair bit more by now. Suggest it's been lent out a fair bit? Only one within striking distance, rest some distance away inconvenient to view, complicated situation due to other commitments.
Options
A)Continue but definitely depends on what deal they are likely to do having been rumbled, ie got to be much improved deal
B) Or just walk away, plenty more fish in the sea. E.g. other demonstrators available similarish money but only few hundred miles. However more difficult to arrange as we refuse to buy without seeing and testing.
C) Or just suck up what feels like not that much more and buy pre reg / new?
Favouring B or C at the moment.
Options
A)Continue but definitely depends on what deal they are likely to do having been rumbled, ie got to be much improved deal
B) Or just walk away, plenty more fish in the sea. E.g. other demonstrators available similarish money but only few hundred miles. However more difficult to arrange as we refuse to buy without seeing and testing.
C) Or just suck up what feels like not that much more and buy pre reg / new?
Favouring B or C at the moment.
Err, maybe they have had no choice but to 'lend it out' as a courtesy car, as just perhaps, there were no courtesy cars available and a self entitled difficult customer has demanded one? ( happens all the time)
So, no, you probably haven't just 'rumbled' them.
It's there car, they can do what the f
k they want with it.
So, no, you probably haven't just 'rumbled' them.
It's there car, they can do what the f
k they want with it.As above, it would be worth checking the story as might not be all it seems.
Abarth dealer once damaged by car cleaning it and offered me a citroen c1 as a courtesy car whilst the bumper was resprayed, I kicked off (had a c1 when it went for a service and was positively dangerous on the motorway, horrible little things) so I was given a limited edition top of the line abarth, turned out to be the sales managers car which he had from new and was a few months old with a few k miles. But it of course would have appeared that customers had been using it.
The other way to look at it is that it's a low mileage hire car, assuming bodywork etc is fine then perhaps the odd customer had ragged it and maybe therefore has a little extra wear and tear on clutch, brakes etc so I'd factor that in and knock a little off.
My dad's had a few ex hire cars and never had an issue so I wouldn't be put off and when you go to sell it again no one will question the demonstrator story so no long term impact to it's value.
P.s have a very close look at the doors, makes sure it hasn't had courtesy car stickers on it.
Abarth dealer once damaged by car cleaning it and offered me a citroen c1 as a courtesy car whilst the bumper was resprayed, I kicked off (had a c1 when it went for a service and was positively dangerous on the motorway, horrible little things) so I was given a limited edition top of the line abarth, turned out to be the sales managers car which he had from new and was a few months old with a few k miles. But it of course would have appeared that customers had been using it.
The other way to look at it is that it's a low mileage hire car, assuming bodywork etc is fine then perhaps the odd customer had ragged it and maybe therefore has a little extra wear and tear on clutch, brakes etc so I'd factor that in and knock a little off.
My dad's had a few ex hire cars and never had an issue so I wouldn't be put off and when you go to sell it again no one will question the demonstrator story so no long term impact to it's value.
P.s have a very close look at the doors, makes sure it hasn't had courtesy car stickers on it.
It wouldn't put me off, no different to an ex-head office 'management' car that come on to the used market at main dealers after 6 months or a year.
Regarding price I'd want it to be a chunk cheaper than what a new car could be sourced for through the likes of Carwow, Drivethedeal.
cheers
Chris
Regarding price I'd want it to be a chunk cheaper than what a new car could be sourced for through the likes of Carwow, Drivethedeal.
cheers
Chris
Thanks for comments so far.
Not in any particular order.
My own view expressed in terms of use as a loan vehicle is that it's no big deal, but it's her first decent car and she is less sure about it, fair enough. Have pointed out that you make a judgement on any not new vehicle and decide accordingly. Also reminded her of how many brand new vehicles have had work done, indeed showed her one of another make in a dealer storage unregistered that had clear scuffs on body panel and bumper plus badly 'kerbed' wheel.
She points out, from experience, that there are two sorts of people in this world when given a vehicle that is not their own to drive. Those, like me, who look after it as well as or even better than their own, and the clear minority who drive it like they stole it. Also made the point that the person who is having problems with their vehicle may be because they aren't that mechanically sympathetic. I don't have an argument against those points except a belief most folks are decent types, but equally some drivers are unintentionally complete morons.
Also the sales bod is already indicating the mileage (currently unknown accurately) is probably "more than stated."
Pricing, is it the same as similar vehicles? No it's not, it's higher, but the others are more inconveniently located, but that's our problem to manage not one for the garage. Had hoped to use evidence of alternative vehicles as a negotiation tool to take lazy route.
Good point about loan car logos / stickers, hadn't thought of that.
Back to price, it's less than 1400 quid below a brand new to ordered spec off Carwow. Ok the selling dealer is in the arse end of nowhere, but it wouldn't be the first time gone on a long collection jaunt. Southampton, Aberdeen being two, Nottingham was just a morning's jolly that time, though not helped by catching the wrong bloody bus. Numpty.
Not in any particular order.
My own view expressed in terms of use as a loan vehicle is that it's no big deal, but it's her first decent car and she is less sure about it, fair enough. Have pointed out that you make a judgement on any not new vehicle and decide accordingly. Also reminded her of how many brand new vehicles have had work done, indeed showed her one of another make in a dealer storage unregistered that had clear scuffs on body panel and bumper plus badly 'kerbed' wheel.
She points out, from experience, that there are two sorts of people in this world when given a vehicle that is not their own to drive. Those, like me, who look after it as well as or even better than their own, and the clear minority who drive it like they stole it. Also made the point that the person who is having problems with their vehicle may be because they aren't that mechanically sympathetic. I don't have an argument against those points except a belief most folks are decent types, but equally some drivers are unintentionally complete morons.
Also the sales bod is already indicating the mileage (currently unknown accurately) is probably "more than stated."
Pricing, is it the same as similar vehicles? No it's not, it's higher, but the others are more inconveniently located, but that's our problem to manage not one for the garage. Had hoped to use evidence of alternative vehicles as a negotiation tool to take lazy route.
Good point about loan car logos / stickers, hadn't thought of that.
Back to price, it's less than 1400 quid below a brand new to ordered spec off Carwow. Ok the selling dealer is in the arse end of nowhere, but it wouldn't be the first time gone on a long collection jaunt. Southampton, Aberdeen being two, Nottingham was just a morning's jolly that time, though not helped by catching the wrong bloody bus. Numpty.
Why no mention of the car make / model is it top secret?
I think you're over thinking this! I sourced a VW Golf for a family member 6 years ago via a major auction company selling off former hertz rental vehicles, it was 9 months old and had 10k on the clock and was overdue a service. They still own it and its now done 150k miles and its given them no issues at all.
At dealerships any and all cars can get put into general use before they are prepped for sale, the worst ones are those which end up in the hands of some of the younger sales member who indeed wrag them about.
Get a look at the car (they may ask you for a deposit to get it back on site, which is pretty common practice these days to check you aren't wasting time - make sure its fully refundable not just transferable!). If its tidy without any major issues and the actual miles aren't making it less attractive - go fo it!
I think you're over thinking this! I sourced a VW Golf for a family member 6 years ago via a major auction company selling off former hertz rental vehicles, it was 9 months old and had 10k on the clock and was overdue a service. They still own it and its now done 150k miles and its given them no issues at all.
At dealerships any and all cars can get put into general use before they are prepped for sale, the worst ones are those which end up in the hands of some of the younger sales member who indeed wrag them about.
Get a look at the car (they may ask you for a deposit to get it back on site, which is pretty common practice these days to check you aren't wasting time - make sure its fully refundable not just transferable!). If its tidy without any major issues and the actual miles aren't making it less attractive - go fo it!
Where does she think all the other nearly new cars come from?
They're company cars, lease cars, hire cars.
No sane person buys a new car and then sells it in the first 12 months.
So unless she's buying new - in which case she pays via the immediate 'drive off the forecourt' depreciation, all the cars she looks at will be driven by people who don't care as it isn't their car.
They're company cars, lease cars, hire cars.
No sane person buys a new car and then sells it in the first 12 months.
So unless she's buying new - in which case she pays via the immediate 'drive off the forecourt' depreciation, all the cars she looks at will be driven by people who don't care as it isn't their car.
Having worked in dealerships for a fair while in the past, I would tread a little carefully. Service loan cars are not always treated in the best manner and as mentioned may have had decals on. I am talking about niggly things that can happen like carpets wearing where mats have not been put down etc or smelling of McDs. If the person buying the car is quite critical of condition, I would probably err towards a pre-reg or new.
Nickp82 said:
Having worked in dealerships for a fair while in the past, I would tread a little carefully. Service loan cars are not always treated in the best manner and as mentioned may have had decals on. I am talking about niggly things that can happen like carpets wearing where mats have not been put down etc or smelling of McDs. If the person buying the car is quite critical of condition, I would probably err towards a pre-reg or new.
Eh? How does that differ from any other car that might be up for sale and not brand new? I'm pretty sure they'll take the decals off - a lot of dealerships decal cars now, even pre reg ones!!!My Q5 was booked in for warranty work (car was about 3 months old at the time), they gave me a Q2. I felt it was a nice place to sit, drove very well, thought the misses might like one of these...
Back in the office looking through dealers website to see how much 2nd hand one's were, there was the very Q2 they had given me up for sale under Approved used Vehicles, which was now in my works car park.
So it's not just demo cars they give out...
jj
Back in the office looking through dealers website to see how much 2nd hand one's were, there was the very Q2 they had given me up for sale under Approved used Vehicles, which was now in my works car park.
So it's not just demo cars they give out...
jj
keirik said:
Where does she think all the other nearly new cars come from?
They're company cars, lease cars, hire cars.
No sane person buys a new car and then sells it in the first 12 months.
So unless she's buying new - in which case she pays via the immediate 'drive off the forecourt' depreciation, all the cars she looks at will be driven by people who don't care as it isn't their car.
I accept that it's rare and probably more likely with certain types of car but I sold my abarth at exactly 12 months old, because a kid came along and I needed a bigger car.They're company cars, lease cars, hire cars.
No sane person buys a new car and then sells it in the first 12 months.
So unless she's buying new - in which case she pays via the immediate 'drive off the forecourt' depreciation, all the cars she looks at will be driven by people who don't care as it isn't their car.
strath44 said:
Eh? How does that differ from any other car that might be up for sale and not brand new? I'm pretty sure they'll take the decals off - a lot of dealerships decal cars now, even pre reg ones!!!
Yes, of course those things could apply to any car all I am saying is in my own experience the chances are higher in ex-service loan cars.And yes I’m pretty sure they’ll take the decals off too
jj. said:
My Q5 was booked in for warranty work (car was about 3 months old at the time), they gave me a Q2. I felt it was a nice place to sit, drove very well, thought the misses might like one of these...
Back in the office looking through dealers website to see how much 2nd hand one's were, there was the very Q2 they had given me up for sale under Approved used Vehicles, which was now in my works car park.
So it's not just demo cars they give out...
jj
it’s still approved used.Back in the office looking through dealers website to see how much 2nd hand one's were, there was the very Q2 they had given me up for sale under Approved used Vehicles, which was now in my works car park.
So it's not just demo cars they give out...
jj
FiF said:
How much would you be put off a "nearly new" as advertised 68 plater (nothing special, euro hatch for daughter) which on enquiry turned out to be not on premises but loaned out for a week to a service customer. Advertised 4,000ish miles but probably fair bit more by now. Suggest it's been lent out a fair bit? Only one within striking distance, rest some distance away inconvenient to view, complicated situation due to other commitments.
Options
A)Continue but definitely depends on what deal they are likely to do having been rumbled, ie got to be much improved deal
B) Or just walk away, plenty more fish in the sea. E.g. other demonstrators available similarish money but only few hundred miles. However more difficult to arrange as we refuse to buy without seeing and testing.
C) Or just suck up what feels like not that much more and buy pre reg / new?
Favouring B or C at the moment.
We wanted a Fiat 500 as a pool car last year. I found a number of similar spec cars in the market with different dealers. One of the dealers let slip where they came from, which was a bigger dealer in East Anglia.Options
A)Continue but definitely depends on what deal they are likely to do having been rumbled, ie got to be much improved deal
B) Or just walk away, plenty more fish in the sea. E.g. other demonstrators available similarish money but only few hundred miles. However more difficult to arrange as we refuse to buy without seeing and testing.
C) Or just suck up what feels like not that much more and buy pre reg / new?
Favouring B or C at the moment.
I contacted that dealer and it seems to register lots of 500s and gets some miles on them by whatever means before moving them on. I presume this keeps their new "sales" up, allowing them to get a bigger discount from Fiat.
A long story short, we bought a car sight unseen from the bigger dealership and it arrived looking like new with 1600 miles on it. The dealership wasn't sure who'd been driving it, they thought it may have been a service loan car.
I'd do it again, but would apply the same quality standards as any other car.
Just to close it out, turns out there isn't the exact vehicle she wants in the country, amazingly.
In process of ordering a brand new factory build which compared to the cheapest near precise spec pre reg is more expensive by the enormous sum of 47 quid. Obviously downside is lead time. Guess will be on later reg which is a plus come resale time.
Could save quite a bit by having a different, admittedly utterly stty, colour that even I sort of hate, speaking as someone usually immune to such matters, but that's women for you, her money, her choice. Moving on.
In process of ordering a brand new factory build which compared to the cheapest near precise spec pre reg is more expensive by the enormous sum of 47 quid. Obviously downside is lead time. Guess will be on later reg which is a plus come resale time.
Could save quite a bit by having a different, admittedly utterly s
tty, colour that even I sort of hate, speaking as someone usually immune to such matters, but that's women for you, her money, her choice. Moving on.FiF said:
Just to close it out, turns out there isn't the exact vehicle she wants in the country, amazingly.
In process of ordering a brand new factory build which compared to the cheapest near precise spec pre reg is more expensive by the enormous sum of 47 quid. Obviously downside is lead time. Guess will be on later reg which is a plus come resale time.
Could save quite a bit by having a different, admittedly utterly stty, colour that even I sort of hate, speaking as someone usually immune to such matters, but that's women for you, her money, her choice. Moving on.
What's the car?In process of ordering a brand new factory build which compared to the cheapest near precise spec pre reg is more expensive by the enormous sum of 47 quid. Obviously downside is lead time. Guess will be on later reg which is a plus come resale time.
Could save quite a bit by having a different, admittedly utterly s
tty, colour that even I sort of hate, speaking as someone usually immune to such matters, but that's women for you, her money, her choice. Moving on.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff