Unregistered T350 Standing around
Discussion
What started off as an innocent trip to a dealer yesterday to view some cars and have a chat about finance, ended up in the dealer offering me a REALLY good deal on a car that is unregistered. He says it will have the 3 year warranty and will be an 05 car. It's an offer on paper that seems too godd to refuse!
All sounds good i know, but here's the problem (more of a nagging feeling in my mind). The car was built in October 04 and the dealer bought it into his showroom at the end of October 04. He openly admitted that the car had been in stock since then and hadn't moved from the inside showroom.
Basically the dealer was taken over 3 months ago and they have a backlog of cars which the old sales guys over bought. The old sales guys purchased the highly specced T350 just before the aircon etc became standard, so now the current sales manager(who has been there 3 months) has to discount it heavilly to make it worth being purchased over an ordered one. He showed me how much they paid for it and how much he would sell it to me for etc. It's in mint condition and because the battery is flat, nobody can get in and out of it, meaning the car is flawless inside.
So.....do you think the car would still be ok after being stood around for such a long period of time? Would there be any problems caused by this? What are peoples general opinions on this?
Any thoughts would be very much appreciated. :)
TIA
Kevin
All sounds good i know, but here's the problem (more of a nagging feeling in my mind). The car was built in October 04 and the dealer bought it into his showroom at the end of October 04. He openly admitted that the car had been in stock since then and hadn't moved from the inside showroom.
Basically the dealer was taken over 3 months ago and they have a backlog of cars which the old sales guys over bought. The old sales guys purchased the highly specced T350 just before the aircon etc became standard, so now the current sales manager(who has been there 3 months) has to discount it heavilly to make it worth being purchased over an ordered one. He showed me how much they paid for it and how much he would sell it to me for etc. It's in mint condition and because the battery is flat, nobody can get in and out of it, meaning the car is flawless inside.
So.....do you think the car would still be ok after being stood around for such a long period of time? Would there be any problems caused by this? What are peoples general opinions on this?
Any thoughts would be very much appreciated. :)
TIA
Kevin
rebelstar said:
I'd ask for a new battery, rather than the existing one being charged up.
A good idea, thanks!
rebelstar said:
I couldn't quite make out if it had A/C as an option or was missing it - but my choice would be to have it installed if it's not there.
Yep it does have aircon and also full hide & front speakers. The old sales guys specced the RIGHT car up and paid for the aircon etc, then TVR made it standard fit, so the new dealer has to now discount the car heavily to make it worth buying over an ordered one.
rebelstar said:
Other than that it sounds like a bit of a steal!
Yeah thats my gut feeling too, but i want to make sure the 'standing around' wouldn't have casued problems which i might get in the long term.
Thanks for your input
>> Edited by kmpowell on Sunday 5th June 15:34
It won't have done the seals any favours, but at least it's been stored in the dry so the electrics and chassis should be more or less as new. If you get a good price and it's the car you want then go for it. It might be a good idea to get an explicit agreement from them that they will sort out any niggles that crop up in say the first three months. The ought to anyway, but in this case I think it's particularly important because the car isn't fresh off the line and is more likely imo to have niggles.
targarama said:
If the car hasn't been moved around a lot or sat in a field then it should be fine. Is this a targa?
Funny how your budget seems to climb innit! (just like buying a house).
Hi Trefor
Yep its a Targa, and according to the new sales guy, its just been sat in the showroom unable to be sold because of its high spec.
This is going to sound daft, but even though its still more than a used car and the end figure is higher, the monthly payment will be the same becasue the ballon payment can be higher on a new car. Couple this with the 3 year warranty and the fact it unregistered, and on paper it seems to make financial sense. Once again though, i am taking a few days to think it over and not get carried away. No doubt ill be in touch mate for your advice again!
I wouldn't be too worried about a car that has stood for that time (usual things to check like tyres flat spotted etc and the oil and filter are going to be changed at the 1000 mile service anyway).
Are you being offerred the car for less than the dealer says he paid for it? And does it have aircon or not? (If it doesn't, it will be worth a lot less than a normal 05 car when you come to sell it.)
Clarify that the car does have a 3 year warranty with it - as if the old dealer did any work on it when it arrived at his location, knowing TVR, the warranty will have started from that date.
Otherwise sounds good!
I know you said it was a new dealer, but there's no excuse for a battery going flat in any (not just TVR) car showroom/dealership! The salesman should be made to sweep the yard for that!
Are you being offerred the car for less than the dealer says he paid for it? And does it have aircon or not? (If it doesn't, it will be worth a lot less than a normal 05 car when you come to sell it.)
Clarify that the car does have a 3 year warranty with it - as if the old dealer did any work on it when it arrived at his location, knowing TVR, the warranty will have started from that date.
Otherwise sounds good!
I know you said it was a new dealer, but there's no excuse for a battery going flat in any (not just TVR) car showroom/dealership! The salesman should be made to sweep the yard for that!
Ok, a BIG thanks to everybody so far. I've just got off the phone to the dealer and the following was clarified:
1. The car hasn't even been PDI'd yet, so once i agree, it will be taken to their workshop and given a complete going over, new battery, oil check etc etc etc.
2. The car will be test run for flat spots and any problems will be addressed.
Basically the car will leave there as perfect and checked as it possibly can be, to ensure i wont be returning with problems and niggles (he assures me).
3. The 3 year warranty will start from the date of registration, so i will get the FULL 3 years.
4. The car is FULL 05 spec which includes pearl paint & air con.
All in all it seems to be the ideal car for me, especially at that price.
Anybody else any comments or suggestions?
Cheers
1. The car hasn't even been PDI'd yet, so once i agree, it will be taken to their workshop and given a complete going over, new battery, oil check etc etc etc.
2. The car will be test run for flat spots and any problems will be addressed.
Basically the car will leave there as perfect and checked as it possibly can be, to ensure i wont be returning with problems and niggles (he assures me).
3. The 3 year warranty will start from the date of registration, so i will get the FULL 3 years.
4. The car is FULL 05 spec which includes pearl paint & air con.
All in all it seems to be the ideal car for me, especially at that price.
Anybody else any comments or suggestions?
Cheers
kmpowell said:
This is going to sound daft, but even though its still more than a used car and the end figure is higher, the monthly payment will be the same becasue the ballon payment can be higher on a new car. Couple this with the 3 year warranty and the fact it unregistered, and on paper it seems to make financial sense. Once again though, i am taking a few days to think it over and not get carried away. No doubt ill be in touch mate for your advice again!
Thats exactly what happened to me. I was in the market for a used and ended up with a new car with the same monthlies for exactly that reason. Certainly worked out for me - and that 3 year warranty could save you £££££.
I am puzzled by the dealer being able to offer you a 3y warranty.
My T350C was built in Nov 04, delivered to dealer in Dec and registered in Jan 05.
So I purchased my car just before the new longer warranty was anounced and I have been told by my supplying dealer that the warranty cannot be upgraded.
My T350C was built in Nov 04, delivered to dealer in Dec and registered in Jan 05.
So I purchased my car just before the new longer warranty was anounced and I have been told by my supplying dealer that the warranty cannot be upgraded.
Ballistic said:
I am puzzled by the dealer being able to offer you a 3y warranty.
My T350C was built in Nov 04, delivered to dealer in Dec and registered in Jan 05.
So I purchased my car just before the new longer warranty was anounced and I have been told by my supplying dealer that the warranty cannot be upgraded.
Any car on a 05 plate will have the warranty. (March 2005 on)
This one will be registered as 05.
(I think!)
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