4 year old diesel with 400miles

[Jonathan-pnibs]

I am looking for a Skoda Superb L&K and this one ticks all the boxes. Only strange thing is that the car is 4 years old and has only done 400 miles.

What is the general opinion for ultra low milage on a relatively new car? Should I steer clear?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103230...

[Al U]

I'd steer clear personally. As we all know, not using a car at all isn't great for the car. This car has clearly spent the majority of it's 4 years sat still doing nothing.

On a 2017 car I'd personally be looking for something that had done more miles than that, probably around 25-30k miles as a minimum.

[Defcon5]

Not been MOT’d yet.

If it’s a dealer demo will it have been serviced in that time? Maybe not an issue now but in 5 years time when it’s on a more average mileage it may put subsequent purchasers off

Having said that how long are some cars stored in compounds before they are registered? No different to this really, except you just don’t know about it!

Edited by Defcon5 on Thursday 8th April 08:19

[Sheepshanks]

Typical lying dealer - advertised with 407 miles but you can see the dash says 410.

Most odd though - wonder if Skoda forgot they had it?

[Camelot1971]

They have a petrol one with similar miles (but 5k more money) on their website.

[Roboticarm]

Interestingly it says it's ex Skoda UK demo rather than dealer demo... Perhaps a car used at trade shows ?
I know leaving a car sat around in your drive exposed to the elements is bad for it, but leaving it in the Skoda UK warehouse, perhaps less of a worry?

[Truckosaurus]

Don't manufacturers have training centres where they would have cars they get mechanics to practice on, but don't otherwise get driven?

[jjwilde]

Truckosaurus said:

Don't manufacturers have training centres where they would have cars they get mechanics to practice on, but don't otherwise get driven?

Yes and I've been told you can tell when it's one of those as it will have almost every possible option on the car, so they can understand all parts, but it might not have things which would be pointless to training like leather, in other words a weird spec.

[mk2driver]

Check the service history - if it’s Skoda U.K. owned then it will have been serviced on time as a minimum but may have actually been serviced more often that needed through their own workshops

If it’s been well maintained then I think it would be a good buy

[AJB88]

VW Group UK cars tend to be K plated due to MK head quarters but the press cars tend to be O plated like this.

Wonder if this has been over a Wymbush at the technical centre and used to train people. If so I'd say get it! If you have any issues with it down the line they are usually really good.

I bought a ex SEAT UK press car (MK2 Leon Cupra R), I'm lucky I know most of the SEAT UK management but after a few weeks the wheels started to blister and peel (had the car in 2011 it was a 2010 car). SEAT UK paid for me to have all my wheels re-done, had them white on a yellow car, invoice was £600.

[Chrishum]

I’d not be put off if the price is comparable to other cars of the same kind of age. Though in the back of my mind there would be a niggle that things which crop up in a newer car when used and that get sorted under warranty wouldn’t have yet appeared

[GreatGranny]

Personally I would get this and save myself £5k and it's a year newer.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102139...

[Pat H]

If it's been stored indoors then I wouldn't be put off, providing it's not hugely overpriced.

I once bought an old Italian sports car which had covered 1500 miles in 16 years.

After replacing the timing belts, I put 8000 miles on it and it never missed a beat.

I've had similar experiences buying old motorbikes with tiny mileages.

That said, I have a Focus diesel which has done 190,000 miles, so I am not sure there is any positive benefit to buying a modern diesel with such a tiny mileage.

[Jonathan-pnibs]

GreatGranny said:

Personally I would get this and save myself £5k and it's a year newer.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102139...

Yeah, I am leaning that way.

I have spoken with Skoda Cardiff about the car and it has sat inside the VW training centre for its entire life. So it sounds like people have just been sitting in the car and pressing all the buttons.

[Richard-390a0]

Truckosaurus said:

Don't manufacturers have training centres where they would have cars they get mechanics to practice on, but don't otherwise get driven?

It should have slightly better than standard fuel economy if that is the case as the car will now be a lightweight version as multiple occasions of having that one bolt / nut / screw left over will have had an effect lol

[Monkeylegend]

Does it come with a Skoda warranty?

[ZX10R NIN]

Nothing wrong with that apart from the price being a bit strong.

[Sue_Donym]

Richard-390a0 said:

It should have slightly better than standard fuel economy if that is the case as the car will now be a lightweight version as multiple occasions of having that one bolt / nut / screw left over will have had an effect lol

Surely they'll all be in the sump? Or do mechanics leave them somewhere else nowadays?

[AJB88]

Jonathan-pnibs said:

Yeah, I am leaning that way.

I have spoken with Skoda Cardiff about the car and it has sat inside the VW training centre for its entire life. So it sounds like people have just been sitting in the car and pressing all the buttons.

that car has been taken to pieces and put back together a lot then! its probably better built than it was in the factory.