how bad is a demo car and how good is the 3 yr TVR warranty?
Discussion
I have seen the yellow 05 Tamora for sale in the PH ads from the TVR Centre. It has done 550 miles as a demo car. I have read the views on here about dont touch ex demo cars with a bargepole. But is it that bad? It has the TVR 3 yr warranty, would that cover it? Would I expect to get to the end of the 36k miles having paid for consumables and servicing? The TVR centre guys reckon it has been run very gently as it's not yet run in.
Thanks
Graham
Thanks
Graham
Most demonstrators (specialist cars in paticular) are run in extremely well and then fettled constantly throughout their working period. We have to sell cars from them so it's not a great first impression if the car is a heap.
I think that some people are a little over anxious, I would rather have a vehicle that has had most of its faults ironed out already. After all, I am gonna spank it anyway...
I think that some people are a little over anxious, I would rather have a vehicle that has had most of its faults ironed out already. After all, I am gonna spank it anyway...
I live near the TVR Centre, have seen that car out. The 'circuit' they use for test drives includes a section of the A1 so there is plenty of opportunity to open it up without just revving the nuts of it. From experience, most people I see obviously on a test drive aren't going crazy, but no doubt some do. Granted, when one of their service guys took me out in my Griff trying to find a fault, that was a bit more lively.
Also I've seen them warming up cars prior to customers taking them out.
So it's your judgement but only 550 miles and a 3 year warranty and a decent bunch of people looking after it so far, I'd say was a reasonable bet.
gooner
Also I've seen them warming up cars prior to customers taking them out.
So it's your judgement but only 550 miles and a 3 year warranty and a decent bunch of people looking after it so far, I'd say was a reasonable bet.
gooner
I've got a demo car (2003 Tamora) and it's been totally fine. The engine is in grand order and I've just clocked up 19k miles. It doesn't use a blob of oil and sounds great.
With regard to the 'test drive ragging issue', when I asked to test drive the car, the dealer was insistent that I book a firm time to arrive and not just turn up, so the car could be properly warmed up. (The dealer in question was the now defunct HL Gorner).
I was allowed an unaccompanied test drive, but the car was warm when I got to have a go (when I did duly rag it).
With regard to the 'test drive ragging issue', when I asked to test drive the car, the dealer was insistent that I book a firm time to arrive and not just turn up, so the car could be properly warmed up. (The dealer in question was the now defunct HL Gorner).
I was allowed an unaccompanied test drive, but the car was warm when I got to have a go (when I did duly rag it).
We bought our Sagaris from Castles as an ex Demo.
We saw the car on it's first day in the showroom, decided to have it and Castles were then very selective about who test drove it.
In fact, they refused to let anyone drive it at all when they bought it to a Mid Essex Meet to show it off and I had to persuade them to allow a couple of people to go for a run and even then Michael drove it.
It was in showroom condition when we picked it up a month later.
We may have been a little more reticent if the Sagaris had been fully run in and still used as a demo before we decided to buy.
YP
We saw the car on it's first day in the showroom, decided to have it and Castles were then very selective about who test drove it.
In fact, they refused to let anyone drive it at all when they bought it to a Mid Essex Meet to show it off and I had to persuade them to allow a couple of people to go for a run and even then Michael drove it.
It was in showroom condition when we picked it up a month later.
We may have been a little more reticent if the Sagaris had been fully run in and still used as a demo before we decided to buy.
YP
I would strongly disagree with the 'ex demo' argument too.
TVR do 'push' a lot of cars onto their dealers who seem to change the demo cars very frequently. Manybe even every 6 months.
Mine is ex demo and has been excellent.
Unless you are buying a Chim (which are plentiful) - when you find the car you what in the right colour etc .. there might not be another of the same spec around for quite some time..
TVR do 'push' a lot of cars onto their dealers who seem to change the demo cars very frequently. Manybe even every 6 months.
Mine is ex demo and has been excellent.
Unless you are buying a Chim (which are plentiful) - when you find the car you what in the right colour etc .. there might not be another of the same spec around for quite some time..
thanks for all the replies, looks like it might be ok from a reputable dealer. It seems a very good price and as far as I can tell the right spec. From the pics, the yellow colour is not fab, but colour is always at the bottom of the list of criteria for me! It might be better in the flesh as it were. It is however 7k cheaper than a similar car from Racing Green which is the right colour for me (something blue).
Graham
Graham
I'd have no qualms about taking a demo car from the TVR Centre. As has been said, they always warm them up before taking them out and the first have of the drive is done by the sale guy. By the time the customer gets his go it has had a good 10-15 minute run and should be ready to deal with anything. I've never known anyone to get a test-drive without a salesman either.
gridgway said:
The TVR centre guys reckon it has been run very gently as it's not yet run in.
Its posible he's telling the truth, but highly unlikely.
Its luck of the draw really. If the engine had been given time to warm up before it's been pasted on demo runs, it can sometimes be of benefit to thrash them from an early age. It loosens an engine up quite nicely.
I used to sell VW Golfs back in the days of the MkII. The best ones were with 90,000miles on that owners had admittedly caned from day one.
Whether an SP6 would be the same, who knows?
I suppose with a 36K mile warranty on it, it does give some cover. If the engine was wrecked, it would be more likely to mess up in the first 20K miles than after.
I would trust the TVR Centre on this car. I know they took it down to the ACE on friday night and I know they run cars in very carefully and definately warm them up. If you are dealing with Mark, give him my regards and then sign up for the register as you take delivery (www.tvrtamora.com). Of course ask him about where the colour and idea came from and you will find its almost an exact copy of my car, which he supplied.
Happy motoring
Simon
yi8tvr said:
Who takes a TVR out on a test drive without a dealer rep sitting next to you. Do they let you thrash the bollox out of them
There are some dealers that let you go unaccompanied - your face odviously doesn't fit
And as for thrashing the car - I've never needed to - the dealer did that for me!!
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