Would you buy a Porsche ex track day demonstrator?

[J600]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy my first Porsche. I've pined for a Porsche for as long as I can remember and I'm finally in a position to be able to get something I'd be happy with - well almost my max budget is £60k which leaves me with fairly limited options.

Showroom Demo (£67k)
Theres a 'new' showroom demo 718 in my local dealership which pretty much has the spec I'd go for - however, it's priced as a new car at £67k (even though its been sat there 3 months - and will potentially sit there another 3 too?). Budget aside, I'd be reluctant to pay new price for something I've not spec'd myself and people have been in/out of it for months (it negates the buying new experience for me) if paying full retail I may as well go new and wait until September.

Track-day Demonstrator (£59k)
An almost identically spec'd car has just came on the market at another dealer. This one is also a 2017, HOWEVER it's done 5k miles as a Silverstone Track Demonstrator car. This one is in budget, and I'd not have to wait. It seems a good price for the spec, but I'm not sure whether I'd be best hanging back for another one with maybe a more careful owner?

Has anyone any experience / advice on buying a demonstrator, especially one that's been a track day car.

Thoughts welcome.

[Tim718]

Si-3PO said:

You say if you go new you may as well wait until September, are you saying you've been offered a build slot for then because if so take it! Most people ordering now are being told Jan/Feb.

Yeah was offered a build slot (they did say very limited) of Sep/Oct today. Once we hit winter, I potentially would wait until next year anyway - as chances are it'll spend a lot of time in the garage over winter.

[Tim718]

Forgot to mention the Showroom Demo car isn't one that they take out of the showroom. It's the on permanently inside - so it won't have miles / test drives, just people getting in/out of it.

[Tim718]

Just reading another thread on here about discounts, and people using a company called coast2coast to get 3% off. I might be better off doing that and getting more spec for the same money. Means I'll have to wait a couple of months, but I'm not in a massive rush as I'm away half of august anyway.

[Tim718]

The one in the dealership is pretty close to my ideal spec tbh - here's what it's got...

Paint - Metallic - Graphite Blue : Graphite Blue - GBP 581.00
Upholstery - Leather - Black : Black - GBP 0.00
Heated Multifunction Steering Wheel - GBP 329.00
Porsche Crest Embossed on Head Restraints - GBP 161.00
Seat Heating - GBP 294.00
Sport Chrono Package including Mode Switch - GBP 1574.00
Sports Seats Plus - Electrical 2 Way - GBP 569.00
Sports Tailpipes - Black - GBP 168.00
GT Sport Steering Wheel - GBP 194.00
718 Logo Painted - GBP 101.00
Exterior Package Painted - GBP 882.00
Headlight Cleaning System Covers Painted in Contrasting Colour - Jet Black Metallic - GBP 138.00
Model Designation Painted - GBP 101.00
Sports Exhaust System in Black - GBP 1380.00
BOSE Surround Sound System - GBP 834.00
LED Headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus - PDLS Plus - GBP 1397.00
Roll-over Bars Painted in Exterior Colour - GBP 357.00
20in Alloy Wheels - Carrera Classic - GBP 1515.00
Wheels Painted in High Gloss Black - GBP 834.00

Price: £67,755


The only bits it doesn't have that my ideal spec would probably add would be:

Park Assist - Front and Rear with Reversing Camera - GBP 1086.00
Sports Seats Plus - Electrical 14 Way - GBP ?
Light Design Package - GBP 210.00
PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management - GBP 1010.00
Lane Change Assist - GBP 413.00

Don't really think any of the above would be a showstopper though - but if I was getting new I'd consider adding them. Spec'ing that new with those extras comes out just under £70k - so potentially through Coast2Coast (if they did give any discount) means I could get a new car with those extras for pretty much the same money.

[Tim718]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

So the track car is a no - I think it would always feel a bit tarnished and being my first Porsche / having waited for so long I don't really want to spoil it. I plan to keep the 718 a while.

So that just now leaves the choice between buying the 718 Boxster in the showroom (£67k) or going new new and waiting until Sep/Oct or even pushing it back a bit further until the 18 plates come out in March (once winter has passed and the sun comes back out).

I've never actually bought a brand new car before, so thinking if spending full price either way (i.e if theres zero savings to be had by going with the one that's been sat there a few months) it may be worth just waiting and getting the full experience rather than buy the one ready now in the showroom.

[Tim718]

BaronMcLaren said:

Are you any good at haggling?

http://www.sytner.co.uk/car-search/7229593-porsche...

I thought I was, until I visited a Porsche dealership lol - appears to be ZERO wiggle. I think the guy may have offered to give it a wash or something. They won't even wiggle on one that's been sat in the showroom for 3 months - they want full retail for it.

Do you think that may change as Winter approaches with it being a convertible, I'm okay to wait for the right deal/car. With new reg's due out soon waiting for Sept (or even next March) isn't the end of the world.

Got my heart set on Graphite Blue though.

[Tim718]

Si-3PO said:

Would you not want a full leather interior Tim? From the spec of the showroom car it looks Ike it's just leather Sport Plus seats.

I'd personally be hesitant over the lack of PASM, I made that mistake before on a 987, altbough I haven't tested a non PASM 718.

Yeah I queried the PASM with the sales guy as I'd read good things, but he kinda palmed it off and said it wasn't all that. If buying new I think I'd ad the be tempted to add the PASM. Especially if I go Coast 2 Coast and get some kind of discount as that would cover the PASM.

I wasn't aware of the difference on the full leather? What would I be missing (it looked full leather when I sat in it) here's a photo of the car and the spec list (dunno why it went sideways?):

Edited by Tim718 on Thursday 20th July 00:01

Edited by Tim718 on Thursday 20th July 00:03

[Tim718]

Hmm I didn't know about the leather!

Another for the list. Here's a video of the showroom one, to give you a better idea/incase you can spot any things it has not listed on that spec sheet... https://youtu.be/-ITk1J8S3ko

are the rear lights tinted?

[Tim718]

Thanks for the advice glad I asked!

Tbh it's a new dealership and whilst the sales guy was lovely I knew more about the car / options than he did, I corrected him on a few of the things that were standard/optional (just from using the configurstor) as he wasn't aware that the dual climate was optional etc so it was a bit like the blind leading the blind.

[Tim718]

Apron is deffo gloss black. Other things I think it may have that are options, but not listed on that price list were the painted black headlight washers, smokers pack and painted handles - there may be more?

[Tim718]

Si-3PO said:

Correct, painted headlight washers look great, never liked painted door handles though. You should get them to send you the proper spec. You still need to check out a car with leather and PASM though.

As for climate I've had a 981S without it and a 981GTS with it, I didn't bother speccing it for my 718 as it really doesn't bother me.

Yeh I thought the same, I wasn't sure on those handles

[Tim718]

Twinfan said:

Tim718 - looking at the spec you want, which includes Sport Chrono and the Sports Exhaust, you may be wise to hang on until the 718 GTS has been announced. I think in the longer term it'll be a better buy and probably not that much more expensive than the S spec you're considering....

Ooh I hadn't heard about that, when is that likely to be?

Edit: just googled it, first time buyer so I'm not particularly familiar with GTS's - I think you could be on to something here!

Edited by Tim718 on Thursday 20th July 09:07

[Tim718]

tcs0tm said:

I found the ride without PASM was poor to be honest and I couldn't use one as a DD if it didn't have it. Of course you may not mind it but i'd try both over an extended run before choosing.

It does sound like if the GTS is to be announced in September and you like the styling and don't mind the wait then it may be the best option for you

I think the only reason he'll have said the PASM wasn't all that is because the showroom demo car he had for sale didn't have it (and the silverstone demo car eslewhere that I was comparing it to did).

In terms of the GTS, what's not to like? What I mean is, sounds like the GTS has a lot of pro's - but what are the downsides to it? I'd imagine price will be one of them?

When I googled 718 GTS, the photo (below) makes it look like it sits really low...
(the kinda low that doesn't get over speedbumps)

[Tim718]

I'm going to wait until September and see what the GTS looks like, if it's not for me I'll then go back to plan B and place an order for an S.

Not sure how build slots will look come September, I've never bought new before - but a March reg (new 18 plate) would suit me fine

[Tim718]

Boxster7 said:

Tim if I was you I would be putting my name down for a GTS now.
If previous GTS is anything to go by, it's going to be a great car and a good step up from an S.
Plus the extra benefit of holding its value far better !!
Just check out the GTS threads on here.... they are nearly as fanatical about their cars as us Spyder boys !
It's not going to be a limited edition I sure, but will still be hard to come by, so book it Dano :-)

I've rang the dealers, they said to pop down and pay a deposit to secure my slot

[Tim718]

Twinfan said:

Tim718 - looking at the spec you want, which includes Sport Chrono and the Sports Exhaust, you may be wise to hang on until the 718 GTS has been announced. I think in the longer term it'll be a better buy and probably not that much more expensive than the S spec you're considering....

Where do think the base price will sit?

[Tim718]

Si-3PO said:

Probably around 6k higher than the S but as others have said you'll get a power boost and PSE, PASM, Sports Chrono and design bits as standard so it'll kind of even out as long as those were boxes you were going to tick.

My 718 CS has come in at 70K, it would've made sense for me to go GTS but I've already been waiting since February, I can't wait any longer

The ones I've been looking at have been £67k-£70k, ideally I'd not want to go over £70k if possible. But yeah looking at the list most of the things standard on GTS were on my pick list already (even down to the smoked lights).

The 911 I test drove had the Alcantara steering wheel with full leather seats which I thought I was nice, but not 100% sure I'd want Alcantara seats (after watching a YouTube video about it - https://youtu.be/aebUNgMhQV4 )

[Tim718]

av185 said:

No and probably won't be the last!

A deposit taken before official announcement is meaningless.

Think they just want some kind of commitment from me to show I'm serious?

[Tim718]

'Deposit' down - fingers crossed 🤞 that's me getting a GTS.

First time I've paid a 'deposit' on a car without knowing what it'll cost. First time I've bought a brand new car. First time I've bought a Porsche - few firsts there!! 😬