Buying an ex-demonstrator

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Tue 17 May 2011 12:51
Buying an ex-demonstrator - Pilotman

What are the general good/bad points about buying an ex-demonstrator ???

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Tue 17 May 2011 15:51
Buying an ex-demonstrator - Ethan Edwards

My experience.

Plus points - four grand cheaper, better spec than I was looking for.

Negative points - had 32 miles on clock....20 of those were from my test drive. No choice of colour. Car four weeks old when I bought it.

I've had no other issues and I've owned my XT since Apr 03

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Tue 17 May 2011 17:06
Buying an ex-demonstrator - bathtub tom

The salesman who had it as 'his' car probably thrashed the guts out of it, so at least it was run-in properly.

One of mine's an ex-dem. I've had it for six years and neither of the problems I've had can be put down to its previous ownership - however, read this tomorrow. ;>)

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Tue 17 May 2011 17:40
Buying an ex-demonstrator - quizman

Most of my friends who have bought a "demonstrator" have a car registered in East Anglia, I am near Derby, and has done 13000miles in 6 months.

I think Mr Hertz and Mr Avis have something to do with many of these cars.

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Tue 17 May 2011 17:42
Buying an ex-demonstrator - jamie745

If the dealer was using it it'll probably be like a Rental car.

As we all know, nothing handles like a rental car does it?

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Tue 17 May 2011 18:03
Buying an ex-demonstrator - unthrottled

Presumably they wouldn't use a 'lemon' as a demonstrator. If you buy one of the good cars with no niggling electrical faults or rattles, does it matter what the odometer says?

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Tue 17 May 2011 20:19
Buying an ex-demonstrator - daveyjp

The downsides are:

Yyou have to take what's available - a problem with German marques in particular as they have options lists as long as your arm so you may not find exactly what you want.

I've also noticed with German marques you may not save much over a new one.

You will be the second owner

You won't get a brand new car via your insurance if you write it off as you aren't the first registered keeper.

Upsides:

You get it straight away

You can test drive it

You can save thousands

You get the remainder of warranty

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Tue 17 May 2011 22:00
Buying an ex-demonstrator - P3t3r

Here's my opinion...

Abused - Inside, outside, and under the bonnet.

Not much cheaper - maybe 10% cheaper with the ones I've seen.

No choice on colour or options.

I look after my cars, so I would prefer to have one that hasn't been abused (in any way). Little scuffs, scratches etc. would really bug me, especially if I paid many thousands for the car. The mileage and year doesn't bother me it's the condition of the vehicle.

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Tue 17 May 2011 22:13
Buying an ex-demonstrator - injection doc

2nd what P3t3r says, spot on.

thrashed bashed and abused and those little things would niggle me forever.

There is a difference between treating a new car with some respect and a demo thats gets 50 different drivers before 1000 miles

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Tue 17 May 2011 23:48
Buying an ex-demonstrator - Gotanoldhondar

My car was a demonstrator,nine months old with 12k mileage it had been used by the sales manager who used it for his commute,had a few scuffs inside but nothing serious, with the 4k saving,warranty and it being a high spec diesel model i think i did alright no problems so far.

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Wed 18 May 2011 19:38
Buying an ex-demonstrator - P3t3r

My car was a demonstrator,nine months old with 12k mileage it had been used by the sales manager who used it for his commute,had a few scuffs inside but nothing serious, with the 4k saving,warranty and it being a high spec diesel model i think i did alright no problems so far.

£4k less than the list price or £4k less than the discounted price? With my last couple of cars I got just over £3k discount on brand new ones.

It may be a bit different with larger cars, but with smaller cars, there isn't a huge price difference between a new one and a demonstrator.

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Wed 18 May 2011 19:46
Buying an ex-demonstrator - SteveLee

As people tend to drive their cars far too gently during the "break in" period, a soundly thrashed engine will probably out-last the "cared for" one, have lower oil consumption and make more power.

I'd never buy a new car unless it's a cheap runabout. Let someone else fix the build issues and take the initial depreciation hit. Motorcycles on the other hand, I nearly always buy new - you can't drop a car!! :-)

Edited by SteveLee on 18/05/2011 at 19:56

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