Would you buy a dealership demo vehicle?

"Der Käfer" (Rhy)
11/04/2013 at 12:43 • Filed to: QOTD

My co-worker just rode by my building to show me her 2013 Ford Edge. She got a great deal on it because it was a dealers demo, she actually saved about 6 grand off msrp. It's a "Limited" trim level with every bell and whistle you can add to the thing. While doing my usual vehicle inspection I noticed some out of the norm wear for 600 miles on the odometer....

The front leather seats are cracked to hell

The front bumper was out of alignment so bad that I myself popped the entire driver side back into place and it still popped back out.

There's easily 10 random door dings from the base of the truck as high as the door pillar

She's already noticing weird rattles from the inside

She already has taken it in for paint work that she didn't notice when she bought it (rear tail gate srape) and it's STILL not right.

I mean are the demos hooned to literally pieces? I thought they were just intended for show room floor and feature demonstration purposes?

So would you buy a "demo" if the price was right? (car in picture is a google image)

DISCUSSION (26)

Nibby > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 12:50

Nope.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 12:56

Dealerships don't usually demo manuals, so no.

Sethersm > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 12:59

Hell no. "Demo" is not as short for "demonstration" but rather "demolition".

Takuro Spirit > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 12:59

I did. Never had an issue with it, either.

Kinja'd!!!

Of course I got rid of it before the warranty was up....

It also helped that I work for the dealer it was a demo for, one of the ladies that work at our corporate office. Except for some carwash swirlies on the hood, the thing was in perfect shape, and I saved a ton over buying a new one.

Takuro Spirit > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
11/04/2013 at 13:04

Depends if they "accidentally" order one. Or if they have old stock that's not selling.

We had one we put into our rental fleet because it was getting too old sitting on the lot as a new car. Service Manager put a couple thousand miles on it, now it's a gently used ex-demo used car.

Der Käfer > Sethersm
11/04/2013 at 13:05

hahahahahah that makes more sense!

Der Käfer > Takuro Spirit
11/04/2013 at 13:05

I'm getting serious mixed reviews...

Takuro Spirit > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 13:07

Just buy a Miata.

Der Käfer > Takuro Spirit
11/04/2013 at 13:08

I dont do.... "JDM" but I'm not buying a demo my co-worker already bought one.

Takuro Spirit > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 13:11

I know, I was reverting to the standard answer.

There's really now way to tell, it could go both ways. Unless there's obvious signs on abuse, like your co-worker's car, who knows how hard if at all its been hooned?

All you can do is balance your want to save money, with the prospect of things failing under warranty (certified pre-owned is the way to go in that regard), with your desire to have things fixed when and if the go wrong.

CKeffer > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 13:12

Yup, I would and did. My current car is a 2010 MINI Cooper S that was originally a dealership loaner. Only issue I've had with it is that the clutch had to be replaced at 20k miles, but that was done under warranty and so it didn't cost me a dime. It had 7k on the clock when I bought it, and I've since put an extra 45k on it. The car runs like a top and has been a great car thus far. This isn't to say that the car is perfect, there are a few cosmetic imperfections on the exterior of the car, but nothing horrible.

Der Käfer > CKeffer
11/04/2013 at 13:15

My current car came out of a loaner fleet as well, I bought it with a just over 12k miles. No imperfections, its perfect. IDK how she ended up with this POS demo!

PelicanHazard > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 13:15

Both of my dad's two most recent cars were dealer cars. The first (a '99 Camry) was a dealer demo. Great deal on it, felt basically new, lasted a really really long time with few repairs. The second car (an '08 Camry) was a Mercedes loaner. Had some dings on it, but otherwise fine and still running with nothing more than wear item replacement.

It really depends on the price and condition of the particular car, so I can't make a blanket "yes" or "no". I would consider them, though.

Der Käfer > PelicanHazard
11/04/2013 at 13:17

hahah funny you say the last camry was a benz loaner, my frequent loaner with benz is a brand new altima! Cracks me up every time I go for a service.... I hoon the fuck out of that nissan.

Der Käfer > Takuro Spirit
11/04/2013 at 13:20

Well shes for the most part happy, I know I would not be. I just bought a CPO volkswagen and feel better than ever about buying it.

CKeffer > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 13:30

No telling, sounds like she got one that was ridden hard and put up wet for sure though. The imperfections mine has are just from regular driving, there was a small scrape on the plastic trim where someone brushed a curb or something, and a small ding on the side where some idiot opened their door into it. Since I've had it, it's developed some rock chips, and a door ding on the other side, but other than that it's in great shape, and those aren't things I'd hold against it anyway, more like par for the course for a car that is daily driven in a big city with 52k miles on it. As for her car, the front bumper and seats alone would have made me keep looking.

Der Käfer > CKeffer
11/04/2013 at 13:51

Well not to bash on women... she honestly has no clue about cars at all, she just saw gadgets then the price and jumped on it!

Slave2anMG > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 14:13

Demo? I doubt it.

Service Department Loaner? Probably so.

CKeffer > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 14:19

Unfortunately, that's not really a gender thing, I know a good number of guys that would do the same.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 14:57

My grandmother did. She got a 2009 Hyundia Genesis that had 730 miles on it. Saved her over 5 grand. The only thing was that it had a couple small door dings. Otherwise, it drives great and looks great. I see nothing wrong with them.

Remeber, this was a Ford. Quality isn't their strong suit (scroll down to 2nd gear: Ford Quality Stinks...)

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Der Käfer > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
11/04/2013 at 15:42

LOVE the genesis! Yea.... fix or repair daily....

Der Käfer > CKeffer
11/04/2013 at 15:43

I figured, I'm one of like 3 gays in this world that actually know their way around cars. (not trying to ward you off with saying that)

Der Käfer > Slave2anMG
11/04/2013 at 15:44

I doubt it at 600 miles. typical loaner cars are 5-15k in the fleet.

Slave2anMG > Der Käfer
11/04/2013 at 16:13

Whoops. I saw the '6 grand' as miles.

The cracked leather confuses the hell out of me. Something's rotten with this car...

Der Käfer > Slave2anMG
11/04/2013 at 16:17

I know! The leather is literally equal to a car with 100k miles.

Hasty > Sethersm
11/10/2013 at 10:44

My recent "demo" of a 14' EVO X MR included 5 launches, 3 ebrake turns & a high speed gravel section (no mud flaps). All were part of the dealerships standard evo route, demo evo = crack pipe