Author Topic: Would you buy a demo? (Read 3977 times)

wildk9 · « **on:** March 21, 2006, 03:33:35 pm »

I am buying a new car. The Legacy or Legacy GT. They have a demo of each in the lot. I've driven the Legacy and it had everything I wanted and nothing I didn't. Right after the drive the salesman said he may be selling the demo at a reduced rate in about 4 weeks. So, what's a good reduction for a demo and would you take it if you had the chance.

I had a 2000 Jeep Cherokee that was a demo and it was great for the 2 years I owned it. It had 7000 km on it and it ran great. This has a little over 2500 km on it.

03_ap1 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2006, 03:44:18 pm »

If it saved me a few grand and it was driven by the dealer principle or someone like that, I'd buy it

mrthompson · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2006, 03:48:24 pm »

I would consider buying a demo only if Snowman had not driven it.

Snowman · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2006, 04:21:51 pm »

Quote from: mrthompson on March 21, 2006, 03:48:24 pm

I would consider buying a demo only if Snowman had not driven it.

be nice Mr. T...Wiffy’s recently purchased 2006 Impreza Sport Wagon was a demo with 4000 kms. This is not a Sports car so the risk of abuse is far less.

AVToller · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2006, 04:46:40 pm »

I would be very reluctant to buy a demo IF it was a "sporting car" (the Snowy syndrome) or if it was from a manufacturer with any known reliability issues. With a Toyota, Honda, Subaru, I would be fairly confident. The biggest problem I had with my Forester was trying to get it broken in! I just didn't abuse it enough and the engine was just starting to loosen up at 40+ k.

Edit: I would also be slightly more concerned about a manual than a slushbox as the clutch may have taken some abuse.

wildk9 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2006, 05:13:23 pm »

Cool. Thanks.

The timing is just about right. I'll be buying in 6 weeks, two weeks after the demo comes available. Hopefully it'll still be available.

wing · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2006, 05:33:11 pm »

My s2000 was a "demo" but was driven by the dealership owner.

Trainman · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2006, 06:06:47 pm »

Before you buy a demo, check out this on-going topic:

http://www.cartalkcanada.com/forum/index.php/topic,44445.0.html

Re: Toyota Camry 2003 rust problems - Woodbridge Toyota Fraud!
« Reply #24 on: Today at 02:18:13 PM »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An update:

I just talked to the guy who did all the paperwork at Woodbridge Toyota.
He said I would need to talk to their Sales Manager who's in tomorrow.
He also said the car is registered as NEW in their system because it never left dealership
and it was a DEMO!

I think a NEW car was supposed to be sold "accident free"!
Anyway, big talk with Sales Manager will be tomorrow.

Thanks for your support.
Rob

wildk9 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2006, 06:56:16 pm »

thanks.

84im · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2006, 07:32:12 pm »

Quote from: wing on March 21, 2006, 05:33:11 pm

My s2000 was a "demo" but was driven by the dealership owner.

Is THAT what they told you?

Seriously, if you buy a demo, buying the owner's demo is the way to go.

CarCost Pres · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2006, 09:09:45 pm »

Quote from: wildk9 on March 21, 2006, 03:33:35 pm

I am buying a new car. The Legacy or Legacy GT. They have a demo of each in the lot. I've driven the Legacy and it had everything I wanted and nothing I didn't. Right after the drive the salesman said he may be selling the demo at a reduced rate in about 4 weeks. So, what's a good reduction for a demo and would you take it if you had the chance.

I had a 2000 Jeep Cherokee that was a demo and it was great for the 2 years I owned it. It had 7000 km on it and it ran great. This has a little over 2500 km on it.

Demos in general are ok to buy except for the price.

I always suggest to ignore the demo and work at buying the new one as cheap as possible first. Then offer to buy the demo for less.

Most dealers will sell demos with 5-10,000 km at their cost. So the only thing you are saving is the dealer profit, which is usually 3-4%. I would want at least 10%. If it was your car, they would take at least 20% off.

3-4% is not enough of a savings for me. But, it's your money. You decide.

CCPres

Trainman · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2006, 09:10:01 pm »

Quote from: wildk9 on March 21, 2006, 06:56:16 pm

thanks.

I think this is a rare issue. Just do your homework. I would have no problems buying a demo if I had a good feeling about its history.

wing · « **Reply #12 on:** March 21, 2006, 09:12:16 pm »

Quote from: 84im on March 21, 2006, 07:32:12 pm

Is THAT what they told you?
Seriously, if you buy a demo, buying the owner's demo is the way to go.

I actually bought it from a guy that was the owner's buddy

wildk9 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 21, 2006, 10:34:55 pm »

Quote from: CarCost Pres on March 21, 2006, 09:09:45 pm

Demos in general are ok to buy except for the price.

I always suggest to ignore the demo and work at buying the new one as cheap as possible first. Then offer to buy the demo for less.

Most dealers will sell demos with 5-10,000 km at their cost. So the only thing you are saving is the dealer profit, which is usually 3-4%. I would want at least 10%. If it was your car, they would take at least 20% off.

3-4% is not enough of a savings for me. But, it's your money. You decide.

CCPres

I'll take that advice. My car buying experience is going to include CCC, so I'll see what happens there first and not worry about the demo. Beats going in with both-guns-a-blazin'.

johngenx · « **Reply #14 on:** March 22, 2006, 09:34:03 am »

We bought a Mazda that was a "demo" many years ago, and it had 800km on the odo and we saved at least $1K over the best deal we could have done on a "0km" car. It was worth it. There's another thread where the dealer is suggesting taking $600 of for 6000kms of driving. That's ridiculous.

No H2O · « **Reply #15 on:** March 22, 2006, 11:51:02 am »

Quote from: wildk9 on March 21, 2006, 03:33:35 pm

So, what's a good reduction for a demo and would you take it if you had the chance.

I'd never consider one because I don't know how it was abused. Sure, they come with a factory warranty, but why take the chance especially when...

They're never discounted enough to make it worth buying. I got $2000 off a new vehicle that had an MSRP or $26,000 and didn't get charged all those silly extras...just PST and GST. Now for me to buy that as a demo, I'd be looking for AT LEAST another $2000 off to buy that car at $22,000 OR LESS. Do the percentages and apply it to whatever you're considering.

Lets face it. I don't care how a dealer wants to label their cars...it is a "USED" car. Why should they drive for free?

No H2O · « **Reply #16 on:** March 22, 2006, 11:56:47 am »

Quote from: johngenx on March 22, 2006, 09:34:03 am

There's another thread where the dealer is suggesting taking $600 of for 6000kms of driving. That's ridiculous.

Of course that is rediculous, but then you have to consider the source...a dealer/salesperson. No need for further comment.

toolatecrew · « **Reply #17 on:** March 22, 2006, 03:13:05 pm »

A low mileage 2006 used car (which is what a demo is) can be just as good a value as any other new/used car.

We bought a car years ago a Neon (I know I know it was a piece of crap in the end). It was supposedly leased by a lady who passed away only a couple months into the lease and they took it back from the estate (I'm sure at substantial penalties). it was on the used lot. it was sold as used and not a "demo).

It was a current model year with less than 5000KM on it. I negotiated up from black book. I saved over $2000 of a "brand new" one even at the discounded rebated prices of the new one. A chunk for it being "used" for 5000km and no freight PDI etc. (as a bonus it turned out there was a CD changer in it that no one even knew was there).

Anyway my point is a new model year car with 5000Km was sold as USED.

Why would a new model year car with 6000Km on it be sold as a "demo" simply because the car wasn't registered to someone ?

The road eats away tires at the same or greater rate when a salesperson or test driving customer goes down the road. The shocks wear at the same rate.

If Joe Salesman buy a car anycar from his own dealership and then decides to sell it after 6000km would it command a premium over a car bought by Joe Smith who lives next door to him?

Of course not.

If a 2006 with 6000Km is a good deal I'd buy it from the dealer or you or your neighbour. I don't care.

If the "demo" has an appropriate discount buy it . If its a piddly little discount for being a demo vs what an appropriate discount for being a used car is then don't.

No there are not going to be many 2006's in the paper with 6000km on them so its not like you can just go find one but it should be seen for what it is. USED it doesn't matter WHO uses it.

As far as how much discount. There is a NON demo 2005 Legacy GT 5 spd at a nearby dealer that has a 3000 discount on it trying to move it. I think I'd take 3K off a never driven 05 over a 600 discount off a 2006 with 6000km on it.

ghost · « **Reply #18 on:** March 22, 2006, 04:07:23 pm »

when is a demo car becomes used? and sold as such? 500km? 1000km?

y2chuck · « **Reply #19 on:** March 23, 2006, 04:14:42 pm »

I've bought 2 demos. Both were driven by dealer employees, dunno if was just the owner, salespeople or what but never had any prbs with either of them. Didn't even think to ask for maintenance records or anything, we just trusted the dealer and got about 2K off the 98 SL2 and about the same off the VUE. Both had around 6 or 7 K on them.