joe12

I know this has been done to death. But I have to decide wheter to buy a demonstrator car (german) from a dealer or wait at least 6 weeks for a new one.
How much is true about STIs are very sensitive to the way they have been run-in?

Ray_li

people frash the car from cold which is bad for the engine

sammyh

iTrader: (1)

but you always have the warrenty should anything brake.........

Wuss

My mate bought an ex-demo P1 and he has not had any issues with it (that must have been thrashed to death?!!!!)

dnb

Are you getting the ex-demo at a good price?

When I get ex demo stuff (not usually cars I admit) I can usually negotiate on the price a bit...

mutant_matt

I personally wouldn't touch one with a barge pole!!!! Have you seen the way they get treated? Thrashed within an inch of their lives whilst they are supposed to be running them in......

And yes it's covered under warranty but do you really want to risk being off the road whilst someone rebuilds your engine? I know I wouldn't.......

As usual, all just IMHO

Matt

Great~taste~Bloke

Like Wuss i bought an ex demo P1 in October with 3k on the car. Has been fine.

BENA80

Have to agree with Matt...Definately no go if you plan to keep in longer than Warranty period. Its not only customers who ,istreat demos but the over enthusiastic garage staff/salesman.

chiark

Wouldn't touch it. I know how I drove the STI on my test drive, and hearing the paranoia about running in of these puppies then no thanks.

Buy a new one and don't have the shadow of doubt hanging over you for the whole time that you own the car.

MARK MORRIS

i bought an ex demo p1 with 1900 miles on it last may, no probs
mark

David_Wallis

i would buy one... what do you mean have you seen the way they get driven... In that case I wouldnt recommend anybody buys my car as I promise you it gets more stick than any demonstrator...

David

Shark

I wouldn't touch it unless you intend to sell it the moment the warranty expires.

David

FreeT

You will only get problems when milage is higher than 40k, so if you are going to keep it for longer think twice- warranty will no doubt have run out by then -

scooby nutter

Hanslow
good points.

My evo 4 use to be a Demonstrator for Warrenders and now at 65000miles it hasn't missed a beat

how about buying one second hand,it could have been thrashed on loads of trackdays!!

If its a good price and the car looks straight buy it!!

mutant_matt

You see, Shark is a Subaru dealer so he sees how Demo's get treated and he wouldn't buy one.......

Matt

Jza

DONT DO IT!!!

THEY GET THRASHED FROM COLD FROM 0000 miles!!!

Jza

chrisp

When you come to sell it what looks better on a V5 one owner from new or two owners, the first being the supplying garage. Assuming both cars lok the same and similar mileage I know which one I would go for.

Just look at all the guys on here who said, I went to my local dealers and they let me out in the demostrator and I thrashed it around and then ordered a new one. Do you think warming up and cooling down and running in are a joke and not really applicable to your car . Like it was said pay ya money .......

cheers

chrisp

DMB

Demo's = driven by lots of people not used to the car (performance, clutch etc) or driven by staff "it's not mine i don't give a **** if it goes bang", "what happens when i pull the handbrake in a corner" etc and most importantly "lets nick bits off of it to fix that new one thats just been dragged in". They are cheap for a reason not cos the dealer is being kind.

Just my opinion, i know lots of demos that have never had a problem and i know lots of demos that have had lots.

Yorkie

Its all very well saying this, but how do we "new" buyers know that our cars weren't thrashed cold and at over 4000 rpm when moving them from the docks to the place where the alarm is fitted to taking off the transporter and then the first PDI drive ?

The first 100 miles are critical for any car. Mine had 12 miles on the clock when I collected. How was it treated then ?

markyp

I bought a MY02 WRX with 1900 miles on it, have had it a month and have clocked up nearly 10,000 miles with no probs. Lets face it you get three years / 60,000 miles warranty with them so you should be able to work out if it's a nail by then and get rid of it; if not - keep it.

I got about £3,500 worth of extras on mine and paid the same price as a new one. I wouldn't have been able to afford to have these extras if I had paid £21,500 for a new one due to lack of funds.


I suppose you pays your money you takes your choice.

Hanslow

No worse than buying any second hand in my opinion. You won't know the full history of the car, but you will be able to negotiate more on price. I've got a MY00 ex-demo, and it runs like a dream

One thing to make sure though is that it has not been thrashed round a track. On the road is one thing, track is something completely different

I know if I bought a second hand one privately, I would look for one that hasn't ever been on a track, but then how do you know if the seller isn't honest?

You pays your money, you makes your choice. It will have a warranty, and should anything go wrong within the three years, you should be able to get it sorted.

I thought the engines were somewhat run in anyway?

Some people wouldn't touch them at all, and that's their choice. I can't see where the issue is personally

It'll be worth less when you sell it on, but then like a euro import, you make savings on the purchase, and lose a bit on resale, swings and roundabouts.

[Edited by Hanslow - 5/10/2002 9:00:04 AM]

Scaramanga

Obviously it's an opinion but..........

I wouldn't buy one. The cars came in and were eagerly anticipated (which doesn't lead to responsible running in periods). I've been out for a test drive in two and both got a good bit of exercise as you would expect (it's a performance car after all)

The STi's do need running in and there is genuine talk of more than three blown engines that I know of. One of which is definitely due to not being run in properly.

For me it would be a peace of mind thing. Wait 6 weeks and don't ever worry about it. Otherwise every time you hear a strange noise you will be worrying and taking it to the dealers and posting on here asking if it's normal.

Unless the price is so good you can't say no..........

Hope this helps/doesn't offend anyone.
Cheers,

Simon

[Edited by Scaramanga - 5/10/2002 11:36:29 AM]

pslewis

Like has been said - its fine if you get rid of it with the expiry of the warranty .................. everyone gives a car that is a demo/hire car a tough time dont they?? and why not?

Its probably the staff at the garage that are the worst by far, start up - no need to warm up - give good thrashing - turn engine off straight away - start up again for customer - let them thrash it - back to garage, stop engine - send Apprentice to car factors in it!!! you get the picture??

Nah, not worth it unless REALLY cheap!!

Pete

[Edited by pslewis - 5/11/2002 11:36:26 PM]