Truth behind X-demo cars

ChrisB_4

Main dealers - the pinnacle of modern capitalism, representing great value for money on a product which has been honed to perfection by literally trillions of dollars of investment over decades. Big business!

Ford sells alot of "approved" cars. I drove an "x-demo" car with 13k on the clock. I want to know exactly how an ex-demo car can do 250 miles a week? My test drive was maybe 4 mile - so that's 33 miles a day, leaving 1000 to move the car from site to site, so that's 8 testdrives a day. Is this what really happens to a "Ford" registered car? or just "Ford" registered cars actually get leased? or who drives them?

Under the bonnet, the car has no engine cover - wires everywhere. It's 10 month old. So service done or problems found. Whichever, the salesguy tries to tell me that not all have engine covers, when I know bloody well that they do. Beware.

I want to know more about "x-demo" cars and "approved" cars.

Any change of having a dedicated "buying a car" forum. I really think this is the second biggest financial burden many of us take on. I've just bought a house, and I know that one. It seems a little ignored here..

ManAtHome

There does seem to be a problem with 'Ford Direct' (pukka stuff) and 'Ford Approved' (dealer version). The real stuff is worth buying, normally 1/3 off RSP but I was nearly stitched up by a main dealer some years ago - basically told them to stuff it and bought a proper one from another main dealer (was a genuine ex-lease with 7k on the clock, RAC inspection and 'new car' warranty).

Bottom line - go for Ford Direct (hologrammed sticker) and forget any "Approved" rip-offs..

Altarf

ChrisB wrote:

who drives them?

The main dealer salespeople as company cars.

Dee123_2

ChrisB wrote:

Any change of having a dedicated "buying a car" forum. I really think this is the second biggest financial burden many of us take on. I've just bought a house, and I know that one. It seems a little ignored here..

Chris, the Motoring forum might be better for this. It's a subfolder of the Travel section. I'm sure one of the moderators will move it for us though .

While we are taking about Ford dealerships, I just wanted to say I got pulled in to one yesterday by a non-existant Fiesta promotion that had only started two days earlier that had "run out of cars" allready. Unless of course I wanted to pay an extra £1k for an even older model than advertised and then add on the cost of metallic paint as the four older ones available were metallic. I can't get them for it as they had advertised "limited stock - subject to availability". Well, why run it for six weeks if you run out after two days?

Although my budget was £500 below the promotion price and I had a trade in, I was basically told they had nothing for me and escorted out with a "We'll call you if we manage to find anything".

Grrrrrr.......my blood pressure!

nadnad

As to who drives demo cars - well my husband sells cars and demos are used as company cars for the sales staff - hence the mileage.

JonSimmonds

nadnad wrote:

As to who drives demo cars - well my husband sells cars and demos are used as company cars for the sales staff - hence the mileage.

Wasjust going to say the same thing, a mate works for a dealership and demo cars are used by all the staff as company cars

nadnad

also demo cars are sometimes lent to customers whilst their car is being fixed and they are generally used and abused by everyone in the car business - however thats why you get them at a knock-down price.

Pink.

Chris,

While there isn't a dedicated 'buying a car' forum, theres a lot about buying and selling cars on the Motoring & Public Transport Board.

Pink

ChrisB_4

Thanks all! that explains demo-cars. The thing was falling apart for a 10k mile car. Checked out the other forum section Pinky - thanks for the pointer.. it's just that the car loan and buying a car just as a specific topic is one of the most important things we do in terms of debt and return on the credit we're given - it's a special loan in many ways like a mortgage but smaller.

blue_haddock

Right i've worked in dealerships most of my working life so i know what goes on in them.

The vast majority of dealers keep their demo cars for either 3 or 6 months maximum, along with the sales guy driving each day and standard short testdrives they do get loaned to customers for extended testdrives and yes the service department do also occasionally use them as courtesy cars.

Each manufacturers approved scheme works slightly differently but generally the cars can come from all different sources including ex dealership courtesy cars, ex-demo's, the manufacturers head office/factory and daily rental companies. The 'Approved' tag means is that the vehicle has been checked over and seems OK, the mileage has been verified and it's got a full service history. Treat this purchase just the same as if you were buying any other used car.

vansboy

& don't forget, of course, the press & media get loaned cars, for appraisal.

Would YOU want one after a certain Mr Clarkson, has had it on loan??!!

In reality, I doubt if many dealerships would actually describe too many of their used vehicles as actual demonstrators. Ex lease/daily rental/management cars is more appropriate description.

VB