Do dealers usually let customers test drive or sit inside your new vehicle until you take delivery?
New Car Being Used As Demo?
User210686 on 27/02/2022 - 12:20
Comments
Absolutely aye, as majority of car sales people are the most genuine, authentic and trustworthy type.
LOL!!!!!!!!
Car salesman here. I can vouch that we're totally trustworthy, AMA.
Ok, here you go. Are you speaking the truth when you say you are a car salesman?
@darkmattersunB6c0MV: Look, it's a good car. I can even get you finance, did you want to sign up today? I've got lots of interest on this one - won't last long at this price.
I've got lots of interest on this one - won't last long at this price.
This is 100% truth for most new cars at the moment.
10 km max odo reading.
This does raise the question of how many km should a new car have?
Let's start with 10km?
mine had 16km… picked up in the height of our second wave of covid late last year where there were no test driving allowed in showrooms.
@Archi: Yeah true. If it's like 50 100 that's unacceptable unless the car was driven to some upgrade shop
@Archi: Mercedes test track in Bremen, during the factory tour they said some guys take every say 10th vehicle off the line to do a test drive. This can add around 10-20 km depending on laps done. Under 50km should be acceptable, but in general under 30 if road tested and under 10 if not.
@Muzeeb: How is it unbelievable? They have multiple test drivers and they just rotate through shifts, at least that was what we were told. I saw a few cars on the track, but they're just going at regular pace, not like racing. The test track is literally on-site at the factory. If you buy a Mercedes, you can also choose to pick it up at the factory and save on the dealer delivery, and you can also have a free driver training session with the test drivers.
@[Deactivated]: You are just admitting where you are located plays a huge part in how many k's your new vehicle has when it's delivered.
@[Deactivated]: Because I've had 2 vehicles delivered which were around the 10km mark, one was 6km and one was 13km. Not having experienced it yourself doesn't mean its not real.
I remember 10+ years ago, buying a brand new Mazda ute, with 160km on it, we refused to accept it.
What was their reason?
And what was the outcome?
@mmd: They said the kms were due to the pre delivery once over/service (whatever they called it back then)
We were trading in car, and they already had a buyer for that car, and we refused to hand over the keys, until we received a vehicle with a lot less kms.
Took an extra week, but we ended up with a vehicle with just over 10kms.Those were the days where the dealer had to SELL you the car, not like now, where we have to beg to get a car… lol
Those were the good old days… Nowadays you say thank you, while on your knees, with tears running down because after 12 months wait, multiple chip shortage related downgrades, and multiple price hikes due to supply chain issues, a car is finally available for pick up
@oztite: And you ordered and paid for a GR Yaris and got delivered a Suzuki Alto and still say "thanks" and mean it.
also lets them potentially list it as a 'used' car vs new car depending on the KM on it.. even though having only 10km or less. lots of dodgy seems to occur
In my past experience dealers have shown me sold cars to see a colour or interior option but I've never been allowed to enter the vehicle.
This is my experience too. Sold car's have been locked, dealer will unlock to show trim level but will tell me in advance I can't sit inside.
I have sat in a 2021 Toyota Supra on showroom floor that I later found out was sold. Door was unlocked and I just opened door and sat inside. Dealer told me it was sold and didn't tell me off or anything.
I would not trust any dealer not allowing access to other people to your car that you bought.btw I was looking into a RAV4 lol
I dont see the harm in sitting in a sold car but driving it would be inappropriate and frankly I wouldn't accept an offer to test drive a sold car. At some dealers I have seen sold stickers that say 'Sold - dont touch'
I'm certain that most owners would not be OK if random people sat in their $95K car in the showroom. They should've locked the doors and kept it in another area.
I couldn’t care less if someone sat in my new car. As long as it’s not damaged and I still get to be the first person to fart in the seat I am cool with others checking it out.
@Brick Tamland: you wouldn't be the first person to have their sweat soaked into the upholstery tho
its the reason some people don't buy used cars or furniture or mattress .. years/decades of shed skin debris@payton: yeah its pretty gross. I dont think the interior of a brand new car sitting in an air-conditioned showroom gonna cop too much filth.
I've never been privileged enough to afford a brand new car but I am saving up now with half a mind to buy a new Supra. If I have ever get there I promise that car wont be sitting round for long enough in the showroom for many people to sit in it. But then I'd probably be so excited I'd be taking lots of people for rides anyway so who cars if people sit in it…
Although, I understand people like to buy things like toys and keep them in their packaging to keep them clean and pristine but where's the enjoyment. Same with the car, its never gonna remain pristine anyway so just enjoy it. In fact, I'd probably cause more damage as soon as I bundle my dog inside then randoms sitting in it at a showroom.
@payton: are you actually concerned about sitting somewhere that someone else also once sat? Must be fun not going anywhere, not using any form of public transport, not going to restaurants or shows or the movies.
@dtc: its a new car, if I spend > $20K on it I'd want it be new new
Same like buying business shirts, are you happy if the shopkeep gives you the one that everyone had used to try on their size, or do you want a wrapped one from the shelf?@payton: That is by no means the same. One is fabric that is pressed against skin, the other is sitting in a seat (wearing clothes). Although I get it, they maybe even breathed the air that is in your car and then left their exhalation to float down onto the dashboard! Outrageous.
You realise if you go to most shops where you buy things off the rack, there is a chance someone has already tried that on or - gasp - even touched it before (have been to Big W or Kmart or Target (or even Rebel) - have you ever seen those shops have wrapped clothes on the shelf, outside of underwear? Country Road business shirts are wrapped - what about their pants or suits or casual shirts? Hint - not wrapped). If you buy sunnies from a rack someone may have tried them on. When you go to restaurants, the fork is second hand!
As ewan said, a car isnt going to remain pristine. 3 days after you leave the lot it will have suffered more damage than people sitting in it at the dealer. Yes, that is 'your' damage and not someone elses but damage is damage. It makes no difference.
If you are someone who wants 'new new' and thinks someone sitting in your car is terrible, great. Go for it. Get worked up over an irrelevancy. Enjoy being upset and having a bad time instead of having fun with your new car. Its your life.
@payton: How do you think it makes from the factory to the dealership? here's a clue, they don't teleport or levitate
1 - They get driven to and from the port on either side
2 - They get driven onto and off the car ferry either side
3 - They get driven onto and off the car transporters either sideAnd maybe other times as well, it's a bit naive to think that no one else has sat in it
@HeadTheWall: Spot on with this one! In addition to the above if you have dealer fitted accessories you will have kms added to the car before you take delivery of it. This will very much vary based on your dealer's physical location
… for those cribbing about dealer delivery kms you don't even want to know how what happens if your car it is damaged during transportation to, or whilst at, the ports (the dealers don't even know about damaged sustained) … unless you were the lucky buyer of an Australian delivered v5 STI
you wouldn't be the first person to have their sweat soaked into the upholstery tho
You do realise that factory workers, shipping and delivery drivers, dealer staff all hop in to move the thing around. Sure, it’s probably got plastic on the seat until it arrives at the dealer, but it’ll have more than a couple of bums in there before you get it.
@payton: Rode share, public transport, commercial flights, cinemas, restaurants, waiting areas, boardrooms, etc.
Do some people just stay home 24/7/life?
@Brick Tamland: I dunno man. Well for me I would not want any random to sit in my new car that I paid hard earned cash for.
Accidental damage is the problem.
Watch, rings, jewellery scratch entering and exiting car.@yellowfever: I get it. But I already have to many things to stress over and I dont need to add worry about whether someone has sat in my brand new car before I have.
Its the dealers problem to fix any damage before a customer takes delivery.
@yellowfever: You realise there are several "randoms" who would have sat in your "new" car between it leaving the factory, driven onto the ship, off the ship etc. Unless you pick the car up direct from the factory, there is no circumstance in which you are the first and only one to sit in the car.
@jaejae69: I understand factory workers and dealership staff would sit in the car, that is a given. But having random customers freely access a sold car and sit in and touch controls etc is not acceptable.
Cause no one sat in the car on the showroom floor before you bought it. What difference will one more bum make?
The car will be fully detailed and cleaned and get your $1 million interior care pack from bolt on barbie.
This doesn't make any sense. Any car in the showroom is specifically a demo model and should never be sold as not such.
Name and shame.
Sit in, yes. Test drive, no.
There's a yo mama joke here, I know it…
Troll post.. no dealer has an actual car in stock!
They could AirBNB it until you pick the car up.
I wouldn't accept a car I'd bought if the dealer had let others test drive it.
On the flip, I had a dealer offer me a demo car to purchase as a new car, ie no discounted price, as I was one of the first to test drive it. Had about 350km on it and he said that it was still new. Terrific industry.
350K equates to being driven at least 330K for test drives. It has been driven!!!
I drove it around Canberra for about 2 hours. Quite liked it but he was serious when he said it's new and full price.
In this market, 350km is a new car. In a market 24 months ago you can laugh.
Had about 350km on it and he said that it was still new.
They weren't lying - it was still new. Just not brand new! haha 😆
Most new cars available for immediate sale would not be sitting at the dealership anyway. They are usually kept in a yard somewhere exposed to sun and rain, collecting dust waiting for someone to make the deposit. Only then would be the car brought to the workshop to be detailed and presented to the customer on the date of pickup.
Well, I had already paid the deposit before the compliance process was complete and the vehicle was delivered to the showroom.
People tend to fall into 2 categories with new cars. Those that believe a new car should be pristine, 0km on the clock, never touched by human hands (little do they know what happens during delivery….). I've seen threads of apoplectic people when their 'new car' turns up with 23km on the clock
Then there are those who realise that cars are designed to last 200,000km+ and a few km here and there means 3/5 of 1/4 of FA and that people sitting in a car creates no damage and causes no loss. 3 days after you take delivery you have done more 'damage' than anything that happened in the dealer. Even a few 100km on the clock means nothing; maybe its not 'new' but in 10 years time and 130,000km later is it really an issue? Personally I dont understand why people buy new and no demos, save yourself $3k+ and get a car that is still in perfect condition; but that means less competition when I buy a car so who am I to complain.
Now should a dealer use your car for demo driving - no. Its a new car, you bought it as a new car, there is a reason why demos have $$ knocked off their price. Does it matter if someone sits in it - no; seriously who could possibly get worked up about that?
As others have said, chances are 'your' new car will be sitting in a yard and only brought to the dealer when you are ready to collect. The apprentice does a quick vacuum/wipe and wash and its handed over to you. There are tax and registration reasons why your car wont be used as a demo (although, I guess, in theory they could let someone sit in it - but there will be one on the showroom floor anyway so probably no real need, unless your variant is significantly different to the showroom version)
Brand new car should have less than about 20 to 30K''s and if your very lucky less than 10. if the car has more than 50K I would ask why and check other new cars at the stealership to see what ODO reading they have see if the sales person is lying, which they probably are and therefore you should ask for a free service for the inconvenience or something that will not cost the dealer much but is something you want like floor mats.
Brand new cars should not have been registered until you sign the contract. This is a dead give away that it's a demo.
A new car should be registered on the day of the agreed hand over. Anything under 100km on the odo is fine to me when picking up a new car. First new car I picked up was around 30km. 2nd new car was around 80km.
All of the cars I have picked up have never had he rego done on the pickup day, but between 1 and 3 work days before.
I have had 8K and 25K and a demo car 300K.
@AndyC1: Similar story here however the car never had plates fitted until I was there. Could tell because the holes for the screws still hadn’t been used yet.
I bought cx-5 just before Covid and I can tell you that the dealer demos, for the most part, weren’t discounted (2019 EOFY’s). I was surprised that it was cheaper to get a brand new car and wait 1-2 weeks, as people were paying more to take the demo immediately.
People buy new because demos often don't have the right combo of specs, colour, interior etc. Also demos tend to have a few thou on the clock which eats into distance warranties. To some that's a deal breaker over a few grand off for a demo.
Even a few 100km on the clock means nothing; maybe its not 'new' but in 10 years time and 130,000km later is it really an issue
My concern is the running period. I know the running in period isn't as critical as it used to be. But I was fairly deliberate in how I drove my new car for the first 250 km or so.
Case in point, I had a mate who worked at dealer who chucked the dealer plates on a hybrid Camry with 9 km on the clock, pulled out of the dealer's driveway and flattened the throttle.
Read the fine print!
A negotiated contract gives you less powers if you have agreed to something not reading the full contract.
A take it or leave it contract gives you better protection under the ACL.
A mate found a minute detail wrong upon delivery. He got 3 choices: Full money back, $200 cash compensation or 2k worth of free accessories. He took the last one.
Depends on the dealer. I know a few dodgy sods who absolutely do this.
Dealer should have it off the showroom floor and out the back until you can collect it.
Many dealers will regard up to 2000km as 'new'.
If I'm buying it new, I expect no more than 10kms.Brand new car, built to your order specification OR a car purchased from a dealer which is part of their stock in storage - I wouldn't expect this to be accessible to the public to sit in or drive. I know some dealers may take customers down to the storage area to let potential customers see your exterior / interior colour which is OK but shouldn't happen too often.
Car sold to someone from showroom floor or demo stock - Possibly still available for customers to see / sit in until they get the chance to move it away. Wouldn't expect them to allow it to be driven (unless it was already being demoed at the time of purchase - eg I had a loan car for the day once and when I returned it, they said it was just sold that day). If no storage space it may remain on the showroom floor hopefully locked, but possibly not.
For my new car? Not even allowed to look at it square on!
Pretty well got that last car. Arrived at interstate dealer during 2020 lockdowns and transported to my door.
Of course every freight driver drove it on and off their trucks…. But had their seat covers.
I scratched it immediately 😢 but at least it was me - and I farted in it first 😎💨😎You THINK you farted in it first haha.
Is this simply a nightmare scenario…. why would they have it to do so as you describe… why haven't you taken possession of it yet…
This is when you go to the sink and have a glass of water… it is only a dream
Test drive? I don't think so
But sit inside? Yes. They've got sold stickers on them and may be unlocked. You can have a gander and sit inside and the sales folk won't bat an eye.
I have brought a few new cars over the years and they might have an extra 2-3 km added to them if I have brought them off the yard, usually to fill up with fuel or add accessories. Even seconded hand cars from a dealer had similar km added after signing the contract.
Cars that have to be ordered in or are in stock in the warehouse or holding yard had under 10km on delivery.
Brought a demo once and when I took it for a test drive it had 2km on it, when I returned from the drive it had 13km on it. I brought the car and it had 14km on it when I picked it up a few days latter with a full tank of fuel and a few dealer accessories added..
They stuck it out the back when I signed the contract with the rego and warranty starting the day before I test drove it which was the last day of the finical year.
It wasn't a true demo but registered to meet the sales KPI's I presume.from my limited experience, until sold yes. After sold no. For a brand new vehicle that was preordered and sold then absolutely no.
You still won’t get 0km vehicle for obvious reasons. That doesnt mean sales people have been riding it with customers. Last time I was there, sold vehicles were not even allowed to get in on.
If it's on the lot, potential customers can sit in it and touch things, start it up and rev it but not drive it unless it's a dedicated demo model. The car will be moved around by the staff and washed to keep clean. The quality of the washing to prevent swirl marks is questionable.
Personally with the current situation of new cars being delayed and built to order, I would get one from the factory straight to you without any time on the lot.
paging @spackbace
I accidentally opened the door a "new" car that was sold to another customer sitting in the showroom, and they told me off. So I guess it depends on the dealer?
While we're talking about demo cars…I stupidly out my details into Hyundai's website to get a valuation on my current car and they called me next day.
I said I had my eye potentially on the Tucson which was a demo car for sale on their website. It was listed for $37K I think it was. The guy on the phone said that it wasn't actually for sale, you'd have to buy a brand new one.
Surely that's misleading bordering on illegal?
That is called bait advertising, and yes it is illegal.
Holden used to be able to reset odometers up to 100km, multiple times.
Most new cars allow at least a single reset up to a manufacturer determined number of km's. Most people here will probably deny it, because they can't handle the thought that their brand new car might have travelled a few dozen km's.
Absolutely not if it's sold & reserved to you.