Volkswagen Golf Demo Car or Brand New?

dairy-coffee on 21/03/2024 - 13:48
Last edited 21/03/2024 - 15:07 by 1 other user

Currently in the market for a Volkswagen Golf 110TSI Life with Sound and Vision Pack.

Received a quotation of A$37,400 Drive Away (~18% off MRDP) for a demo with 7,000km & 6 months rego left. The dealership is sending me a contract with the condition subject to a test drive.

The MRDP for the same spec is A$45,847, and the best offer that I have received via Motor Scout is around A$42,000 (~8.5%), but the delivery date can be a few months away.

Can anyone comment on whether $37,400 for the demo is worth it, or should I just go for the brand new via Motor Scout?

Thanks

Poll Options

  • 53
    Demo
  • 21
    Brand New
Automotive Car Volkswagen

Comments

  • BOGOF on 21/03/2024 - 13:59
    +1

    What is the manufacture date and do you get the full 5 year manufacturer's warranty on the demo Golf?

    • dairy-coffee on 21/03/2024 - 14:09

      Manufacture date for demo is early-mid 2023. and will still get full 5year manufacturer's warranty from the delivery date. But the first service will be 6 months from now.

      • BOGOF on 21/03/2024 - 14:14
        +4

        Then the demo seems worth it to me.

        [edit] - Just do due dilligence when inspecting. Even though it is a demo it should present 'as new' so check for any chips, scuffs etc. on the body work. Check for wheels rim scuffs, tyre damage etc. and compare panel shade, in case there has been any repairs.

      • geek001 on 21/03/2024 - 16:09
        +1

        Please get it in writing. I bought a demo Honda and the salesman told me I will get the full 5 year warranty because it is under Xkms, but after 5 years, the dealership will only honour the manufacture date rather than the date that I actually bought the vehicle, which was like 6 months apart.

      • Ryk on 25/03/2024 - 13:46

        I'd presume warranty will be from first registration, which is the demo rego, not your transfer.

  • Brian McGee on 21/03/2024 - 14:03

    Don't support criminal corporations.

    • dairy-coffee on 21/03/2024 - 14:13

      Which one you referring to? :)

      • BOGOF on 21/03/2024 - 14:24
        +2

        Volkswagen.
        Both the company and a senior executive were criminally charged and convicted for the 'emissions scandal in 2016-18.

        • spackbace on 21/03/2024 - 15:23
          +10

          Completely ignoring the founder…

        • greencomet on 21/03/2024 - 16:04
          +9

          If you only supported manufactures that have never cheated emissions you really wouldn't have many options to choose from. People like to bang on about VW, but there's a heap of manufactures that have been caught doing similar things over the last decade or so.

          • Brian McGee on 21/03/2024 - 16:22
            +1

            @greencomet: If you only support companies that never do anything wrong you'd die, what's your point?
            VW admitted to it and agreed to pay a fine ~$3billion, imagine how bad it really was to think $3billion was a good deal for intentionally poisoning everyone surrounding those dungboxes.
            That, and given their [attrocious reliability records[(https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-vehi…), thier terrible customer service, why would anyone be silly enough to consider a VW?
            German quality? I almost fell off my chair I was laughing so hard!

            • greencomet on 21/03/2024 - 17:43
              +1

              @Brian McGee: That IS my point, your opening line right there… that is my point… everything after that was noise.

              • Brian McGee on 22/03/2024 - 07:34
                -4

                @greencomet: greencomet, supporting criminals cause it's too hard not to since 2012.
                noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise noise

            • LFO on 22/03/2024 - 11:12

              @Brian McGee: I gather you don't really like Volkswagen all that much …

              What is your choice for a vehicle brand and model please?

    • afah0447 on 22/03/2024 - 10:43
      +1

      How far do you want to go back? The Nazis? They had a massive hand in VW.

      • Brian McGee on 22/03/2024 - 11:11
        -2

        Founded by Nazis and still gassing people.

        Do what you want with your money, but I'll not consider a vehicle made with such poor quality, poor support and service and reprehensible corporate governance.

        • LFO on 22/03/2024 - 11:15
          -1

          Founded by Nazis and still gassing people.

          A discussion has reached its end when Hitler and the defunct Nazi regime is brought in.

          And we got there rather quickly!!

          • Brian McGee on 22/03/2024 - 11:17
            -2

            @LFO: I didn't bring it up, afah0447 did.

            • LFO on 22/03/2024 - 11:24
              -1

              @Brian McGee: It is a verbatim of your post

              • Brian McGee on 22/03/2024 - 13:15

                @LFO: Don't know what you're smoking to come to that conclusion.
                I mentioned the criminal case in the US where they plead guilty of corruption and paid a fine of $2.8billion.
                I mentioned how utterly rubbish their cars and customer service is.
                afah0447 mentioned Nazis, I didn't.

                • LFO on 23/03/2024 - 15:07
                  -1

                  @Brian McGee: Your post reads: Founded by Nazis and still gassing people.

                  What part of that do you deny?

                  And please, keep insults and belittling out. Thank you.

  • JimB on 21/03/2024 - 14:05
    +2

    If you can wait, get a new car via Motor Scout, if you can't then this demo seems like a good deal.

  • DrRalph on 21/03/2024 - 14:06
    +2

    New.

    • resisting the urge on 21/03/2024 - 15:00

      New, but bought at a discount as others are suggesting.

      However, at delivery time, go over it with a fine tooth comb and do your own Quality Inspection. Nothing like a customer rejecting the build of a car that should be as near to industry perfect as can be. Mainly because Dealers have been known to deliver damaged 'new' cars- ones that have been repaired after a pre-delivery screw up. But you also need to check the factory inspection/checks have been done correctly. Only trouble is you have to be prepared to do your homework to know the flaws they are battling with in your model, and/or might be common to previous ones.

      Also, ask to buy the car cash so you don't have to sign any release for your PII (in the Ts&Cs they will want you to sign) to be stored on their global computer networks, and shared with multiple third parties. At the very least, cross any data-sharing and storage clauses out.

      Auto companies have all been hacked and most are already known to be very loose with customer information and even their own data security. You just don't ever want to fear that some hacker can unlock your car, track where you go/are, and/or turn off your engine or electric steering, while driving. The very best reason not to buy new, let alone the size of the environmental impact caused building new cars.

      In my book anything more than 10k on an ICE car won't pass cost/return unless you drive it > ~20k/year, in which case I'd just spend 20k to get a newer used car in near new/mint condition. part of this is because there is a lot of risk owning a car, failures/flaws/damage/wear/regulatory etc. a lot of people fail to cost this into their decision to buy new- a car that has not been far 'less tested' than a used one, lol!

      • Euphemistic on 21/03/2024 - 15:24
        +1

        Paranoid much?

        • Muzeeb on 21/03/2024 - 15:37

          resisting the urge to remove tin foil hat

          FTFY

          • resisting the urge on 21/03/2024 - 18:27

            @Muzeeb: Should change to 'Urges managed': Up until 10 years ago, I felt like a TF Hatter. Now everything I was concerned about is happening, and some.

        • resisting the urge on 21/03/2024 - 18:28

          Oftentimes, only the paranoid survive.

  • Euphemistic on 21/03/2024 - 14:18

    Demo.

  • m a c9 on 21/03/2024 - 14:29
    +2

    For ~$5k, brand new. For me the peace of mind is worth $5k for an investment like a car.

  • blonky on 21/03/2024 - 14:53
    +1

    tbh 7000km sounds more like used car miles than demo miles. you're also buying a 2023 plated vehicle instead of a 2024 plate, even if its the same model year

    go motoscout and get the new car feeling

  • brad1-8tsi on 21/03/2024 - 14:55
    +4

    7000km is no longer a demo. That's a used car.

  • 87percent on 21/03/2024 - 15:05
    +4

    And people would have thrashed it on their test drive

    • Muzeeb on 21/03/2024 - 15:39
      +3

      Demo car is short for 'let's flog this thing while the oil is stone cold'

    • opt on 21/03/2024 - 16:00
      +5

      +1

      Anything with more than 5000km is not a demo. A car with 7000km usually means it has been used as more than a demo, possibly as a courtesy car or something. You are better off buying a ~10,000km private seller used car instead, because we all know demos/courtesy cars get abused a lot, even worse when this happens during the first 1000kms where the engines need to be run in gradually.

      For those who are under the impression that new engines don’t require running in (or don't read their owners manuals): they do. Quoting the VW Golf 8 owners manual (page 203)

      Upto1,000kilometres (600miles)
      * Do not depress the accelerator fully
      * Do not drive the vehicle at more than 2/3 of the top engine speed
      * Do not drive with a trailer attached
      The style of driving during the first 1,500 kilometres will the engine quality.
      If the engine is run in gently ,its life will be increased and its oil consumption reduced

  • oscargamer on 21/03/2024 - 15:06
    +1

    Also check your insurance. Some policies do new for old in the first few years, but only if you are the first registered owner.

  • LanceVance on 21/03/2024 - 16:29

    I can't believe this is an OzB post asking about VW's and I'm going to be the first asking why you're looking at a VW and not something more reliable?

    • dairy-coffee on 21/03/2024 - 16:43

      My partner prefer VW as she owned one before. Would you mind recommending any that might be more reliable? :)

      • FocusRider on 21/03/2024 - 18:35
        +2

        Don’t listen to this guy.

        My VW hasn’t missed a beat brought it brand new in 2019 I’ve had zero issues.

        • Baysew on 21/03/2024 - 19:03
          +1

          Username doesn't check out.

        • Ryk on 25/03/2024 - 13:50

          My 2016 Golf and 2016 Polo, bought together, have had zero issues.

      • LanceVance on 22/03/2024 - 13:05
        +1

        Easy answer is Toyota or Mazda.

    • opt on 23/03/2024 - 02:19
      +1

      Reliability isn’t a huge concern for most people who buy new cars, because these days most cars come with a 5~7 year factory warranty (including VWs) and they generally last 7~10 years without needing major repairs as long as you maintain them properly. The biggest downside to buying a new VW (or any other European car for that matter) is depreciation, but that is the price you pay for driving a car you like and enjoy. Not everyone see a car as an appliance. I've owned multiple VAG cars with zero issues. Both our current cars are from VAG, one is 6 years old with over 100,000km and the other a year old with 10,000km. And I will continue to buy them as long as I like their design, way they drive, comfort and features.

      • LanceVance on 25/03/2024 - 11:43

        Thats a good point. I tend to hold onto cars for a long time. I still wouldn't recommend in general that anyone buy European makes second hand. But if you're churning through them before warranty expiration and happy to wear the depreciation then fair enough.

      • spackbace on 25/03/2024 - 13:41

        Reliability isn’t a huge concern for most people who buy new cars

        It still should be, because warranty repairs = time off the road = inconvenience and potential loss of earnings.

  • RR88 on 21/03/2024 - 16:35
    +2

    my wife bought a demo golf similar spec in early 2020, it was worth the money, we had to replace a water pump (under warranty) and have had no issues since.

    nothing wrong with a demo provided you get warranty coverage

    • Drakesy on 21/03/2024 - 18:40
      +1

      Yep, and as soon as the warranty runs out, dump it.

      • RR88 on 22/03/2024 - 10:43

        we are a year past warranty and still no issues!

        guess we got a good one!

        • Drakesy on 22/03/2024 - 12:04
          +1

          Famous last words

  • Tee Rex Arms on 21/03/2024 - 16:48

    I just bought a demo car with 180 kms on it that was advertised as closer to 3000. When I queried the sales person they said they needed to advertise it as above 2000 k’s. Never really articulated why. Even the paperwork had the false k’s on it. Oh well 😂

    • spackbace on 21/03/2024 - 16:54

      Correct, many companies stipulate this

  • Drakesy on 21/03/2024 - 18:39
    +2

    C) Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, BYD, MG

    VW is shedding sales to the chinese and koreans as they're just as unreliable and poorer equipped with a higher price tag, only way i'd drive one would be if i didn't own it and someone else was on the hook for the repairs.

    Depreciation is phenomenal.

  • iNeed2Pee on 21/03/2024 - 19:36
    -1

    New. Peace of mind someone hasn't thrashed it.

  • Densor on 21/03/2024 - 19:45

    It is a used car. It has been thrashed. It has a DSG gearbox. It is sure to fail very soon.
    Run away !

    • Vieira4 on 21/03/2024 - 20:37
      +1

      It actually has a planetary 8 speed gearbox with torque converter.

      • Densor on 22/03/2024 - 08:46

        I stand corrected. Thank you. Finally they have changed.

  • joshash on 22/03/2024 - 08:19
    -1

    I couldn't think of a car brand with worse warranty and reliability issues than VW.

    • LFO on 22/03/2024 - 11:17
      +1

      I thought only China = Bad was the generalized mantra.

    • Ryk on 25/03/2024 - 13:54

      BMW, Range Rover, Land Rover, Jaguar, Chrysler, Jeep, Fiat, Peugeot, Renault, GWM

  • Dollar General on 25/03/2024 - 13:54
    +1

    “The dealership is sending me a contract with the condition subject to a test drive”

    The way this is written, so once you have the test drive that condition is fulfilled and you are now locked into the contract.

    People need to be more diligent in the way conditions are written in contracts eg when purchasing a house and having a condition of subject to building inspection, when really what they mean is subject to a building inspection showing no issues and still reserving the right to withdraw offer etc

  • Haulien on 26/03/2024 - 20:54

    Consider a second hand GTI or R for similar pricing instead. The 2.0 engine is far more reliable. The wet DSG (DQ250/DQ381 depending on generation) is more reliable than the dry dsg too. Nicer interior and more fun too.

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