Demo Car - To buy or not?

Lobsterlady

Hi there,
In the market for a new car, I've always driven and liked Honda's. Spotted a demo model for sale today, 2006 2.0 Accord, with 300 km's on the clock. It's practically brand new if you know what I mean. What should I be wary of with a demo car though?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.

mickdw

2006??

crosstownk

2006 - Doesn't sound like a demo to me. Demos are usually 0 - 6 months old. A 2006 is just a regular second hand car.

Lobsterlady

Yep, it's a 2006, with that mileage.., i don't know where it's been hiding, but it's brand spanking new looking, interior has that 'new smell':-), and it purred like a dream. I'll have to quiz them tomorrow, it's strange isn't it.

Divorce Referendum

Lobsterlady wrote: »

Yep, it's a 2006, with that mileage.., i don't know where it's been hiding, but it's brand spanking new looking, interior has that 'new smell':-), and it purred like a dream. I'll have to quiz them tomorrow, it's strange isn't it.

Is this the one op? http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Accord/2.0-i-VT/200842190518973/advert?channel=CARS

L1011

I'd be very worried about the age, not the concept of it being a demo.

If it hasn't been clocked its liable to have had some odd things happen to it due to under use, you'd want to have all fluids replaced and everything potentially perishable checked or replaced.

I bought a 15 month landed but unregistered demo with 18km on the clock but only after getting a very significant lump off the list price and it serviced as if it was much higher mileage.

crosstownk

A 4.5 year old car with only 300km on the clock? It's certainly unusual and makes me wonder where it has been for all that time.

I'm not saying it's dodgy but it does have me asking lots of questions.

It's the first time I've seen a demo with an NCT on the windscreen!

Greenmachine

Who hangs onto a demo car for 5 years before selling it. I would be concerned about oil, brake fluid, petrol etc sitting in the system for 5 years. Think gummed up carbs etc.

mickdw

God that is very odd. Why would a dealer keep it that long? Looking for mad money perhaps. I see also a merc dealer with a 07 cls in stock since mid 08 slowly reducing the price but at all times being about 10k overpriced - madness.

You would think the sales guy would have used that honda or something?

pajero12

Strange alright, She looks mint though! Id be asking serious questions..

Greenmachine wrote: »

Think gummed up carbs etc.

Fuel Injection surely?

Lobsterlady

Divorce Referendum wrote: »

Is this the one op? http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Accord/2.0-i-VT/200842190518973/advert?channel=CARS

Yep, that's the one.

Thanks for all the great replies. I didn't even think about the NCT, let alone notice it had one. And also regarding all those fluids gumming up the engine etc, will make a point of that if I did buy it. Not very sure about purchasing it now though.

CabanasBoy

Very odd, even if it was a garage demo, surely it'd put up a few more miles than that? I wouldn't touch it with the proverbial barge pole.

Anan1

Lobsterlady wrote: »

Hi there,
In the market for a new car, I've always driven and liked Honda's. Spotted a demo model for sale today, 2006 2.0 Accord, with 300 km's on the clock. It's practically brand new if you know what I mean. What should I be wary of with a demo car though?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.

That's not a demo, that's a five year old Accord that's never been used. I think it's way too expensive.

Bodhan

Lobsterlady wrote: »

Yep, that's the one.

Thanks for all the great replies. I didn't even think about the NCT, let alone notice it had one. And also regarding all those fluids gumming up the engine etc, will make a point of that if I did buy it. Not very sure about purchasing it now though.

Don't get too panicked by the suspicions. I've never heard of any demo car being held onto for longer than a few months and with the mileage it would seem the car was just sitting around.
The car could still be a jem though, remember we've only seen a picture of the car. Get motorcheck.ie to have a look at the history and a full mechanical inspection and you might have a winner.

mickdw

Looking at the various ads on carzone, I would buy a normally used 2006 model with low miles for significantly less money. A normal accord with 40/50k miles is likely to be trouble free for years to come whereas with this one being left parked for so long, it could be a nightmare. Not worth paying a premium for anyway.

Greenmachine

pajero12 wrote: »

Strange alright, She looks mint though! Id be asking serious questions..

Fuel Injection surely?

Not an expert on all things cars. Does that mean no carbs.

crosstownk

Bodhan wrote: »

Don't get too panicked by the suspicions. I've never heard of any demo car being held onto for longer than a few months and with the mileage it would seem the car was just sitting around.
The car could still be a jem though, remember we've only seen a picture of the car. Get motorcheck.ie to have a look at the history and a full mechanical inspection and you might have a winner.

Yep - it could be a total gem.

Then again it may have had a torrid past despite it's 300km. It could have been sitting idle pending a court case, bodywork, technical issues, etc.

It's like buying a hire drive with low mileage - very odd. A 6 month old demo should have a few thousand kms on the clock. I'd be asking questions of a 4.5 year old car with 300km - it obviously hasn't been used as a demo. The new Accord has been around for a while now so this 2006 hasn't even been capable of being a demo for quite some time. It's been sitting up - why?

pajero12

Greenmachine wrote: »

Not an expert on all things cars. Does that mean no carbs.

Far from an expert myself,Sorry if I came across as a smartarse! But I think all these fairly modern cars replaced carburettors with fuel injection systems! Not sure though!

crosstownk

Greenmachine wrote: »

Not an expert on all things cars. Does that mean no carbs.

No carbs since the early 1990s. Since catalytic convertors were mandatory - 1992 (I think).

Greenmachine

crosstownk wrote: »

No carbs since the early 1990s. Since catalytic convertors were mandatory - 1992 (I think).

Sorry drove bike for years before getting into car. All my bike had carbs. Always made sure to drain everything and oil cylinders etc if the bike were sitting up any length of time.

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mickdw

crosstownk wrote: »

No carbs since the early 1990s. Since catalytic convertors were mandatory - 1992 (I think).

NO carbs but the gummed up idea still stands. Petrol left to sit will put a waxy coat on its contact surfaces. More of a worry in a modern injected car than in a carb imo.

If it checks out if they
- replaced the timing belt (if it has one, I think they do) and all other auxiliary belts
- oil, brake fluid and coolant
- new tyres, as in new ones made recently
- gave a full guarantee for 12 months
- knocked €3000 off the price

it might be worth considering.

Padraig Mor

If it's a garage demo why is the NCT disk marked 'private'??!!

Absurdum

I think it's more "Display" than "Demo" model, it's not worth what they are looking for it, not by a long shot.

R.O.R

It's a Petrol Honda Accord - what could be wrong with it?

Even if it has been sitting around, unused, for 5 years, just jump start it and away you go!

Seriously though, that's one of the strangest things I've seen. Wonder if it was parked down the back of the yard and forgotten about? It is overpriced, but with a discount, a major full service (no timing belt on that model) and new tyres, it could be a good buy.

Tragedy

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Accord/SPORT-AU/201046200243464/advert?channel=CARS
I'd much prefer this one OP.

Juan Pablo

That is quite bizzare, would love to know the story as to how a car that old has so few miles on it. Reminds of the Alfa 156 GTA that was up on carzone for an age, 4/5 years old and only a couple of 100 on the clock. the chap was looking for 40 something grand for it iirc?

Satanta

Not sure how relevant, but the dealer was mentioned in this thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056029110

Seems as though he recently obtained a honda dealership. Could he have got this car from honda as a car that was laying about somewhere?

Mr Benevolent

OP, the practice is to never, ever leave a car lying around for years. There's something wrong with that car. Cars are not vacum packed, the engine internals rust from underuse, tyres get ruined from flatspots, the handbrake sticks, paint fades etc. I'd buy a car with a realistic mileage on the clock unless the 2006 Accord is VERY cheap.

bazz26

Those photos are very old except for the NCT one, the others were taken at that dealership's original premises, they moved premises about 4 years ago so it was probably originally registered by them. They then lost the Honda dealership about 2 years ago but have since regained it and moved to another more modern premisies at the other side of the city. Not saying it has any reflection on their dealings or the car just putting it out there.

Unusual for a car like that to be sitting up for so long, still crazy asking price though.