subaru on test drive.

David09

Last week, I went along to the dealers with a friend who is buying a new Subaru Impreza 2.0 boxer diesel. The dealer had the car ready for him with the engine running parked outside the showroom.
First thing he told us was not to turn the engine off as the battery had been flat and that it might not start again if switched off.
As we drove out of the dealership, we noticed that the car had 40 miles on the clock and the engine management light was flashing. It stayed flashing for the remainder of our 5 mile test drive.
When we returned, we opened the bonnet to find lots of dead leaves accumulated around the engine bay and scuttle panel as if the car had been lying up somewhere for a long time under trees.

Should he have any reservations about buying this car? It's supposedly brand new and not yet registered.

Wouldn't touch it unless it was a few grand cheaper than an actual new one.

Senna

Were there leaves actually in the engine bay, or were they just in front of the radiator. Battery and engine management light are probably related.
If the dealer knew your friend was coming and left it in that state, i'd walk away and go to another dealer.

David09

Problem is finding another one without having the lead-in time of ordering. He's already sold his own car privately so has to make a purchase quickly.

Leaves were in around the engine bay and up around the wipers.

Jimmy Garlic

David09 wrote: »

Problem is finding another one without having the lead-in time of ordering. He's already sold his own car privately so has to make a purchase quickly.

Leaves were in around the engine bay and up around the wipers.

Tell him to buy an old banger with a bit of tax on it to tide him over while he waits for what he wants from another dealer. Better than buying a lemon from a dodgy dealer.

David09

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Tell him to buy an old banger with a bit of tax on it to tide him over while he waits for what he wants from another dealer. Better than buying a lemon from a dodgy dealer.

It's a bit more arkward than that. The car is for his wife who is disabled and there's a disability grant involved.

To be honest, I think that this subaru which he has looked at is one which has been lying around in stock for a long time and that the dealer is jumping at the chance to move it...

bazz26

A few unregistered ones here:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201107201277539

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200924193071598

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201051200613820

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200923193001033

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200902191460638

David09

bazz26 wrote: »

A few unregistered ones here:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201107201277539

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200924193071598

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201051200613820

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200923193001033

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200902191460638

Lol, see the last one in that list, ahem, ahem...

Thanks for searching. I'll forward the list.

ottostreet

I've dealt with that dealer before...very good, but this was a few years ago now.

tony l

3rd on the list looks well.

-Chris-

I wouldn't let me put it off unless there had been some sort of model/spec change since this one was imported.

For all intents and purposes, this is a new car. You'd be surprised how often it happens that cars are in stock for many, many months. You'd never have a clue unless the dealer lets it slip, you've seen it on the internet for ages, or they've stored it in a way that gives that away.

The warranty will start on the day your friend registers it.

Point out the issue to the dealer, try and wangle a few more quid out of the deal (a free service or whatever), and then buy the car. It's not an issue imho.

David09

David09 wrote: »

Lol, see the last one in that list, ahem, ahem...

Thanks for searching. I'll forward the list.

Advertised as a demo in fairness

-Chris-

If it's reg'd as a demo will it still qualify for the disabled grant??

unkel

€31k for a demo Impreza with the engine management light on that has been sitting up for the best part of a year. Is it me or is that price just silly?

Anan1

FWIW, and for whatever reason, there can often be a gap of a year or more for Subaru between being manufactured and being sold here. My own Forester was registered in June 2008 and the original tyres were manufactured in 2006. I've been told by sales staff that this is not uncommon, and a subsequent poke around cars on the showroom floor would tend to support it.

unkel

But you got a substantial discount on the price, didn't you?

Looks like the OP is not getting much of a discount at all...

mb123

Was it possible Op, that the car did not have its pdi carried out which would cause the engine light to flash?

Muckie

If its Subaru check out www.isdc.ie

They'll help you out, personally i'd be wary and try else where.

You don't need a car with problems from the get go. Good luck too.

David09

My friend bought the car and so far is satisfied with it.

No idea why the light was activated, but it was turned off by the dealer before he bought it. So far it hasn't come back on.