Car has been for sale at dealer for 10 months--problematic?

moonage

I have my eye on a 2011 car at a dealer's. I haven't seen it in person yet.

I believe it's been there about 10 months. Will the fact that it hasn't been driven (apart from the odd test drive) for such a long time have much of an effect on the integrity of the engine or the reliability of the car in general?

Is this something I should be wary of or is it something not to be too worried about?

blade1

moonage wrote: »

I have my eye on a 2011 car at a dealer's. I haven't seen it in person yet.

I believe it's been there about 10 months. Will the fact that it hasn't been driven (apart from the odd test drive) for such a long time have much of an effect on the integrity of the engine or the reliability of the car in general?

Is this something I should be wary of or is it something not to be too worried about?

Timing belt if there is one,I'd want changed for starters.
Brakes could also get sticky.

Toyotafanboi

Its probably fine.

People will write you a list of every item conceivable that "could" need replacement, tyres, brakes, rubber suspension components, fluids, belts, exhaust and so on but in all reality 10 months is not that long a time, particularly if it's been ran/ moved occasionally.

A conventional pre sale service should be enough to let that car back on the road, any issues would be noted during that anyway. Personally I don't think a timing belt is justified.

the_syco

moonage wrote: »

Is this something I should be wary of or is it something not to be too worried about?

More chance that it'll be moved every so often if at a dealers, than if left on someones driveway.

IMO, if you think it's a great price for the car, bring someone who knows about cars with you in case there's a reason why it's still there.

Would it be an unpopular car for any reason?

Atlantic Dawn

I'd check it for mould and damp, including the boot.

EPAndlee

It's fairly common, some cars just stick. More than likely it's been driven in those 10 months. I would be checking for damp or mould

JoeA3

What sort of car is it? Something relatively mundane, a diesel econobox I’d be surprised if it was sitting that long.
But something a bit more niche, e.g. a performance car, a coupe, it’s not unusual for it to sit. It’ll likely have been driven more than occasionally in that time though.

moonage

JoeA3 wrote: »

What sort of car is it? Something relatively mundane, a diesel econobox I’d be surprised if it was sitting that long.
But something a bit more niche, e.g. a performance car, a coupe, it’s not unusual for it to sit. It’ll likely have been driven more than occasionally in that time though.

It's a fairly mundane Suzuki Swift.

The NCT is up next month, so if I were to buy it it'd have a fresh NCT and I'd also get it checked out by a mechanic beforehand. Hopefully these checks would pick up any problems.

the_syco

moonage wrote: »

The NCT is up next month, so if I were to buy it it'd have a fresh NCT and I'd also get it checked out by a mechanic beforehand. Hopefully these checks would pick up any problems.

An independent one, as the garage one would be looking to not spend money!