Demo cars are all the rage – especially if you’re a bargain hunter on the lookout for a good deal. But is it worth buying a demo car? Should I buy a demo car or stick with a used or new model?
Many people may already know about the benefits that can be enjoyed when buying Subaru demo cars for sale locally. For the uninitiated, buying a demo car is a great way to make fantastic savings on a virtually new car. However, if you’re not familiar with the inner workings of the car industry, you should exercise caution. There are many pitfalls to avoid, but perseverance and due diligence will pay off big.
Here’s everything you need to know about demo cars Perth.
What Do You Mean by Demo Car?
A demo car is an abbreviation of ‘demonstrator’ as that’s what these cars are. They are demonstration vehicles that were used as show and test drive models for your local dealer. Much like a new car, they have never had an owner, and they usually have fairly low mileage for their age. Many of these cars are less than a year old, and they are in very good condition.
Benefits of buying a demo car
Buying a demo car has many benefits, and whether you’re a bargain hunter or not, you can take advantage of the following perks when you land a demo car:
- More affordable. Demo cars are the bargain hunter’s dream. Not only can you expect to pay less upfront, but you also get a full warranty like you bought it new. Is it worth buying a demo car? The answer is simple: Yes!
- Better condition than used cars. Demonstrator models are typically in far better condition than your average used car. They’ve only been driven short distances – usually in and around the dealership – and won’t have any marks on the exterior, while the interior looks as new.
- Ready to drive away. There’s nothing better than driving back home from the dealership in a new car. Dealerships will have the demo models on-site and ready to drive home – eliminating the need to wait for the supplier to deliver your preferred model.
- More features for less. Dealerships want to showcase cars with the most features – meaning you’re probably going to get access to the higher trim models which usually boast leather seats, sunroofs, and more powerful engines. If you’re still wondering should I buy a demo car – remember you probably won’t get a deal better than this on the selected model.
What Kind of Deals Can You Get?
We knew you’d ask. Well, you can expect a significant saving on the price compared to a brand new model. Essentially, you will be the first owner of the vehicle and you are entitled to many of the bonuses attributed to the buyer of a brand new car. A prime example of this would be your servicing; the agreement would still be in place with a small caveat. Servicing is set on a different vehicle at certain periods and specific kilometres.
A demo car has already been run for a certain distance and for some time, so that period is counted towards your servicing. This means that you lose a few thousand kilometres or up to a year’s worth of regular servicing. This may seem like a major disadvantage, but it is worth noting that these cars have to be kept in good condition to demonstrate them to potential buyers.
Not All Demo Cars are Equal
One of the key things to be aware of is that not all demo cars are equal. The demo car you’re interested in may have only been used for customer test drives, and in this case, the warranty could have already started.
The car could be undriven, yet registered; it has probably been sat in the dealer’s stock, and it needs to be moved on to make way for new models. In this case, the car warranty had begun when the car was registered, and can’t be changed.
Finally, there are new vehicles that are both yet to be driven and unregistered. These are a rarer find, but they offer substantial value for money. In this scenario, you’re well within your rights to ask for a brand new warranty when you negotiate the deal. With a little luck, you could get a brand new car under a new warranty at a discounted price.
How much can you negotiate on a demo car?
It’s common to negotiate a lower price on a demo vehicle – especially given that every model has been driven for a different amount of time. The amount you can expect to negotiate down by will always depend on the car model and its condition. Expect to get a discount of anywhere up to $4,500 off the original ‘new’ price. These exact discounts will differ from location to location.
Interested in learning how to negotiate at a demo sale? Read our 10Top Tips for Negotiating at the Subaru Demo Sale.
Do demo cars come with a warranty?
Yes, they do. Dealerships are actually obligated to provide you with one. So don’t be fooled if you hear a salesperson saying they’ll “throw one in” as part of a deal.
If you’ve found a demo car worth snatching up, be sure to understand the warranty before you commit. Commerce WA is very clear that your warranty starts ticking from the moment you purchase the car – and should always exclude the number of kilometres already on the vehicle.
For example, your 100,000km warranty would be 100,000km minus the 4500km already clocked up.
Is a demo car considered a “new” car?
Yes and no. Demo cars will come with a new car warranty, but given that they’ve often already been driven a few thousand kilometres, demo cars can hardly be considered new. You can be sure that a demo car will be almost as good as new – even nicely broken in, making them an attractive alternative to buying a new car.
How many km on a car is considered “used”?
Demo cars are usually very low on kilometres. After all, dealerships want to give customers the best new-car experience possible. Typically a demo car will have under 5000km on its odometer. Above the 5000km mark the car is considered used.
Visit City Subaru for quality demonstrator cars
If you’re looking for a Subaru demo car for sale, contact us here at Perth City Subaru. We have an impressive selection of new and demo cars available for sale right now. We would like to invite you to join us for a no-obligation test drive at your earliest convenience. Our sales team is standing by to offer advice and answer any questions that you may have.