I inquired about an ex demo car done only 500km's (literally a new car) and offered a price for it by email which the dealer found unacceptable. The dealer came back with an alternative car done 11,000k's and said in his email "It's a demo vehicle so you would be the first owner!". I ended up buying it.
Having had it for almost 6 weeks I discovered some dodgy paint work on it which led to having a Lemoncheck done which showed it had never been a demo car and had in fact had two owners. One was a new car manufacturer (their finance man drove it) and the second I had it explained was a private person. But to me worst of all was the fact that it had had three different number plates and none of them were personalised plates. So my ex demo turns out to be a two owner with three past license plates and needs paint repairs and has had others going by overspray.
The dealer asked me what I wanted. I said either give me a 10% discount on what I paid or take the car back because it is not what I thought I was buying. He rubbished the amount I was claiming and refused to unwind the deal claiming that the number of owners "does not matter". Bear in mind I was looking for a near new car when I set out to buy what do you think of this situation! Am I being unreasonable! I think it is a classic case of misrepresentation.
bellky,
Jul 31, 11:34am
Yes you are correct imo.
chebry,
Jul 31, 11:43am
You got scammed for sure ex Demo usually means registered to a retailer for demonstation purposes not ex demolition derby
smac,
Jul 31, 11:52am
Yeah it was misrepresented (did you get the 'demo' thing in writing!), however in saying that, the dealer may well be right about the cost difference. Have a look on TM or autobase - I don't see a 10% difference based on 1 owner versus 3. I also think the number of plates is irrelevant. What MIGHT be relevant, is the respray thing - have they given any indication on why that was done!
mikenel,
Jul 31, 12:31pm
Yes got the demo thing in writing thank goodness because when I first rung the dealer and said I was told it was an ex demo he claimed his staff would not have said that.
If you consider the number of plates to be irrelevant can you suggest why the car may have needed 3 individual number plates! Bear in mind it is a little over a year old.
As far as the price diff on number of owners are you looking at near new cars or many year old ones which would explain more owners!
If the dealer has said it was a 3 litre engine and it turned out to be a 2litre would that persuade you!
bellky,
Jul 31, 12:33pm
You're making good points/suggestions mikenel.
splinter67,
Jul 31, 12:37pm
I think youve been ripped off but would be good to hear from one of the dealers that are on here good luck
smac,
Jul 31, 12:40pm
I can think of any number of reasons for the plates: chineese (or otherwise superstitious) owners, plate theft, front end or rear end collision - ask the dealer.
For the number of owners, what is it about it that bothers you!
As for engine size, now you're talking about something relevant, because that makes it a different car.
As I said above, the vehicle was misrepresented to you, I don't argue that at all. However I think perhaps you're missing the mark with a 10% claim.($3k! $4k!) Would be interested to see what some of the dealers on here say.
kazbanz,
Jul 31, 12:47pm
IMO you played your cards wrong. You discovered the car has indeed had an owner--ie was not as advertised to you-in wrighting so not able to be disputed. You bought on the basis the car had NO non dealer owners in fairness you can:t dispute the first owner ie its common practice to register a demo vehicle when its a NEW car so theres no issue with the car being driven on dealer plates. however the second is an issue. On the paintwork front -was there communication saying the car was immaculate etc! I do agree the likely reason for one plate change was to replace damaged plates. 2 I DONT understand. I have had asian customers change plates to more lucky numbers -not personalised but kinda personalised if you get my drift. ANYHOO--MY view is you should simply say-I want my money back--saying 10%discount implies you like the car faults and all whereas money back due to misrepresentation says clearly you dont want it. Was this a franchise dealership or a second hand only dealer! Actually what was the car and what was the price!
mikenel,
Jul 31, 12:49pm
I am from the old school which placed a lot of importance on number of owners especially on near new vehicles.
So it is a misrepresentation and the law says you can't do that. So I either want the deal to be unwound or a money settlement to make me feel as if I am in the position I thought I was in buying an ex demo car. If the dealer does not agree with the money I require to make me feel right then give me the money back and sell it to someone else. so why won't he do that!
bellky,
Jul 31, 12:52pm
Why do you think!
brapbrappy,
Jul 31, 12:53pm
And the Disputes Tribunal would agree. However you probably exceed their limit ($15,000) so if you were to take it there you would be claiming compensation, not refundIf you do you will have to prepare a case that includes the cost of repainting,and a well written definition of a demo car and proof of what they generally sell for after demo use has finished.
smac,
Jul 31, 12:54pm
No idea, only the dealer can answer that. Kaz or one of the others can tell you your best option for seeking mediation/dispute resolution with a dealer.
richardmayes,
Jul 31, 12:56pm
Well it's had one REAL owner, TBH I wouldn't really count the dealer's finance manager running around in it for a couple of weeks while it was their demo car as an "owner".
Does the respray make the story more or less likely to be genuine! I would imagine demo cars get taken for a lot of test drives, and probably kiss a few kerbs as the general public take them for a spin around the block while playing with the stereo and the cup holders.
And the personalised plates - IIRC Team McMillan BMW in Auckland have a series of plates "TMBMW3" "TMBMW4" etc and almost every demo car they let out for test drives appears to have one or another of these plates on it. I don't think there's anything in that that devalues your car.!
11,000km is damn near a new car - may we ask how much cheaper was your car compared to list price for a brand new one!
I don't think the dealer has misrepresented the car at all. If I was you, I would stop worrying and enjoy driving your practically new car!
mikenel,
Jul 31, 12:59pm
Not sure what you mean when you say "IMO you played your cards wrong." Can you explain!
They don't know why the overspray but they can say that because as it turns out they were not in possession of the car the whole of its life as they would have been if it were indeed an ex demo.
They explain one plate change as being the private owner died suddenly and they changed the plate to protect his wife who may have seen it driving around the local area. There was an explanation offered for the other as well being that some guy didn't like the other plate! Personally I would never be influenced by plates enough to want to change them like that so I just don't get it.
kazbanz,
Jul 31, 1:06pm
what Im saying is that you went about it the wrong way. asking for a discount is saying you like the car --asking for money back is saying clearly you don:t want it Incidently -Id be checking at the local Testing Station to see if in fact its an insurance wright off. They will have record of that ?????
noswalg,
Jul 31, 1:17pm
mikenel, you don't seem to want to reveal the car or what you paid for it which leads me to think you got a good deal!
mikenel,
Jul 31, 1:37pm
It was not that clear cut. I actually said I wanted compensation and nominated 10% of the value OR unwind the deal. He won't do the 10% or the refund.
mikenel,
Jul 31, 1:41pm
Oh and yes there will be the new car manufacturer (first registered owner, a private name 2nd owner, the selling dealer (to me) and then me so three owners and one dealer. That is a far cry from what the salesman said in his email which was: I have a 2011 white xxxx done only 11,000kms.It's a demo vehicle so you would be the first owner!The best part is, is that it's only $xxxx! What a bargain!
fordkiwi27,
Jul 31, 1:43pm
might have had the number plate starting with the letters GAY! . seen a few around.
mikenel,
Jul 31, 1:43pm
I am respecting the marque and the dealership at this stage as it has all been verbal so far.I trust there will be resolve still.
bellky,
Jul 31, 1:43pm
Up your drive probly.
mikenel,
Jul 31, 1:44pm
In this day and age that should be a hot plate :)
mikenel,
Jul 31, 1:45pm
Hehehe
gooddealz2,
Jul 31, 1:47pm
I can't see what the difference is between multiple owners and multiple drivers. How many people on average test drive the demo car> 10,50,100 or more! I'd think some of those drivers may give a car a thrashing just to see if it's what they really wanted even though when they buy one they won't treat theres the same.
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