Pro's & Con's of buying a Dealer Demonstrator?

[Maxxx]

SO I've made up my mind to buy an F800GS. Now I'm looking around for the best deal. Having worked through the factory options I want, it's a very standard setup with the only real addition being an akro end can.

As a result, many of the dealer demonstrators would fit my bill perfectly - the only "must have" being a low seat option, but that's not going to break the bank.

The demonstrators I've seen have around 1,500 miles on them and are about £1,000 less than buying new.

Pro's

• 
  the bike is already run in .... I can start thrashing it from day one
  I doubt it could have been hammered off road yet (as opposed from buying second hand from someone privately
  teething problems should have been ironed out
  I will have a grand to spend on farckles ...........

Con's

• 
  I wouldn't have run the bike in myself so don't know how it had been treated
  I only get what's left of the warranty
  a grand difference isn't even the sales tax! Why isn't the difference bigger?

Please can you guys add to the list for me? Especially those that have bought demonstration bikes from a dealer before

Cheers

 

[thauma]

never bought a bike as an ex-demonstrator, but I have bought a number of cars. All your points are valid, and if I were paying for something 2nd hand, then I would expect a reasonable discount. last car I bought came with around 30% discount..... a luck deal - right time - right place. How is £1000 in terms of a percentage? as 1k off a 5k bike is not bad at all

Now it is unlikely that they would have such a new / low mileage bike 2nd hand from a customer, so getting comparative prices (new vs demo vs 2nd hand) would be difficult, but you can compare dealer to dealer and see how they match up. What is the price to you from a dealer if you were to pay cash rather than credit, or were to take their credit (assuming they get a kickback) for a brand new bike. Does that erode the price difference between new and ex-demo. In other words talk to them about options, so they can maximise their profit / cashflow whilst giving you the best deal to suit your needs (i.e. a compromise). I know people who in the past have taken dealer credit, and then paid in full (from a private loan) at a later date once they have received their kick-back from the finance people. reduced purchase cost saved, and they max'd their (overall) profit.

Also consider discussing as part of the deal any options you want - and will they supply them at cost / reduced profit / fit for free etc - this all goes towards the deal.

Their deal will always depend on a number of things including....
- how keen / eager you look (I gotta have-it)
- how desperate they are for your money
- where they are in their sales cycle
- are they hitting their targets
- whether you have a trade-in
- are you cash or credit (and what benefits them the most).

I'd say find a dealer you can work with and then talk to them, and remember it's not always about the cheapest price, it's about the overall deal and you may want to consider the after-sales service & good will.

Good Luck.

 

[Wicker]

Bought an R1200ST ex-demo at the end of 2005 (nov) with only 880 miles on the clock. Now at 45k and has been great. Price paid was approx 20% less (several thousands) than new with panniers, rack and Defendall paint protection film all thown in as they had been dealer fitted as part of the demo package. The discount may have had something to do with the ST not being a particularly popular model. Decent reductions were also available on K series bikes but not so not much on the more popular GS's.

 

[Alex B]

I bought an ex-demo low-mileage (<4000 miles) 1-year old GSA1200 2008 model.

It had been very well looked after by the dealer.

It came with every bit of conceivable equipment (and all the "Packs") and even when not strictly needed they put on new tyres, plus an attractive deal on future servicing (plus full BMW warranty) and so on.

The price was amazing compared to a new bike.

So far, the bike's been a beauty.

Providing it's not obviously hammered and the overall package is good, I don't see why not. A lot of 2nd hand privately owned bikes were lower spec, more expensive, and in much worse condition and unlike my bike, not maintained with a cost-no-obstacle approach.

Ask lots of questions and make sure you feel happy about it.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Just buy it

At 2 years old it will be worth the same as one you bought new and were the first owner - with the exception that you'll have lost a pile of cash

Edit - don't buy any new bike as they're all bound to break down

 

[BAKERMAN]

Just buy it

Just buy it, buy the time you`ve written the pros and cons you could have covered 50 miles

No F800`s on the toilet doors at the Hograost maybe next year

 

[elefantmanshawn]

There is nothing in life better than that new bike feeling,the banter and bargaining in the shop,the night before butterflies,the feeling pulling away on it for the first time with the engine feeling all tight and new,you miss that when buying second hand and most of the money saved will be lost when selling as it'll be regestered as a dealer demonstrator and who wants one of them?,if its all you can afford then get it but if you've got the wherewithal buy brand new and treat yourself

 

[Greg Masters]

Pro's

• 
  I can start thrashing it from day one

Just like everybody else did!



Greg

 

[SM46]

Go on treat yourself

Go for the new one if poss, you,ll know the history & you'll get free panniers to boot, i bought new, had it a month & done 1600 miles enjoyed every mile!

 

[Buz]

When i collected my 650 i was chatting to the dealer and he reckoned they could plug the old laptop in and check the history of the bike ie if someone was riding with their foot on the rear brake etc.....Would it be possible for them to check how thrashed the bike had been? Just a thought

 

[paramaniac]

When i collected my 650 i was chatting to the dealer and he reckoned they could plug the old laptop in and check the history of the bike ie if someone was riding with their foot on the rear brake etc.....Would it be possible for them to check how thrashed the bike had been? Just a thought

Utter sheeiiite!

 

[Wrinkly]

17.5% its already lost the VAT.

7.5% for being used.

So for me any used vehicle would need to be at least 25% less than list.

It may be an ex demo but it's still a used bike.

Just my 2p.

Steve