Test drive and roving display units

**SlickStock** · November 26th, 2006 06:18 PM

idol, how will you know if the car you are buying is really brand-new or one of those test units?? what are the signs that one should look for??

**alwayz_yummy** · November 26th, 2006 06:33 PM

missed the ride of my former delica starwagon 4wd-> front torsion bar, rear leaf springs on gas-charged shocks w/ 30x9.5r15LT at 32psi gliding on rough roads...konti nalang parang horse na!

natesdrive ko na ang civic 1.8s. ok naman ride yan, between sporty ans soft, pero ayaw ko lang is WALANG D4! and slightly mabigat ang steering even at speed.

**niky** · November 26th, 2006 06:44 PM

Odometer for one... unusual wear on tires, etcetera... check the condition of the oil and radiator... they might use new items when they place it in the showroom (if they actually DO cheat like this), but you can't disguise all signs of use, like rock or pebble chips, a dirty underside or grease marks and such on suspension members.

But then again, some manufacturers (Isuzu and Toyota, for one) actually drive their units to the dealers... and often at high speeds... so these signs will naturally be there.

**SlickStock** · December 6th, 2006 01:08 PM

idol niky, if all possible signs of usage can be disguised,
( dirty undersides can be washed, odometer cable can be disconnected, oil can be changed, etc, etc. ),
then a dealer can actually sell a test unit as a brand new one??

is there one sign of usage that cannot be disguised by the dealer??

**OTEP** · December 6th, 2006 01:11 PM

Combination of signs pwede pa. Pero a single sign? Wala atang ganun.

You can always see if they have worked on the vehicle. Magkakaron ng gasgas ang mga bolts, the paint marks on critical bolts will not line up anymore.

No matter how you clean a vehicle's underside, it will never be the same as brand new. There are too many nooks and crannies. They will never take the time out to take everything apart and clean with a tootbrush.

**alwayz_yummy** · December 6th, 2006 01:37 PM

tama, pansinin nyo yung bagong sasakyan, may line of pain on every bolt, dapa not a single millimeter nakalihis yon, its a good marker..

**KoKoNAT** · December 6th, 2006 01:39 PM

Technically they're second-hand units (or 'pre-owned' or used), as they are already registered for road use to the dealer. Price is their advantage over 'brand-new' cars, as registration and dealer delivery is already paid for. Often sold at very low kms (<1,000kms), it is a very very nice alternative for the price conscious. Usually, dealers follow the service intervals of the demo cars (eg, first 1,000kms or first 5,000kms if it comes to that). I said 'usually' because, although I haven't seen a dealer who does not do it, there may be some unscrupulous ones out there.

If the price is right, why not?

**niky** · December 6th, 2006 01:52 PM

Tama si boss OTEP. Not all signs of usage can be disguised... or, it might even cost the dealership too much money to disguise such signs... to the point that they'll be giving you a practically good-as-new car anyway.