Whether you’re looking for a used car with the right mileage, service history or condition, or a new car that’s the right size and has the right tech, the car market can be a minefield.
Then there’s the question of jargon, and one phrase you might see quite regularly – particularly if you’re after a nearly new vehicle – is “ex-demo” or “demo car.” But what is a demo car, and why might choosing one be the right choice? Read on, and we’ll explain everything.
What is a “demo” or “ex-demo” car?
Demo is short for demonstrator, and it’s essentially a car that has been used by a car manufacturer, importer or dealer to demonstrate the product. After all, customers are more likely to buy a new car they’ve test-driven, so dealers often have a fleet of cars for exactly that purpose.
However, demonstrators haven’t necessarily come from dealerships. They may also have been used by an importer to show off the cars to businesses, or they may have seen service on what’s called a “press fleet” – a collection of cars used by motoring journalists and other media outlets to test a new model.
What’s the advantage of choosing a demo car?
Usually, demonstrator cars will have relatively few kilometres under their wheels – often fewer than 10,000km – so you’re effectively getting a nearly-new car, but they’re generally sold for much less than a new example. Given customer cars are often purchased on two- or three-year finance deals, young and low-mileage cars are mostly some kind of ex-demonstrator, and they can save you thousands compared with a new car.
And given the car has been looked after by the importer, the dealer or the manufacturer, it’s probably been well maintained for much of its short life. Dealers don’t want cars going wrong on a test drive, so it’s in their interest to look after them. And that goes for superficial blemishes, too: scratched, dirty and scuffed cars don’t make a great first impression on customers looking to spend tens of thousands of euros on a new vehicle.
This all sounds good. Are there any drawbacks?
As with any used car, there are no guarantees. While ex-demo cars tend to be well kept and well maintained, they have often had to earn their keep, being tested by would-be customers who may not necessarily have been accustomed to the car or especially gentle with it. The same goes for ex-press fleet vehicles, which may have been driven hard by journalists.
However, we wouldn’t let that put you off, because there’s a lot to be said for a demo car. They tend to still be in warranty, so any problems should be sorted free of charge, and because they have been rigorously serviced, problems are less likely than they might be with a conventional used vehicle.
Perhaps more of an issue is that you don’t get the same choice you might with an older used car or with a new vehicle. By their very nature, demo cars are less numerous than three-year-old cars, and as whoever was demonstrating the vehicle will have chosen the specification, that’s what you get. There’s no choosing a different paint colour. Which means if you want an ex-demo, you will have to be prepared to compromise on certain aspects of the vehicle, such as colour, equipment or engines, to get the deal over the line.
Okay, so how do I get one and what should I look for?
Scour the classifieds, such as those on Carzone.ie, for low-mileage, nearly new vehicles, and particularly those being sold by franchised dealerships. Often, these cars will be ex-demonstrator vehicles.
As usual, to avoid any issues, we’d recommend having a thorough look through the car’s history and get a feel for the seller. If they ran it as a demonstrator and don’t seem to have looked after it that well, consider looking elsewhere. Other than that, check all the usual things such as tyres, lights, bodywork and the underside of the vehicle, as well as the general condition of the interior, just as you would with any used car.
For the best deals, we’d suggest seeking out a pre-registered dealer demo with barely any kilometres under its belt. Often, these cars have been registered, but for some reason have seen very little road use. It could be because an updated version of the car arrived before it could do many test drives or because it spent some of its life in the showroom. They’re often on sale for comparatively cheap prices but are essentially brand new.