I’ve always wondered what it might be like to buy and actually own one of the cars that we’ve thrashed to within an inch of its life during a road test. What happens, for instance, if you buy a car via the dealer network in good faith, then click on YouTube and see a video of it basically going sideways for five minutes?
Do you recoil in horror then reach for the phone and demand your money back? Or do you sit back and think; wow, that’s my car, then feel a strange sense of wellbeing about owning a mildly famous ex-press demonstrator?
Although I’m not 100 per cent sure I’d like to spend my money on a car that’s done the rounds of the various magazines, the truth is that these particular cars are more likely to have been looked after than most. They are inspected and prepared for the next thrashing between each and every road test, and when their time as a press car is over (usually within 10k miles) they are often rebuilt and readied for their first genuine customer like no other cars would ever be.
So although they work hard during their brief but exhaustive lives as press demonstrators, these are not necessarily cars to shy away away from secondhand. Which is why it was nice to get an email from a proud Cornishman recently who just so happens to have bought the BMW 1M in which I did 11,000 miles last year.
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MooMooHead
More worried about rentals
I would be more worried about buying an ex-rental than an ex demo, like you said, at least ex demos are looked after religiously normally by the manufacturer or dealer network, wouldn't want one breaking on film.
I have seen some outrageous stuff done to rental cars and vans, I am sure before they are sold on they get the once over but I doubt it during there life with the rental company. Only thing I see getting checked is the fuel gauge.
Londonist
Real Life Example
More than 20 years ago a schoolfriend unknowingly bought an ex-press car, a notoriously fragile French hot hatchback with not many miles on the clock. Once he found out what he'd done he was naturally concerned about the thrash factor but in three years of largely happy motoring he experienced no troubles at all - or perhaps that should be no more trouble than anyone else who bought a similarly low-mileage example of this particular model.
Jeremy
I too have an ex-road test
I too have an ex-road test car. A Ford S-Max, one of the first facelifted models which featured in an Autocar test alongside an E-class estate, amongst other publications.
Two benefits of buying an ex-test car I have found are:
1. The car is laden with extras.
2.Trawling the net throws up good quality photos of my actual car.
The car itself shows no sign of abuse - doesn't burn oil - and has been perfectly reliable.
J400uk
Can be unlucky
Bought an approved used Golf a few years ago, it was listed as VW on the V5 and I assumed it was some kind of press car based on the numberplate (OU06 XK?). Had just under 10k miles at time of purchase and was 6-months old. Seemed tidy enough at the time apart from a failed speaker and cracked tail lamp. Was cheaper than any other comparable car in the country. Couple of years later on 20k miles it needed 2 replacement engines(!) and suffered the now familar ABS unit failure. Very quickly traded it in after that, last I saw it was up for auction at BCA and ended up been sold on by a supermarket in Kent. Feel sorry for whoever bought it next as only had a few months left to run on the warranty.
Team Sparky
Ex press MG Maestro
Many years ago bought a white MG Maestro that was ex-press complete with new 2 litre engine and Honda gearbox. Cracking deal on it and to be honest it was superb. Dealer digged for more info for me and turned out that Rover had actually fitted the new engine/gearbox at the factory. To this day the car is fondly remembered in the family. Engine pulled like a train and that gearbox was sublime. Great car, great value. No real problems.
rovamota
I used to see the Rover 620i
I used to see the Rover 620i that Autocar tested back in 1993, K635 BWK, most mornings in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire. I'm not sure if the owner knew about its past, though.
Kev.
SunnyL
He's 66 years old? Says a lot
He's 66 years old? Says a lot about the car then.
mrcliodCi
I used to own a Land Rover
I used to own a Land Rover Discovery V8 (reg. M228KAC), which had been a press car, to the best of my knowledge. I saw a picture of a RR (M226KAC) in a magazine, so I figured my car had been a press car as well.
I rang LR to try to find out what it had been used for, because the automatic transmission disintegrated at 33,000 miles. They wouldn't tell me.
Mind you, with a new transmission, it was fine and is still going strong in South Croydon with 110,000 miles up with only its second owner after me. I owned it from 1997-2000. The V8 is still its wonderful burbly self after all this time.
thenewgalaxy
I know of an ex-press car for sale
There's an Impreza Cosworth press car (no. 0 of 75!) that I saw for sale last time I took my Cossie in for a service at Mangoletsi Subaru in Cheshire, I believe it's the only one left as the other was a prototype and the other press car was stacked (no names mentioned).
It's got a mileage somewhere in the mid 20s and to my knowledge has been absolutely lavished with services and parts. As it was a limited edition model it could be quite a canny purchase to anyone wanting a blisteringly quick car.
Mark Higgins lapped it quicker than a Lexus LFA and a Nissan GT-R at a competition event a couple of years ago and it finished second overall to one of the full-fat Lambos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL-Caem3MC8 (video of it in competition).
TegTypeR
My HSV
I bought the ex press demonstrator HSV GTS, when they first started coming in to the country in the late 90's.
It was at a time when Vauxhall hadn't re-badged them as VXR's and they were imported by an Auzzie called Mark Clausden who set up a company called HSV UK.
When I purchased the car he did inform me that it had done the press circuit but had been checked thoroughly before it went back on sale. Certainly after checking it over and driving the car I had no reason to not believe him.
Cleverly (on his behalf) though, he had originally registered the car with a personalised plate, so when I took delivery, it had a different plate. The only identifier was a numbered plate on the dash.
It was a couple of weeks later when a customer came bounding in to my office wealding a copy of CAR magazine which showed a shot of my car (with numbered interior plate) going sideways!
The following week, the same guy came in suggesting I should watch one of the Clarkson video's (I can't remember which one but I still have it), where again my car was being used.
I certainly never had any mechanical issues with it, so for me, I was in the camp of feeling proud to own the ex-press car.
It's all about the twisties........
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