New Or Used?

[Tawse57]

Out of interest, did most of you buy new or used. My local Toyota dealership has about 20 12 month old Corollas, of all specs, for between 9 and 10K and they look immaculate.

They seem to have alot of these in.

[PaulT]

New, just to be sure that it hadn't been mistreated.

Paul.

[Airbag]

Out of interest, did most of you buy new or used. My local Toyota dealership has about 20 12 month old Corollas, of all specs, for between 9 and 10K and they look immaculate.

They seem to have alot of these in.

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There seem to be lot of used cars on the market -downturn in consumer spending say the papers. My 2003 T-Sport had just 16000 miles on it when I bought it last week, not the later spec but it saved me six grand on a new one, came with a years full warranty, a 'free' 20,000 mile service. new tax, and five new tyres as a courtesy gesture. Very minor scratch on front bumper was sprayed for me before pickup. Outside and inside it's immaculate.

With a model like the T Sport there will always be worries about abuse - but most people who buy a 16K car will tend to look after it in the first couple of years. A full service history is a must, though, but a one-owner car should be in good condition, and could save you 30% depreciation... Having said that there's nothing like a new car, even if if you have to stay below 4000 rpm for the first 1000 miles.

[Airbag]

Out of interest, did most of you buy new or used. My local Toyota dealership has about 20 12 month old Corollas, of all specs, for between 9 and 10K and they look immaculate.

They seem to have alot of these in.

←

There seem to be lot of used cars on the market -downturn in consumer spending say the papers. My 2003 T-Sport had just 16000 miles on it when I bought it last week, not the later spec but it saved me six grand on a new one, came with a years full warranty, a 'free' 20,000 mile service. new tax, and five new tyres as a courtesy gesture. Very minor scratch on front bumper was sprayed for me before pickup. Outside and inside it's immaculate.

With a model like the T Sport there will always be worries about abuse - but most people who buy a 16K car will tend to look after it in the first couple of years. A full service history is a must, though, but a one-owner car should be in good condition, and could save you 30% depreciation... Having said that there's nothing like a new car, even if if you have to stay below 4000 rpm for the first 1000 miles.

[Fat Slob]

Out of interest, did most of you buy new or used. My local Toyota dealership has about 20 12 month old Corollas, of all specs, for between 9 and 10K and they look immaculate.

They seem to have alot of these in.

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Thats because the majority are ex Enterprise rental cars leased by Toyota and now being returned to be sold a bit cheaper by the dealers. My local dealer has had a shed load in and ALL are ex rental cars.

[Tawse57]

1. How can you tell it is an ex-rental car?

2. Is this bad?

[SMW]

V5 document will show previous recorded keeper.

[Airbag]

1. How can you tell it is an ex-rental car?

2. Is this bad?

←

From the Honest John column in the Telegraph:

"My ex-rental Rover 414i has completed 292,000 miles and should have topped 300,000 when the rally starts in October. "

There are a lot of myths about ex-rentals and demonstrators. I've been happy with both, as long as there's a years warranty left on a two-year old car and the service book is stamped up to date. The upside is you don't have to run them in, you save 32% depreciation ( Parkers figures) and you don't lose 17.5 % vat on the new price when you drive it out the door. Downsides are mainly scuffs and scrapes to the interior and parking rash on the outside, but most of the ex-rentals my dealer has are immaculate. I'm on my second. Rental companies also service their cars properly, or at least they should do. THere must be a stack of happy ex-rental Corolla owners on the forum, even if they don't know there car is actually ex-rental. :)

[Tawse57]

Thanks - a Toyota dealer 50 miles from me has immaculate looking Avensis cars that are about 12.5K for a 12 month old one. I am 50 50 on the Corolla v Avensis due to my height but would prefer a smaller car for parking convenience.

However, either way, you do seem to save a fair amount buying this way and, as the UK car market is slumping, I imagine better and better deals towards the end of the yea... well, me and Whatcar do anyhow.

[Airbag]

Thanks - a Toyota dealer 50 miles from me has immaculate looking Avensis cars that are about 12.5K for a 12 month old one. I am 50 50 on the Corolla v Avensis due to my height but would prefer a smaller car for parking convenience.

However, either way, you do seem to save a fair amount buying this way and, as the UK car market is slumping, I imagine better and better deals towards the end of the yea... well, me and Whatcar do anyhow.

←

> 12.5K for a 12 month old one.<

Yeah, that's potentially a nice buy. I paid a bit more than that for a low mileage '03 model last year.

Height? I'm quite tall, and just chopped in my Avensis for a Corolla and I fit both. The only thing that p*ss*d me off about the Avensis was finding a parking spot long enough for it in town, and it's ability to collect parking rash in supermarket car parks. But that goes for anything these days. . Otherwise a fine car especially if got a family or carry peeps a lot. But whatever you buy if you wait till December dealers seem eager to sell then as the market is so flat. I think there are a lot of P/xs in forecourts at the mo because of the last number plate change too.

[Tawse57]

parking rash

You mean dings?

[Airbag]

parking rash

You mean dings?

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Dings - aka parking rash, Tesco Plague etc. The horrors of modern motoring!

[Tawse57]

Yes, alot of new cars either have no side protection these days or, worse, have it but not on the optimal part of the doors - many have it really low down which seems to have no benefit at all.