Will buying a demo ruin my life?
 

I tried to use the search function, forgive if I just suck at utilizing it.
Been lurking for some time, waiting to snatch a twin.
Usually, it’s my policy to buy used. However, given that I’m now after a sports car, my rationale is as follows:
The nature of a sports car emboldens the driver to kick the crap out of it. So, I’d decided to only buy new (my OCD thanks me).
But I recently came across a 2016 BRZ, with only 200km—a demo.
I’ve read my fair share of stories regarding test drivers as well as, dealer employees banging their demos to bits and getting caught between gears.
My question though: is 200km of (let’s say the worse) abuse really enough to cause serious, deal-breaking damage?
Would you guys see this as an opportunity?

Personally any used car would be fine as long as it's been taken care of with scheduled maintenance and what not.

That being said and the known fact it's a demo car, I would make sure the car came with an extended warranty that covers the clutch and tranny.

If your worried about it, just walk away and find a non demo car.

I second this


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I'd worry about clutch and tranny mostly too. Over rev is protected on the throttle side, but not on downshifts. I'm not certain how prone to money shifts the twins are, I never seem to have a problem, but maybe people not use to them might be a little ham fisted. Almost everyone that tests a car gets on it pretty hard, right from the start so see what they can do.

If someone manages to cause long term damage to a car with less than 150 miles on the ODO, then the car is a piece of crap and nobody should buy an 86 ever. Short of doing 100 burnouts in one afternoon or a money shift, it'll be fine.

Could you ask the dealer to check the code for an over rev/ hit red limiter alert before buying? I wouldn't worry about hitting the limiter (I do this far too often), but it will give you an indication of how hard it was driven.

200km of money shifts...not a terrible thing once the motor has broken in adequately, but not how I'd want to break it in. Make sure that warranty is in good shape, and maybe consider extended warranty, if you can negotiate the price down.

As someone that has almost 193,000km on a 2013 (serial number below 250) I would say there isn't much to worry about with the demo. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase it.

In fact, just about any version of the car under 100,000km that was stock and has been serviced I would happily purchase, warranty or not.

Then again, I'm cheap and a glutton for used cars.

Hello Ruck, and welcome to posting to our forum....:clap:

If the car drives OK and the engine sounds OK, and you got a good enough deal on it ...... I wouldn't be afraid of it.


humfrz

I bought my 2013 BRZ at a year old with 13000kms on the odo and it lived life as a demo car before I bought it and it's been fine with a few minor issues that affect many 2013 cars, all fixed under warranty.

Although my warranty ran out a few months ago and my throw out bearing is letting go but it's a $50 part and an afternoon of work for me to replace it myself.

Mine was the very car I test drove. Was a demo with over 200 miles. Sometimes I kick myself for not getting a better deal on it, but I have had 0 reliability issues. 5 years, 35k very fun miles later.

Pull the trigger ! You won’t regret it!

Thanks brahs for your helpful input. I'll definitely be looking into extended warranty and this red limiter alert.
Problem is, I'm not knowledgeable enough and so I won't be privy to all the nuances of engine noise/ride quality.
All I've done is check tire tread, and looked for chips on the wheels, which all seem pristine.

If it feels good than it's probably good. If you don't feel good walk away.

This ^
This forum can go right off the deep end in worrying about piss ass little stuff like a few test drives but then the very same people will have 2,000 page conversations on what the highest boost the car can take, how wide the tires need to be for the best grip, how to tune the engine to within a hair of blowing up and all sorts of other weird and wonderful things.