How can you tell if it is an ex-demo?
Discussion
Hi
I am looking at some Volvos at the moment and I am not sure which ones have been previously owned by Volvo Cars UK themselves. I don't want an ex-demo or ex-management vehicles because they get trashed to pieces.
Someone said that ex-Volvo HQ cars tend to have registration plates that begin with the letters OV e.g. "OV53 XYZ". Is there any truth in this? Some of the cars have had three owners so theres nothing on the V5 paperwork.
I am looking at some Volvos at the moment and I am not sure which ones have been previously owned by Volvo Cars UK themselves. I don't want an ex-demo or ex-management vehicles because they get trashed to pieces.
Someone said that ex-Volvo HQ cars tend to have registration plates that begin with the letters OV e.g. "OV53 XYZ". Is there any truth in this? Some of the cars have had three owners so theres nothing on the V5 paperwork.
volvoforlife said:
Hi
I am looking at some Volvos at the moment and I am not sure which ones have been previously owned by Volvo Cars UK themselves. I don't want an ex-demo or ex-management vehicles because they get trashed to pieces.
Someone said that ex-Volvo HQ cars tend to have registration plates that begin with the letters OV e.g. "OV53 XYZ". Is there any truth in this? Some of the cars have had three owners so theres nothing on the V5 paperwork.
Not sure about the OV but OY** is a common one....I am looking at some Volvos at the moment and I am not sure which ones have been previously owned by Volvo Cars UK themselves. I don't want an ex-demo or ex-management vehicles because they get trashed to pieces.
Someone said that ex-Volvo HQ cars tend to have registration plates that begin with the letters OV e.g. "OV53 XYZ". Is there any truth in this? Some of the cars have had three owners so theres nothing on the V5 paperwork.
Try VSO as that's my plate.
Its a volvo Ex management car and v happy with it. Paints in excellent condition and all I spotted was a slight re touch on a alloy.
Didn't bother me at all, plus it's likely to have had issues resolved. But can see your point of view as some are essentially just hire cars.
Its a volvo Ex management car and v happy with it. Paints in excellent condition and all I spotted was a slight re touch on a alloy.
Didn't bother me at all, plus it's likely to have had issues resolved. But can see your point of view as some are essentially just hire cars.
volvoforlife said:
Whats VSO?
I don't want a car thats been lent to customers to try out or a car thats been given to the press.
Last three letters of the number plate?I don't want a car thats been lent to customers to try out or a car thats been given to the press.
I wasn't knocking your choice of course, merely pointing out I took another view - I personally like ex demo and management cars because the specification tends to be higher than the norm. Also given the way some owners treat their cars I dont personally think its riskier/less risky. But thats my opinion and your entitled to yours
So hopefully the above might help you - it was registered to Volvo so I am hoping it might help.
Agreed, we have currently got S60 and V60 on manufacturer demo, specced up to the eyeballs, I stopped counting at 8k of options on the V60, that was before I got to stuff that is normally dealer installed as opposed to factory options.
I cannot see any consistency in the number plates, other than the xx60 xxx, which isn't too helpful tbh.
for info I'll be making a test report on our findings later.
I cannot see any consistency in the number plates, other than the xx60 xxx, which isn't too helpful tbh.
for info I'll be making a test report on our findings later.
The car I was looking at was not an ex-demo, but part of the Volvo UK corporate demos. These are the ones that get given to the press and other various 'clients' to try out to the extreme.
If any of you went on the S60 Naughty Track Days, you'll know what I mean. Do you really want one of those cars even if its highly specced?
If any of you went on the S60 Naughty Track Days, you'll know what I mean. Do you really want one of those cars even if its highly specced?
volvoforlife said:
The car I was looking at was not an ex-demo, but part of the Volvo UK corporate demos. These are the ones that get given to the press and other various 'clients' to try out to the extreme.
If any of you went on the S60 Naughty Track Days, you'll know what I mean. Do you really want one of those cars even if its highly specced?
TBH it wouldnt bother me at all - but thats just me.If any of you went on the S60 Naughty Track Days, you'll know what I mean. Do you really want one of those cars even if its highly specced?
F i F said:
Agreed, we have currently got S60 and V60 on manufacturer demo, specced up to the eyeballs, I stopped counting at 8k of options on the V60, that was before I got to stuff that is normally dealer installed as opposed to factory options.
I cannot see any consistency in the number plates, other than the xx60 xxx, which isn't too helpful tbh.
for info I'll be making a test report on our findings later.
Yeah just checked a few other plates and it doesnt seem consistent at all - so sorry I could help OP.I cannot see any consistency in the number plates, other than the xx60 xxx, which isn't too helpful tbh.
for info I'll be making a test report on our findings later.
PS glad someone else found the same, I am still finding options 3 weeks later as I play with things!
They all used to be OV/OE/OY, etc registrations when they were handled by Oxford Fleet management.
Don't think they are any more and seem to be AK, AJ, etc registeations, and not sure who looks after them any more.
When we are buying the cars from a Volvo Sale the Ex-Volvo cars tend to attract around a £300-£700 premium depending on what they are, just because they are ex-volvo as opposed to ex-tristar/Virgin/Short Term Hire/Press Cars, but to be honest the quality of them can be a bit hit and miss anyway...
Best thing to do is find one you like the look of spec wise and then go and inspect it. Wouldn't get too hung up on where it comes from, as long as Service History is correct and doesn't obviously look like its been mis-treated who cars what name is on the log book before you?
Don't think they are any more and seem to be AK, AJ, etc registeations, and not sure who looks after them any more.
When we are buying the cars from a Volvo Sale the Ex-Volvo cars tend to attract around a £300-£700 premium depending on what they are, just because they are ex-volvo as opposed to ex-tristar/Virgin/Short Term Hire/Press Cars, but to be honest the quality of them can be a bit hit and miss anyway...
Best thing to do is find one you like the look of spec wise and then go and inspect it. Wouldn't get too hung up on where it comes from, as long as Service History is correct and doesn't obviously look like its been mis-treated who cars what name is on the log book before you?
F i F said:
marctilling said:
Don't think they are any more and seem to be AK, AJ, etc registeations, and not sure who looks after them any more.
Looking out at the car park, that sounds a bit more like it.Handlers are some part of DHL in Huntingdon / St Neots, 01480 code.
Generally speaking, "O" prefixed Volvo cars pre-2007 and "A" prefixed Volvo cars post-2007 are highly likely to be ex Volvo UK cars as are "K" prefixed ones, which will be the TDS (tourist and diplomatic sales) ones. It could, however , also just be a car which was a private purchase but registered in the same region as the management ones.
Have a look at the licence plate - if its got "Volvo Car UK Ltd" legally printed on it (and the majority do because many dealers don't bother replacing them when they are sold through the dealer network) then its given the game away!
Truth be told, any Volvo dealer will be able to tell you whether a car is an ex-VCUK car by looking up their QW90 system, its a case of whether they can be bothered to. One thing to bear in mind is not all ex VCUK cars are thrashed - a lot of the management ones are actually well looked after; I managed to find my cousin an ex-VCUK car which had been driven by someone I know working there and it was in pristine condition when he got it.
Have a look at the licence plate - if its got "Volvo Car UK Ltd" legally printed on it (and the majority do because many dealers don't bother replacing them when they are sold through the dealer network) then its given the game away!
Truth be told, any Volvo dealer will be able to tell you whether a car is an ex-VCUK car by looking up their QW90 system, its a case of whether they can be bothered to. One thing to bear in mind is not all ex VCUK cars are thrashed - a lot of the management ones are actually well looked after; I managed to find my cousin an ex-VCUK car which had been driven by someone I know working there and it was in pristine condition when he got it.
volvoforlife said:
It was a corporate demonstrator according to VCUK. They said they lent it out to clients so its a no thank you from me.
Well we look after the ones we get, and we try and avoid lending them to the :cough: problem children.You know what I mean. So personally I wouldn't dismiss out of hand like that, worth a look at least.
F i F said:
volvoforlife said:
It was a corporate demonstrator according to VCUK. They said they lent it out to clients so its a no thank you from me.
Well we look after the ones we get, and we try and avoid lending them to the :cough: problem children.You know what I mean. So personally I wouldn't dismiss out of hand like that, worth a look at least.
I don't know enough about cars to understand how good a condition the car is in mechanically. According to the dealer its perfect and comes with 1 year warranty but I just dont trust the car enough after it being 'tested' to the max by various 'clients'. Its a T5 as well so I doubt it was driven in a conservative manner.
volvoforlife said:
I don't know enough about cars to understand how good a condition the car is in mechanically. According to the dealer its perfect and comes with 1 year warranty but I just dont trust the car enough after it being 'tested' to the max by various 'clients'. Its a T5 as well so I doubt it was driven in a conservative manner.
How old is it exactly?
Push for two yrs warranty.
Frankly if it drives tight, makes no noises and its under 3 yrs old then its unlikely to have major issues.
Even if it is a T5, remember the demogrpaphic Volvo are aiming for, its highly unlikely its been in the hands of some young nutter banging it off the limiter every second.
halo34 said:
volvoforlife said:
I don't know enough about cars to understand how good a condition the car is in mechanically. According to the dealer its perfect and comes with 1 year warranty but I just dont trust the car enough after it being 'tested' to the max by various 'clients'. Its a T5 as well so I doubt it was driven in a conservative manner.
How old is it exactly?
Push for two yrs warranty.
Frankly if it drives tight, makes no noises and its under 3 yrs old then its unlikely to have major issues.
Even if it is a T5, remember the demogrpaphic Volvo are aiming for, its highly unlikely its been in the hands of some young nutter banging it off the limiter every second.
Manual or auto?
Also I see owners do some pretty stupid things with cars that they then wonder if they can afford to fix. I've also seen some leasing companies make some maintenance decisions that in my opinion are questionable all in the interests of saving a bob or two.
tbh I understand your concern about what has happened to a vehicle during demos, but I'd be far happier with an ex Manufacturer Corporate demo vehicle, than a dealer demo vehicle for example, providing as said above, it feels right.
Of course some outfits may be less careful than we are, can't comment about that. Eg we had a 335D Beemer 2 dr (mapped
) on demo a few years back. The requests for permission to "just have a go" flooded in mostly from people who were never going to be allowed to have one. They all got turned down.Gassing Station | Volvo & Polestar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff