Car sat for four months at dealership - issues?
Discussion
As part of my research into a particular make/model of car I'm interested in, I noticed one example that fits the bill perfectly in terms of what I want. However, according to the price history on Car Gurus it's been with the dealer for more than four months. It was first listed at £22k and is now £19k, so maybe the reason it's been sitting so long is that it was overpriced, however, what interests me more is what potential issues you might have with a car that's been sitting for so long. Being a modern (four year old) car with all the tech (stop/start, etc.) I'm guessing there's plenty to go wrong and the battery alone is likely to be a big outlay if that hasn't taken too kindly to a lack of use. Am I overthinking it or could a long stream of bills follow the initial purchase outlay, purely because it's been sat doing nothing?
20 years ago a colleague of mine was loaned a company car whilst he was seconded to another site.
His mid-90s Honda Civic sat on his drive for 9 months through winter. He didn't start the engine or even touch it in that time.
After 9 months were up and he had to give the company car back, his Civic started on the button and was as faultless as ever when pressed back into daily use.
If you were buying a very modern Ferrari or other such exotic, not using it for a few months may risk the battery and other such associated electrical systems. But for a 'regular' car? It will be fine.
In short:
MitchT said:
Am I overthinking it
Yes.sherman said:
4 months is nothing.
Possibly, though a friend did suggest that petrol sitting in the tank could have "gone off" in that time.sherman said:
If the battery is flat I will be amazed.
It's not so much a concern that it might be flat, more that if it hasn't been through the usual regular charging cycles its longevity might have been compromised.Ussrcossack said:
Are you sure it has physically been "sat"
No, it may well have been in use by someone.Ussrcossack said:
It could also be a demonstrator.
Not likely as it's an independent car supermarket type place selling all brands of car.MitchT said:
sherman said:
4 months is nothing.
Possibly, though a friend did suggest that petrol sitting in the tank could have "gone off" in that time.No chance. Petrol may go off in an open container in that time but a sealed petrol tank will be fine. Also you are going to put fresh petrol in as soon as you get it.
sherman said:
If the battery is flat I will be amazed.
It's not so much a concern that it might be flat, more that if it hasn't been through the usual regular charging cycles its longevity might have been compromised.Not that you would notice or be able to tell. A car battery lasts on average 5 years
It's a four year old car (well, almost - September 2018) and my batteries have always lasted me nine years (I have a 23 year old car that I've owned from new), so it'd be interesting to see how long it goes for.
Other than the initial price I can't understand why it's been set there for so long, unless potential buyers are uncovering something nasty when they start doing due diligence.
Other than the initial price I can't understand why it's been set there for so long, unless potential buyers are uncovering something nasty when they start doing due diligence.
MitchT said:
It's a four year old car (well, almost - September 2018) and my batteries have always lasted me nine years (I have a 23 year old car that I've owned from new), so it'd be interesting to see how long it goes for.
Other than the initial price I can't understand why it's been set there for so long, unless potential buyers are uncovering something nasty when they start doing due diligence.
Simple answer is no one has bough it, We have had cars in stock before for well over 1 year plus.Other than the initial price I can't understand why it's been set there for so long, unless potential buyers are uncovering something nasty when they start doing due diligence.
Could be various reasons, wrong colour, wrong spec, you just have to judge for yourself.
MitchT said:
sherman said:
4 months is nothing.
Possibly, though a friend did suggest that petrol sitting in the tank could have "gone off" in that time.
No, that won't be the case. Being a car on a forecourt, it likely won't have much in it anyway, but you're looking at over 6 months of inactivity before that happens. Even then, once you've bought it, you're just going to fill it with fresh and away you go.
You're waaaay over thinking this.
Dan W. said:
Simple answer is no one has bough it, We have had cars in stock before for well over 1 year plus.
Could be various reasons, wrong colour, wrong spec, you just have to judge for yourself.
I thought dealers normally moved cars on if they haven't sold after 3 months?Could be various reasons, wrong colour, wrong spec, you just have to judge for yourself.
What steps did you take to retail a car that's been in stock for over a year?
Ballistic said:
Dan W. said:
Simple answer is no one has bough it, We have had cars in stock before for well over 1 year plus.
Could be various reasons, wrong colour, wrong spec, you just have to judge for yourself.
I thought dealers normally moved cars on if they haven't sold after 3 months?Could be various reasons, wrong colour, wrong spec, you just have to judge for yourself.
What steps did you take to retail a car that's been in stock for over a year?
Move it to a prime location on the display, New pics get it fully valeted and minted, facebook advert,... direct customers to it as a car of interest.
But sometimes you do all that and still nothing you just have to then decide keep or trade, we keep them, always a person will buy it eventually usually at the asking price.
Muzzer79 said:
MitchT said:
sherman said:
4 months is nothing.
Possibly, though a friend did suggest that petrol sitting in the tank could have "gone off" in that time.No, that won't be the case. Being a car on a forecourt, it likely won't have much in it anyway, but you're looking at over 6 months of inactivity before that happens. Even then, once you've bought it, you're just going to fill it with fresh and away you go.
You're waaaay over thinking this.
Form our experience four months is fine.
My fil's car was sat untouched in his garage for around 4 years after he stopped driving and before we took it on. It needed the tyres pumping up and the battery charging and it started first turn of the key with old petrol and ran fine until I could get it to a service and its first MOT (at 7 years old).
This was a Skoda Fabia so not especially high spec but the basics are not going to suffer four months laid up (probably many cars were left that long during lockdown/s).
My fil's car was sat untouched in his garage for around 4 years after he stopped driving and before we took it on. It needed the tyres pumping up and the battery charging and it started first turn of the key with old petrol and ran fine until I could get it to a service and its first MOT (at 7 years old).
This was a Skoda Fabia so not especially high spec but the basics are not going to suffer four months laid up (probably many cars were left that long during lockdown/s).
Om said:
Form our experience four months is fine.
My fil's car was sat untouched in his garage for around 4 years after he stopped driving and before we took it on. It needed the tyres pumping up and the battery charging and it started first turn of the key with old petrol and ran fine until I could get it to a service and its first MOT (at 7 years old).
This was a Skoda Fabia so not especially high spec but the basics are not going to suffer four months laid up (probably many cars were left that long during lockdown/s).
My mate had an old Subaru that sat in his barn for TEN years. It was covered in moss and mess. We cleared the mouse nest off the engine,fitted a battery and it fired up!!! Gave it a clean, new wiper blades,drove it to the MOT and it passed.My fil's car was sat untouched in his garage for around 4 years after he stopped driving and before we took it on. It needed the tyres pumping up and the battery charging and it started first turn of the key with old petrol and ran fine until I could get it to a service and its first MOT (at 7 years old).
This was a Skoda Fabia so not especially high spec but the basics are not going to suffer four months laid up (probably many cars were left that long during lockdown/s).
Maybe it was badly damaged in an accident and it took that long to finish the cut 'n shut properly?
Maybe it had a severe mechanical or electrical issue and they have been waiting on parts to bodge it together?
Maybe the V5 went missing and it took DVLA 4 months to pull their finger out?
Maybe a contested Finance Repo?
But seriously 4 months of non-use is nothing to worry about.
Maybe it had a severe mechanical or electrical issue and they have been waiting on parts to bodge it together?
Maybe the V5 went missing and it took DVLA 4 months to pull their finger out?
Maybe a contested Finance Repo?
But seriously 4 months of non-use is nothing to worry about.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff