Why do Dealerships sell Cars that are less then a year old? with under 2k km

[Venom]

I couldnt really figure out a better topic so I put that.

I am thinking of importing a BMW from the states (335 coupe) and I was wondering why dealerships sell cars that are like 2007 0r even 2008 with like 3000km on them.

Should I suspect the previous owner got into an accident? or something else is wrong with the car?

Thanks.

[Sylvestre]

demo/floor model usually, and yes, they are usually not treated the best but that's offset by the excellent warranty that usually comes with it.

[ES_Revenge]

I couldnt really figure out a better topic so I put that.

I am thinking of importing a BMW from the states (335 coupe) and I was wondering why dealerships sell cars that are like 2007 0r even 2008 with like 3000km on them.

Should I suspect the previous owner got into an accident? or something else is wrong with the car?

Thanks.

Often they are demo cars or cars people in the dealership (managers, salesppl, "manager's wives", etc.) drive around for a few months because
a. they can
b. for maintaining image--people don't really want to a car brand where the people that work there selling the cars aren't driving them.

Reason I put the quotes around the "manager's wife" bit is because that's often exactly what they tell you regardless of who drove the car (and often they trade them up to drive different cars so lots of ppl in the dealership might have driven them). I guess it's to rely on the myth/impression that a "manager's wife" can't possibly be a bad or aggressive driver so the car must have been "taken care of", or some nonesense like that.

They could also be loaner cars they had running around for when customers bring their car in for service/warranty stuff and need a car to drive.

It is possible they were trades or even repoed cars (most repos go to auction though I believe), but what I said above is more likely.

[rems]

if they were demo cars, i'd recommend against them...who knows if the engine was broken in properly...

[Anonymouse]

One reason for a low-mileage nearly-new car to be on a dealer's lot is that they had to buy the car back because of a state lemon law. Some of them (rarely BMWs though) are rentals the dealer has bought at auction.

[scan]

Those vehicles, as ES_Revenge, has said are the vehicles that the employees use.

[AGR-1]

For a multitude of reasons most dealers do not supply demonstrator vehicles to employees, they prefer to pay a "car allowance" than supply a demonstrator.

The very low kilometer vehicles are a way for dealers to advertise or take advantage of a "low ball" price to attract or steal additional business, without being accused by other dealers that they were low balling prices.

Call it the "whatever car" its a great way to move stagnant inventory and low ball prices by having a few kilometers on the vehicle.

[Pete_Coach]

if they were demo cars, i'd recommend against them...who knows if the engine was broken in properly...

BMW has such a substantial bumper to bumper warranty, this would not be an issue.

Dealers have cars on the lots for many reasons, they are unsold vehicles from their own inventory, they have taken some other dealers surplus or old stock, they are ordered by BMW to take cars and sell them etc.
Older low mileage vehicles in the US is not unusual. They have a much larger inventory and sales quota than Canadian dealers. Also, there are some dealers that specialize in low mileage vehicles so you may have hit on those. And lastly, with the recent reduction in BMW prices, newer cars are cheaper than the older ones, therefore older cars are sitting on the lots until the dealer is getting a subsidy from BMW or they are willing to take a loss. Like I said, many reasons.

[Venom]

Well im not sure if the warrenty is transferable over here. Thats one of the risks im going to have to take.

[rems]

BMW has such a substantial bumper to bumper warranty, this would not be an issue.

An improperly broken in engine can cause worse gas mileage or decrease it's lifespan as well as its related parts (which won't be a problem if you have a lifetime warranty - which I doubt BMW gives.

[Billa-786]

Often they are demo cars or cars people in the dealership (managers, salesppl, "manager's wives", etc.) drive around for a few months because
a. they can
b. for maintaining image--people don't really want to a car brand where the people that work there selling the cars aren't driving them.

.

on that note, I have yet to see the owner of Hyundai of Mississauga, drive in a Hyundai. So far seen him in a Benz, a Lincoln SUV,..etc...but no Hyundai/kia.

[l69norm]

Some car dealers have a 30 day no-questions asked exchange policy. The original owner probably decided they didn't like the color or wanted a different model.

[B0000rt]

BMW has such a substantial bumper to bumper warranty, this would not be an issue..

Warranty or not, I'm sure people won't be happy to bring the vehicle to the shop every month or so for issue even if it's all free of charge

on that note, I have yet to see the owner of Hyundai of Mississauga, drive in a Hyundai. So far seen him in a Benz, a Lincoln SUV,..etc...but no Hyundai/kia.

Just you wait until the Genesis is released.

[ES_Revenge]

on that note, I have yet to see the owner of Hyundai of Mississauga, drive in a Hyundai. So far seen him in a Benz, a Lincoln SUV,..etc...but no Hyundai/kia.

Well I'm sure it's not true in all cases But just saying why if there were low miles cars around, that's probably where they come from.

However that does say something about Hyundais perhaps, that the guy won't drive one? Just kidding there (some Hyundais are okay) but there are people who would think that if they were paying attention to what he drives around.

Of course at the same time, you can't expect the owner of a dealership to drive around a Hyundai when Hyundai does not have any high end/luxury models. On the same note you could defend the guy for just being "honest". Clearly he's got money from running a dealership; if he came in everyday in an Accent or Tiburon, people would know that's not what he's driving outside of work. Then of course they would question the credibility of the dealership. (Or they would think he's crazy or doing rather poorly businesswise, lol.)

Anyway I'm glad I'm not him--sounds like people could find lot of reasons to not shop there hahaha

[Jucius Maximus]

Should I suspect the previous owner got into an accident? or something else is wrong with the car?

Possibly. Could also be a repo car. (That is, the original owner did not pay and the car got repossessed.)