neubs

one local dealer has an S4 they’re selling “as new” because a manager drove it, has 7,900 miles. They’ve gone down to $50k flat but I they had already discounted to $51.9k before I called. He kept trying to make me take credit for that reduction, which is stupid. What do you all think about 7,900 miles on one already? Even feel new at all?

SCarGuy

The previous owners transaction has nothing whatsoever to do with a new transaction on that car

Very simple - KBB, good condition, would be my offer point if the car is otherwise as you want it.

mplsbrian

These "manager car" or "retired service loaner" cars are actually quite common sights on dealership lots. The one and only thing they ever have going for them is that on paper they can be sold as new and that means they can be leased. This is usually the one single situation in which you can lease a model year 2018 car in calendar year 2017 at a 2016 used car price, and still get rid of it before the warranty is up. It is absolutely no coincidence that the car has 7900 miles: 10,000+10,000+10,000+7900 = 37900, aka just shy of the 4 year before the warranty runs up. (I would not be surprised if the manager got a slap on the wrist for not turning it back in at sub-4000 miles so it would become attractive to a customer wanting a higher 12,000/mi/year lease).

But you are right, this "new car" is already 75% of the way though what most Americans drive in a whole year and 20% through its warranty. I've had my S4 for six months and this one has more than a thousand more miles than mine. One could drive from NYC to Seattle to LA to Orlando and back to NYC on holiday and still not put on this many miles. Not a new car at all, by any measure.

So yes, that manager didn't drive it, he owned it. And my main worry would be that while he did, he perhaps treated the engine/turbo like absolute garbage: never letting it get up to temp before hammering it, taking tons of short trips, and completely ignoring all break in procedures knowing full well he'd never be on the hook for any long term issues. Must be nice, right? In fact, if I were negotiating for such a car I would challenge the dealership to prove to me that the manager didn't do exactly that: joyride this "brand new" car from NYC to LA and back while launch-controlling the engine at every single intersection along the way.

These cars are good options if you are leasing in such a way that you never are forced to own the car out of warranty for any period AND if the discount is good (e.g. if this is $50,000 down from what was orginally a $65000 car, that sounds fairly legit to me?). If you're trying to buy one to keep for 5, 6, 8 years and don't own a lift to do some work yourself they are probably a gamble...many of the same risks as a rental car frankly except in this case it's an S model and that means someone didn't just drive it to Disney world--they took it to the canyons and went effin HAM on the right pedal. I know I would: the temptation to do so is too great.

rikwynnpa

My experience is when you title a car and drive it off the dealer's lot and try to trade it or take it back they give you a 20% haircut. Funny how the same math doesent apply to them huh?

Although the demo you looked at was low miles you should shoot for 20%.

I got 10% off of my $61K S4 without trying that hard plus the dealer ate the last 2 payments on my 335.