Buying a Loaner

JohnnyDaJackal · 10-17-08, 11:22

Would you?

I'm trying to help my younger cousin get a nice, used Acura TSX. Between her being particular, and my strong disapproval against black, she's limited down to two exterior colors (gray and white) with an ebony interior. We looked at some last night, and they had two gray 05s, but not with the black interior. They had about 35k, and 38k on the clock for around 20k. Now the guy mentioned a black one that was just returned that day from a lease. He was saying it was an 07 with 9k miles and would probably go for 22k. My cousin though that was a better deal, but I expressed my dislike for NBP

The guy did mention they will be putting up an 08 loaner with about 7-8k miles on it for around 24k. It was the color scheme she wanted, and she's thinking it can be negotiated since it was a loaner. It wouldn't be certified, but it would have the existing new car warranty.

I'm just wondering if buying a loaner is a smart move? IMO buying a used car is already a gamble, because you don't know how the previous owner drove it, but I would think a loaner would increase the odds of problems down the road, which is what she is trying to avoid. I think there solid cars, but I'm worried they we're not broken in correctly, and beaten on. I mentioned 'loaner' cars to two friends later last night and they both commented on 'how they beat on them', which I think a large majority of people would do.

Just wondering what your thoughts/feedback are? I know she's anxious to get something, I just don't want her to rush something that she'll later regret.

Setec Astronomy · 10-17-08, 11:31

I can't see a loaner being any more beat on than a lease, and it was available at the dealer all the time for timely service.

Robb · 10-17-08, 11:37

Ive bought a couple cars off lease, and they've been fine. I mean you know for a fact they've been dealer serviced, which is good

Accumulator · 10-17-08, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

I can't see a loaner being any more beat on than a lease, and it was available at the dealer all the time for timely service.

I, OTOH, would expect a loaner to be *MUCH* more beat than a lease vehicle. Leasors often still think of the vehicle as "theirs" and the many service loaners I use are always *VERY* beat for their miles.

The '08 Toyota loaner in my driveway right now only has ~8K on it and the poor thing is just *TRASHED* inside and out.

Setec Astronomy · 10-17-08, 11:58

I guess I have perhaps too much faith in people.

miahman98 · 10-17-08, 01:12

I would say go for the 08 with low miles. For the price she will pay for the warranty on one of the 05s and the cost of the car itself it could be close to the price of the 08 with the new car warranty. Plus resale value on the newer car will be higher down the road. But make sure she takes it in for every little thing that could possibly be wrong with it while it is still covered. And remember to keep all the repair paperwork and all the oil change receipts and or dates. I find if someone has any hesitation about buying a car that was once a loaner, having maintenance records help to ease them more than anything else.
Plus it’s the one she really wants. She won't be happy until its in the driveway.

JohnnyDaJackal · 10-17-08, 02:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

I can't see a loaner being any more beat on than a lease, and it was available at the dealer all the time for timely service.

I don't know, I feel there are varying degrees of 'beating' on a car. My car was from a lease, and knock on wood has been fine. Now I'm sure there are instances where people take just as good as care of a loaner than their actual. But I feel most people's mentality are upset/angry when then drop their car of because it broke, and take it out on the loaner. Not to mention looking at cars on this site shows us people don't even know how to take care of their car, let alone a dealers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robb

Ive bought a couple cars off lease, and they've been fine. I mean you know for a fact they've been dealer serviced, which is good

I'm sorry but I don't think oil changes and brake jobs will help a car that hasn't been broken in properly, not to mention all the other components of the car (transmission, suspension, etc.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

I, OTOH, would expect a loaner to be *MUCH* more beat than a lease vehicle. Leasors often still think of the vehicle as "theirs" and the many service loaners I use are always *VERY* beat for their miles.

The '08 Toyota loaner in my driveway right now only has ~8K on it and the poor thing is just *TRASHED* inside and out.

I kind of agree with that, and most likely not going to recommend this car for her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

I guess I have perhaps too much faith in people.

Haha Setec, don't forget what state your in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by miahman98

I would say go for the 08 with low miles. For the price she will pay for the warranty on one of the 05s and the cost of the car itself it could be close to the price of the 08 with the new car warranty. Plus resale value on the newer car will be higher down the road. But make sure she takes it in for every little thing that could possibly be wrong with it while it is still covered. And remember to keep all the repair paperwork and all the oil change receipts and or dates. I find if someone has any hesitation about buying a car that was once a loaner, having maintenance records help to ease them more than anything else.
Plus it’s the one she really wants. She won't be happy until its in the driveway.

The 05s are certified and actually have a longer warranty than the 08 since it only has whats left on the factory warranty. Resale isn't a major concern since she plans on keeping it for a while.

Accumulator · 10-17-08, 02:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

I guess I have perhaps too much faith in people.

Well, I sincerely doubt that anybody ever said that about me

Coincidental to this thread, my Toyota loaner seems to have an unhappy sound coming from its front right suspension now and then

I could fix the car's paint issues easily enough, but that interior....

Setec Astronomy · 10-17-08, 02:41

Accumulator, I must confess I have never had a loaner car. I have such distaste for letting anyone else touch my cars, I almost never bring them anywhere for service, and on the few (warranty) occassions, I have never been offered a loaner. I also am valet-phobic.

EDIT: I based my opinion on the overwhelming goodness of today's cars, the limited break-in required (although the brakes on the test drive car I bought a couple years ago were horribly bedded and it took me quite a bit to get them corrected), and the fact that most engine/trans damage comes from overheating, which is not so easy to do today, especially if the car is at the dealer often where it can have fluid levels checked (presuming the lot jockeys actually do that).

Accumulator · 10-17-08, 03:10

Setec Astronomy- Heh heh, I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum from you when it comes to loaner cars. My friends have often joked about my serial-loaner-car approach to having a beater car

z06meister · 10-17-08, 03:20

I would never buy a loaner.

lland · 10-17-08, 04:14

Most people who get loaners drop their car off for serivce and use the loaner to get to work and back. As long as the dealer maintained it, it should be fine. Besides, it's a Honda (Acura)...bulletproof. I have two Acuras ('04 MDX, '06RL) and haven't had a singe issue with either. I've had Hondas in the past that have been just as reliable.

LL