Would you buy a loaner?

[uwbadger]

I'm hoping to buy a 2010 SR5 with a few miles on it. I found one a few hours away that was a loaner car for a dealership. It's priced at $28,995, has 10,000 miles (convenience pkg) and they are willing to put leather seats in for me. Not sure what the final price will figure out. Should I be wary with a loaner? Thoughts?

 

[sandcrawler]

i would be wary. and that price seems high. bring the price down and an extended warranty should be thrown in the deal.

 

[453030]

I'm hoping to buy a 2010 SR5 with a few miles on it. I found one a few hours away that was a loaner car for a dealership. It's priced at $28,995, has 10,000 miles (convenience pkg) and they are willing to put leather seats in for me. Not sure what the final price will figure out. Should I be wary with a loaner? Thoughts?

Yes... for the right price. When I leased an LR3 for my wife, we got incredible numbers on a unit that had 2000 miles as a service loaner. I was hesitant, but knowing it would be under warranty the entire time eliminated the risk. It probably had 50 - 100 different drivers for those miles. No doubt flooring it, taking it offroad, etc. We never had a single issue with it for our 30 months of ownership. Surely with a Toyota those odds are much higher for getting a trouble free machine. Just make sure you get a great deal (and those numbers do seem high).

 

[LongBallLarry]

Exactly. For the right price —$4K under invoice is fair. Not sure how far under the 29K is.

Most people who test drive or loan don't punch it despite what everyone likes to claim.

 

[illzoni]

Yes, if the numbers are right.

Buying a new, loaner vehicle from a dealer, it should come with full warranty from the date and mileage of your purchase...the miles before don't count against you.

Any minor problems with the car have most likely already been identified, diagnosed, and corrected.

 

[453030]

Exactly. For the right price —$4K under invoice is fair. Not sure how far under the 29K is.

Most people who test drive or loan don't punch it despite what everyone likes to claim.

I am sure you are right, but I was one of the ones who did. I like to a know exactly what I am getting. That involves acceleration, cornering, braking. I drove 3 different Trails, and am happy mine was special ordered and never went on a test drive :reddance: Of course, as I indicated above, it does not really mean anything, but for personal piece of mind on a vehicle I purchased and intend to own for a while, it certainly is my preference to be the only driver.

 

[westwind77]

I'm hoping to buy a 2010 SR5 with a few miles on it. I found one a few hours away that was a loaner car for a dealership. It's priced at $28,995, has 10,000 miles (convenience pkg) and they are willing to put leather seats in for me. Not sure what the final price will figure out. Should I be wary with a loaner? Thoughts?

1st I would never buy a loaner! They get the same treatment/abuse as rental cars do, especially ones with 10k miles on it. I guess they have been 'loaning' that one out quite a bit. As for the price, too high! People on here are getting new loaded SR5's (with factory leather and all the goodies) for just over 33k, so 4k off what others are getting for a 'loaner' with 10k would not make it good enough of a deal to jump after. If you are set on it I would make them toss in new tires (your pick) and a 10yr/100k warranty. I think most of us here have had loaners and 'tested' them out in our own ways. I laugh thinking about what a few people have done to loaners, then feel sorry for whoever bought it after. Be careful with a deal like this, it could be perfect or could be hell, up to you if the savings is worth the risk.

 

[Riser]

don't do it. Did this once and regretted it badly.

 

[LongBallLarry]

I am sure you are right, but I was one of the ones who did. I like to a know exactly what I am getting. That involves acceleration, cornering, braking. I drove 3 different Trails, and am happy mine was special ordered and never went on a test drive :reddance: Of course, as I indicated above, it does not really mean anything, but for personal piece of mind on a vehicle I purchased and intend to own for a while, it certainly is my preference to be the only driver.

There definitely are some who max out these cars. I once rented a Buick and after pushing it hard after a couple of days it stalled on me under hard acceleration. For the most part though, I drive my rentals like a sane person.

I agree when buying new, get low miles. I live near many dealerships in Los Angeles and the worst offenders are dealer employees. I have seen 4Runners, RX350s, etc. accelerating and cornering as if on the track by these idiots.

 

[453030]

There definitely are some who max out these cars. I once rented a Buick and after pushing it hard after a couple of days it stalled on me under hard acceleration. For the most part though, I drive my rentals like a sane person.

I agree when buying new, get low miles. I live near many dealerships in Los Angeles and the worst offenders are dealer employees. I have seen 4Runners, RX350s, etc. accelerating and cornering as if on the track by these idiots.

My other car is an Infiniti EX35. Bought it new, but it ended up with 70 miles or so at delivery. No trouble with it whatsoever since day 1. I was not a jackass with the Trails I drove, but I pushed them a little. The first time I goosed it a bit, I was pleasantly surprised with the pickup.

 

[howlie]

loaner

I purchased the demo - it had 6000km on it. It turns out the dealership owner was using as his daily driver, so it was well taken care of. I got a great deal on it.

 

[westwind77]

I purchased the demo - it had 6000km on it. It turns out the dealership owner was using as his daily driver, so it was well taken care of. I got a great deal on it.

Demo & Loaners are two VERY different words! Usually (but not always) the demos are run by the dealer owners/managers. They may have seen a little abuse but nothing like what a loaner would typical see.

 

[Mark86]

Think about how you would drive a loaner or search youtube for loaner videos. You would need to give me an amazing deal for me to even consider it.

 

[Snowfox]

28,995.00 Seem to be a little high, but with the right price plus if they willing to give you 7 years/100,000 mi warranty then you should give it a thought. I doubt if you can get it for 26,000.00.