Views on buying a new car with an older manufacturing date?

[GO FURTHER]

Here's a topic rarely mentioned that I thought would make for some interesting discussion.


Unsold cars sitting in less than ideal conditions waiting for buyers


Do you feel that buying a brand new car that was manufactured say 9 months ago or more and has been sitting in a holding yard could have more problems than buying a car that only rolled off the production line a few months prior?

From a consumer standpoint, buying a brand new car is new but in reality, it is as old as the day it rolled off the line.

While looking at new cars on Carsales the other day, I noticed especially imported cars with manufacturing dates (which are stated) going back to June last year, so nearly 10 months old.

You hear of consumers who buy brand new cars and have a few initial problems and a few even get lemons, while others experience little if any issues for many years of enjoyable motoring.

For example, my FG MKII was manufactured in August 2014, and I bought it the next month in September... So "hot off the press" as they say.

So far in 112,000 Kms and 43 months of ownership, I've never had any issues mechanically, electrically or with the diff or suspension.... To me, it still drives like a new car and seems to get better with age.

Granted, my car has been carefully driven, well maintained and serviced more frequently than most, and certainly, this plays a big big part in preventing problems.

Yet with the many other Fords I've owned from new including Territories, Falcons and a Telstar, I've had problems under the warranty period, and especially those that had an older manufacturing date till I bought it.

Issues such as a two failed auto transmissions on two of them, electric windows that failed, oil leaks, tyre issues and other problems.

New cars that have been sitting for 6 or more months in holding or dealer yards and not driven since new (except maybe a few delivery kilometres) may experience some of the following from my research;

• Flat spots on tyres
  
• Seals that dry out
  
• Paint contamination and clear coat oxidation if left parked out in the sun (If not cleaned on a regular basis)
  
• Cars parked in dusty or moist areas, can expect more corrosion and contamination
  
• Wiper blades and rubber parts can harden
  
• Transmissions - Gears & linkages could seize. (Ideally, the car should be left in neutral during storage)
  
• Autobox transmission fluid could absorb some moisture (storage greater than 6 months)
  
• The problem of rodent damage... This could lead to short-circuiting
  
• Connectors can corrode as do sensors through not being used
  
• Air conditioning gas leaks can happen if the unit is not used as the refrigerant also acts as a lubricant for the seals
  
• Unused ducts can lead to bacteria forming and also strange odours
  
• The discs might have some surface corrosion, leading to rapid pad wear while bedding down and removing the surface rust
  
• Brake fluid is hygroscopic and can absorb moisture left sitting
  
• Any holding fuel in the tank could have deteriorated
  
• Coolant serves not just a cooling role; it is also a lubricant for the water pump and a rust inhibitor for the cooling system. During the storage time, all it does is inhibit rust
  
• Battery would obviously go flat lessening its lifespan

So in summary... Do you take into account how long ago a new car was manufactured in your buying decision?

[vztrt]

I did. Car was fine. Funny enough the falcon that replaced it (less then a month since manufacture had more issues....well more expensive ones if I had to pay for it.

Not a big issue.

[superfly]

I bought my XR50 a year after it was build. It had 19ks on the clock when I bought it. It's now got 120K and still drives just fine. I didn't know (realise) it was build a year earlier when I bought it.

But if I could pick between one that's been sitting around for a year or one that was build more recently, I would pick the more recently build one unless the other was was much cheaper.

[NTF6]

Originally Posted by superfly

I bought my XR50 a year after it was build built. It had 19ks on the clock when I bought it. It's now got 120K and still drives just fine. I didn't know (realise) it was build built a year earlier when I bought it.

But if I could pick between one that's been sitting around for a year or one that was build built more recently, I would pick the more recently build built one unless the other was was much cheaper.

Sorry, just had to fix this for you.

[Itsme]

No different for the many new cars sitting outside in dealer yards for lengthy periods of time.

[lra]

Generally a car that is 6 months old would / should will be offered with a good discount.
My 2004 Commodore (16km) came with a nearly 20% discount as it was 6 months old, and was on run-out. It has never had any repairs or replacements that could not be classed as 'fair wear and tear'.
My 2009 Terri was direct from the factory, RRP, and some of the niggles, none major, were not what I expected from a new car.
Luck of the draw has to be factored into this.

[anobserver]

Originally Posted by lra

Generally a car that is 6 months old would / should will be offered with a good discount.
My 2004 Commodore (16km) came with a nearly 20% discount as it was 6 months old, and was on run-out. It has never had any repairs or replacements that could not be classed as 'fair wear and tear'.

It could be a bit of a lottery. Any issues can be addressed but you'd prefer to not have anything to deal with.

Our current wheels were built in June '04. We bought in January '05 ( with about the same size discount as Ira above) and took delivery the next month. Never had any issues relating to lack of use, but I can see how they might crop up depending on how they are stored.

I would be more wary of the aforementioned 'garage queen's. At least new cars come with warranty. Used cars often don't or have a limited warranty, so any issues that pop up later aren't covered.

[.:4:.]

This is my thought on the issue, cars on a dealership lot get moved on occasion but cars in storage lots may not. Added to that cars at a dealer at least get hosed off on occasion. I guess it's an educated decision at the end of the day if you cannot look at the car, but if the price is right... that's why I like near new. That's the term I use to make myself feel better about buying second hand with low Kay's.

[Big_Daz]

As long as its a brand new car you are buying it should be sweet... Obviously you would expect further discount dependant on how long ago it was built...

We bought out Jeep mid 2016 and its a September 2015 build but we got a pretty decent discount from retail as well as a few freebies due to this... We knew going in what we where buying and its been utterly faultless in our ownership...

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by Big_Daz

As long as its a brand new car you are buying it should be sweet... Obviously you would expect further discount dependant on how long ago it was built...

We bought out Jeep mid 2016 and its a September 2015 build but we got a pretty decent discount from retail as well as a few freebies due to this... We knew going in what we where buying and its been utterly faultless in our ownership...

Maybe that,s the secret.Buy a Jeep thats sat around for long enough time for all the gremlins escape

[Silver Ghia]

Trap for the unwary though when buying a new car to spec, having already paid a deposit on it so price has already been set, and the dealer gets one that conforms but has been sitting around for quite a while. No chance of discount then, perhaps the buyer doesn't even realise until after delivery (eg. superfly).

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Trap for the unwary though when buying a new car to spec, having already paid a deposit on it so price has already been set, and the dealer gets one that conforms but has been sitting around for quite a while. No chance of discount then, perhaps the buyer doesn't even realise until after delivery (eg. superfly).

Happened with my Telstra Fleet SV8 Commodore .. ordered it new .. and Holden (or Telstra?) managed to find the oldest "new" car they had lying around.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

Do you feel that buying a brand new car that was manufactured say 9 months ago or more and has been sitting in a holding yard could have more problems than buying a car that only rolled off the production line a few months prior?

I guess we'll find out with ZB Commodore...

[EBSXR6]

All the cars these day will have been sitting around for a while. They come off the overseas production line, depending on the where the production plant is located transported to a Port and shipped to downunder.

If the freighter makes a few stops along the way it may take a couple of months or more before the boat docks in Australia if they are departing from Europe or the USA.

A mate works for a BMW dealer and he said it is not unusual for cars to be several months old before they land. Flat batteries are a common problem and with the computers recording everything they have to replace the battery.

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by EBSXR6

All the cars these day will have been sitting around for a while. They come off the overseas production line, depending on the where the production plant is located transported to a Port and shipped to downunder.

If the freighter makes a few stops along the way it may take a couple of months or more before the boat docks in Australia if they are departing from Europe or the USA.

A mate works for a BMW dealer and he said it is not unusual for cars to be several months old before they land. Flat batteries are a common problem and with the computers recording everything they have to replace the battery.

Mums LZ Focus Sport was built in December and she picked it up week before last. Not sure how long the dealer had it so around 4 months from factory to dealer as far as I can tell.

[stefcio007]

In Japan cars are made to order so you wait quite a bit. It's the culture though. If the car can be bought on the same day you want it, it isn't viewed as being a quality product.

Think like fast food is unhealthy but food that takes longer to make is viewed as healthy.

I think I wouldn't buy a car that has been sitting around for more than a year.

[danzvtil]

There seems to be this assumption that a new car is absolute perfection, but the same car that sits for 6 months must deteriorate. You’ll get a better discount on a 6 or 12 month old car, my one FG Ute that was only weeks off the production line already had rust on the rear cabin bulk head.

[GO FURTHER]

I wonder how many members here who have purchased a new car, would even know the build date their car was manufactured?

I guess the average consumer, not into cars, wouldn't even think about it when purchasing a new car.

I wonder if statistically there is any correlation between long time frames from build dates to a sale and the number of warranty related issues versus short build dates to sale?

[au350hp]

Good article. Not new cars, but I have bought low km garage queens that have had plenty of the issues that you mention. There is no doubt in my mind that a well used, cared for & serviced car is a better proposition than the alternative. After all, they are simply machines that are built to be used, not locked away to dry up. Look at the recommendations to put a car away for 12 months and you'll soon start to see just how many issues not running them create.

[jstanovic]

I wonder if they do the first service on them before they sell them? The service book states you need to service them at XX months/XXXXX kms, whichever comes first.

I don't think so hahaha

[Tassie f100]

The main problem one would have is when trading in. The trade in dealer will look at the compliance plate rather than the original rego date.If the car was bought in mid 2017 but was in fact made in 2016,you can bet the trade in price will be substantially lower than if it had 2017 on the plate

[happy1]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

The main problem one would have is when trading in. The trade in dealer will look at the compliance plate rather than the original rego date.If the car was bought in mid 2017 but was in fact made in 2016,you can bet the trade in price will be substantially lower than if it had 2017 on the plate

Hi, Have you heard of 'Plate Clearance Sale'? (Happens around January time), where buyers can usually pick up a car that has last year printed on the build date plate, and therefore comes with at least 5% off, or maybe $5000 or more in discount compared with a just off the assembly line car. This should offset the 'problem' you describe when you come to trade-in later down the track.

I don't agree with all the technical problems suggested above, but the real ones are damaged battery, rust on brake discs that will cause glazing, and potential pollution of the paint work that could require specialist cleaning.
Also some of the plastic parts could start to look weathered if it has been under full UV exposure for a whole year or more.

Cheers,

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by happy1

Hi, Have you heard of 'Plate Clearance Sale'? (Happens around January time), where buyers can usually pick up a car that has last year printed on the build date plate, and therefore comes with at least 5% off, or maybe $5000 or more in discount compared with a just off the assembly line car. This should offset the 'problem' you describe when you come to trade-in later down the track.

I don't agree with all the technical problems suggested above, but the real ones are damaged battery, rust on brake discs that will cause glazing, and potential pollution of the paint work that could require specialist cleaning.
Also some of the plastic parts could start to look weathered if it has been under full UV exposure for a whole year or more.

Cheers,

I don't believe that rust on the disc will be a problem at all, I had the worst rusted rotors you could get on my new imported car, it took maybe a month before the rust disappeared, but no glazing all is fine 2 1/2 years old now.
If you had glazed rotor the rust would most likely would expel the glazing not to mention the pad and rust would wipe the glaze off if anything.

Imported cars use to have a thick coating of some protective glop that was sprayed all over them.
I would think that a hot water sprayed on to it would get it off first and then the dealer would detail the car finished.
I have seen new Hondas at the dealer years ago with the paint destroyed by some clown it was a black car and with the sun on it you nearly did a backward somersault and all the other cars were the same but with the black it stuck out like dogs balls.
I said to the dealer you have to be kidding me, who details these cars, he could not see it was a problem.

[ebv8]

my old man bought a brand new 2 year old pajero, was a 2012 model and first rego was 2014, was a full 24 months sitting at the back of the dealers
no problems at all still going strong

the only problem is the day after buying it, its already 2 years old but he did save $14k on the new price

[roddy1960]

My friend ended up buying a 2014 run out FG XR6T ute with the FGX already starting to appear . He just liked the FG more and the vixen red one despite being at Tilfords for a while just floated the boat for him . Four years on he still loves that ute . Don't blame him , it's a beauty .

[XByoot]

I wouldn’t be too concerned about “if “ it was sitting around but “how” it was sitting around. The mechanical concerns mentioned wouldn’t bother me so much, but if it was in some open air storage facitlty getting covered in industrial pollutants and then slow baked in the sun I’d be less than keen. I doubt the detailers would be super cautious about removing/cleaning it all, prob a quick wash and buff the snot out of any areas that were an issue and away she goes. Plus the possibility of it getting damaged when they were moving stock around. Mind you, even a new car is susceptible to the same fate I guess.
It wouldn’t turn me off buying an older stock car, I’d just be looking real close that’s all.

[Danny]

I've done it twice due to the nature of the cars in question and not had an issue.

Just use it as a bargaining tool and make sure the thing is in as new condition after they do their "detail"

[Gomez]

Purchased my October 2010 XR50 FG Falcon brand new in April 2011.

I paid f#ck all for it ($33K driveaway) and nothing has gone wrong in seven years and 115,000km. I haven't even changed brake pads.

I'm in the queue for a Mustang.....I doubt it'll be as good as the home grown car I have now.

[FG50T]

At best cars sit outside under a shade cloth which can be somewhat worse because the shade cloth catches every contaminant in the wind and when it rains just drips it down onto the cars below it. Dries out and then on it goes for up to 6 months usually. Second hand car yards are no better though. The cars just sit and sit and get washed every morning by the same chamois and bucket on every car in the lot.

[LG17]

In June 2013 I bought a new Hilux that was built in September 2012. Don't hit me, I tried to buy a Ranger but there was at least a 6-9 month wait and I needed a vehicle.
I got it really cheap and so far (140000km) it's been perfect. I put a new battery in it yesterday and new brake pads about a month ago. I wasn't worried about the future trade in price as I knew I was keeping it for a number of years.