Bought a dealership's loaner vehicle

[MaxDepth]

UPDATE
We found a used 2013 Toyota Sienna XLE (with 16,400 miles) that was used as a loaner vehicle at the dealership. We talked the dealer down to 26. Maybe he was under the impression we were going to finance through the dealership? Tax, title, etc came to $27,200.

I hope to heck this was a good deal. We are buying it for the long haul and not really that much interested in its resale value. (Looking to own it for 10-12 years.)


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So my wife wants a minivan and I want to be castrated... :|

We've narrowed it down to 2014 Kia Sedona EX and Honda 2013 (used) EX. We cannot find any Toyota Sienna 2013s that are not astronomically priced here in NC. 2014s are out of the question for Toyota and Honda because of the package she wants (most important: sliding doors for our twin babies) is like buying a house.

So in my research in Honda in looking for problems, I see three recalls for the Odyssey but do not affect the one we're looking at, VIN is not in the series of recall cars. However, there is a new service bulletin that does affect the vehicle: TSB 13-081: Warranty Extension: MIL Comes On With DTCs P0301 Through P0304. The PDF doesn't say anything at this time except there will be an extension to the powertrain warranty. No cause or repair is mentioned in the bulletin (http://techinfo.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/A13-081.PDF)

However, another bulletin sounds the same (http://techinfo.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/a13-078.PDF)

If you cannot view it, the main part says:

American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class captioned, Soto et al.v..American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Case No. 3:12-cv-1377-SI (N.D. Cal.).

The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align which can lead to spark plug fouling. This can set DTCs P0301 through P0304 and cause the MIL to come on. American Honda is extending the powertrain warranty to cover repairs related to engine misfire (that triggers DTCs P0301 through P0304) to 8 years with unlimited mileage from the original date of purchase and has settled a class action based on this remedial measure. This warranty extension does not apply to any vehicle that has ever been declared a total loss or sold for salvage by a financial institution or insurer, or has a branded or similar title under any state’s law.

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
Owners of affected vehicles will be sent a class action settlement notice regarding this warranty extension starting in October 2013. Before doing work on a vehicle, verify its eligibility by doing an iN VIN status inquiry. Refer customers seeking information about settlement benefits to www.enginemisfiresettlement.com, or instruct them to call 888-888-3082.

CORRECTIVE ACTION
Inspect the vehicle and, if necessary, clean the pistons, and replace the piston rings in the affected cylinders.

So should I stay away from this vehicle and keep searching?

 

[Zivic]

I may be wrong, but the honda has used the same motor for a lot of years.. pretty much the same motor that was in the previous gen, in the pilot, accord and ridgeline. I wouldn't be afraid of the honda based on the bulletin.

 

[MaxDepth]

UPDATE: We found a used 2013 Toyota Sienna XLE (with 16,400 miles) that was used as a loaner vehicle at the dealership.

We talked the dealer down to 26,500. For some reason he was under the impression we were going to finance through the dealership.

I hope to heck this was a good deal.

 

[halik]

Can someone explain the sliding door thing to me? What's the upside there that would make up for any/all downside of owning a minivan?

 

[ramj70]

Can someone explain the sliding door thing to me? What's the upside there that would make up for any/all downside of owning a minivan?

When you have young kids in car seats or babies you don't have to worry about your door not opening far enough in the parking lot because someone is parked close to you. It's also easier for the kids to get in and out of with a van. Also the automatic opening doors are a huge help when your hands are full. It's a big help.

 

[vi edit]

Can someone explain the sliding door thing to me? What's the upside there that would make up for any/all downside of owning a minivan?

It's a combination of a couple things.

1) Your kid can't slam a door into somebody next to you.
2) When you have giant ass rear facing infant carrier it's a lot easier to get that in and out due to the door opening size and the fact that it doesn't swing out in tight spaces.
3) Load height and sliding seats make it easy to get car seats in and out.
4) Power sliding doors are awesome. Got a bag of groceries and 25 pounds of infant carrier in the other hand? Push a button and the door opens for you.
5) When your kids are still in booster seat they can climb in the seat, buckle up, and hit a button and the door closes for them.

And just in general, minivans offer more overall flexible seating & storage options with a much higher roof and a lower load height than just about any crossover or full size SUV.

 

[Raizinman]

Purchasing a 'loaner' vehicle from any dealer is always a bad idea. This is the vehicle they give out to people whose cars they screw up or such. What do you think these people do with these loaner cars? They run the crap out of them. Even the dealership sales people would take these loaner cars for the weekend and run the crap out of them. If a mechanic needed to 'try' a part, what vehicle do you think they give him to swap a part from? The Loaner vehicle! The Loaner vehicle is also the least maintained vehicle (along with the parts truck) in the dealership. Customer pay always comes ahead of the loaner vehicle and parts truck. I would return it.

 

[EagleKeeper]

<snip>

I would return it.

To late to return it.

He might be able to get the full price paid as a credit to another vehicle from the same dealership.

 

[WilliamM2]

Purchasing a 'loaner' vehicle from any dealer is always a bad idea. This is the vehicle they give out to people whose cars they screw up or such. What do you think these people do with these loaner cars? They run the crap out of them. Even the dealership sales people would take these loaner cars for the weekend and run the crap out of them. If a mechanic needed to 'try' a part, what vehicle do you think they give him to swap a part from? The Loaner vehicle! The Loaner vehicle is also the least maintained vehicle (along with the parts truck) in the dealership. Customer pay always comes ahead of the loaner vehicle and parts truck. I would return it.

When I use a loaner vehicle from a dealer, I drive it just like my own car, so do most people. At my family's dealership the loaner vehicles get all routine maintenance. And they keep them very clean. Besides, at 16K, how much maintenance do you think it needed, other than oil changes and tire rotation?

And any used car on the lot has also been driven by other people, and has just as much, or more, of a chance of being abused. In fact, it's quite often that used cars on the lot are used as loaner vehicles. They loan them out to employees as well.

 

[vi edit]

When I use a loaner vehicle from a dealer, I drive it just like my own car, so do most people. At my family's dealership the loaner vehicles get all routine maintenance. And they keep them very clean. Besides, at 16K, how much maintenance do you think it needed, other than oil changes and tire rotation?

Same for me. Just because it's not mine I don't turn into some maniac behind the wheel and abuse the thing. It's a Toyota, and it's a minivan. Not a Mustang GT. It's what they give soccermoms and old people when their 180,000 mile van is for major service or a brand new Avalon is coming in for some rattle in the dash. Those people aren't doing neutral drops in a minivan for kicks.

As for service, this one had 16,000 miles on it. All that's really needed is one oil change and a rotation which should have some record of. 2012+ Sienna's are every 10k miles.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Embrace the minivan. When it comes to comfort and space on trips, it's far nicer. If you deal with carseats, you don't have to worry about opening the doors in crowded parking lots since they slide.

Rear captain's chairs can also keep kids at a safe distance from each other. You're just wise buying used. They lose value pretty fast, no matter who makes them.

 

[MaxDepth]

We have 10 month old twins, it seems to be easier for my wife to go to the store and take the kids than with the RAV4 we have. For some reason, she won't let me bungie them into the truck bed of my truck. But essentially, this was the biggest reason for getting a minivan. Second was the increased space.

Can someone explain the sliding door thing to me? What's the upside there that would make up for any/all downside of owning a minivan?

I heard about that too, people driving the f**k out of it and abusing it. There were not any stains or scratches inside and the engine and framework was inspected by me to see if there were any collisions or issues that would have been covered up by a new panel.

I checked the carfax to see if it had been in any accidents and it came back clean. In NC you only have to disclose damage if it exceeds 25% of the value of the vehicle. I asked the dealer to go back through their records to see if any issues they had with the vehicle came to a total of 25% value. He wrote on on the purchase invoice that there were no damages that came to or exceeded 25% value in total. That way if there is an issue and I find out that all the accidents combined met that limit. But he went the extra step that it had not been in any accident and that it had all original parts, excluding consumables (like filters, lightbulbs, etc.).

I recently had the car inspected by a repair and tire place that I know and trust.He said the van looks fine. The only issue is that the car was "bought" by the dealer in 2012 so the limited warranty is good only to 2015 or the next 19,000 miles. We have an extended powertrain warranty that is good for another seven years because it is "certified pre-own." The dealer tried to sell me on increased limited warranty of two more years for $1800 but I passed on it.

And for now, my wife is happy and that's all that matter right now. I just hope this bucket will be trouble free for some time now.

Purchasing a 'loaner' vehicle from any dealer is always a bad idea. This is the vehicle they give out to people whose cars they screw up or such. What do you think these people do with these loaner cars? They run the crap out of them. Even the dealership sales people would take these loaner cars for the weekend and run the crap out of them. If a mechanic needed to 'try' a part, what vehicle do you think they give him to swap a part from? The Loaner vehicle! The Loaner vehicle is also the least maintained vehicle (along with the parts truck) in the dealership. Customer pay always comes ahead of the loaner vehicle and parts truck. I would return it.

 

[zaydq]

Those people aren't doing neutral drops in a minivan for kicks.

I lol'd pretty hard at this.

 

[waggy]

Embrace the minivan. When it comes to comfort and space on trips, it's far nicer. If you deal with carseats, you don't have to worry about opening the doors in crowded parking lots since they slide.

Rear captain's chairs can also keep kids at a safe distance from each other. You're just wise buying used. They lose value pretty fast, no matter who makes them.

I love my minivan. the duel power sliding doors on mine are great. at first i hated them. but now after having the van a few months i love it. I can open both doors (and the rear) with the push of a button before we get to the van.

with the rear Captian's chairs the kids are not sitting next to each other. With a 11 and 7 yr old this is a must.

also i can put all the seats down into the floor (a huge plus. taking seats out sucked ass) if i have something large i need to move. I can get as much in my van as i did in my truck. (though not putting some of the stuff in my van i did my truck)