How many miles can a 'New' van have on the clock?

[Blue Knight]

Morning Funsters,

There's a dealership up in Scotland that is struggling to sell some of its MY19 stock so, therefore, to help it along a bit, it has transferred one or two of its vans to a sister dealership 450-miles away to help reduce its stock levels.

The van I saw in Scotland had 2-miles on the clock but following its inter-dealer transfer it now has 450 registered miles. I'm assuming that it was driven under trade plates since the vehicle in question has not been pre-registered.

If someone were to buy said vehicle then would it still be considered as new or should a potential purchaser expect a few quid off the asking price because of its higher odometer reading.

Thanks in advance,

Andrew

 

[Richard n Ann]

Perhaps a few quid off but not much for that alone. I remember ours had 20 miles on the clock and I though what's that number 20 on the display mean ?

 

[Nigel L]

I would certainly want some knocked off, as its probably been driven at warp speed, and is now thoroughly run in!!

 

[hilldweller]

would it still be considered as new

Maybe doing you a favour, the bit that was due to drop off 450 miles into your ownership come pre-dropped off.

 

[Brains]

Mine was 5,500 miles !

Mind you it was a year old and had been used as the (major) dealers demonstration vehicle, so had been to every trade show in the land as well as driving potential punters around.

We got about a 20% discount off the new price

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[Mikeco]

I may be wrong but I believe that the dealers can reset the display to zero to eliminate delivery mileage if they wanted to, I would not be concerned about 450 miles on the clock though.

 

[Deneb]

I may be wrong but I believe that the dealers can reset the display to zero to eliminate delivery mileage if they wanted to, I would not be concerned about 450 miles on the clock though.

Not with 450 miles on the clock they can't. It can be reset up to 200km (125miles) on Sevel vans, maybe up to 200 miles on some other vehicles. At 450 miles they've either missed the chance or it has been done once already.

If they're struggling to shift them surely you would want to negotiate a discount or walk away anyway?

 

[Just smiffy]

Not a van but a new Peugeot car I had and went to see it when a firm were installing disabled hand controls on it for me and I noticed it had 58 miles on the clock, when I later picked it up from the dealership it had 3 miles on it...?

Would they not do the same ? or would only the base manufacturer be able to do it ... not saying they should but they could.....

 

[Deneb]

Not a van but a new Peugeot car I had and went to see it when a firm were installing disabled hand controls on it for me and I noticed it had 58 miles on the clock, when I later picked it up from the dealership it had 3 miles on it...?

Would they not do the same ? or would only the base manufacturer be able to do it ... not saying they should but they could.....

All vehicles have a facility for "delivery mileage" to be reset to zero as long as a nominal mileage has not been exceeded. It is because when a customer buys a new car, they like to see a very low or zero mileage on the display. Dealers usually have the information to do it, as it is made available though the technical documentation that their workshops subscribe to.

Having visited several manufacturing plants, if you watched every vehicle being driven off the production line and "tested" on its way to the parking lot, driven on and off transporters and ferries and moved around the ports I don't think you should be that concerned about a couple of hundred miles.

On Sevel vans, the odometer displays an "H" next to the current mileage if it is within the range that it can be reset (200km). The H disappears once 200km has been exceeded or the mileage has been reset prior to that point, and it can't be reset again (without illegal manipulation).

 

[ludo]

All vehicles have a facility for "delivery mileage" to be reset to zero as long as a nominal mileage has not been exceeded. It is because when a customer buys a new car, they like to see a very low or zero mileage on the display. Dealers usually have the information to do it, as it is made available though the technical documentation that their workshops subscribe to.

Having visited several manufacturing plants, if you watched every vehicle being driven off the production line and "tested" on its way to the parking lot, driven on and off transporters and ferries and moved around the ports I don't think you should be that concerned about a couple of hundred miles.

On Sevel vans, the odometer displays an "H" next to the current mileage if it is within the range that it can be reset (200km). The H disappears once 200km has been exceeded or the mileage has been reset prior to that point, and it can't be reset again (without illegal manipulation).

Absolutely correct!

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[peterc10]

When we bought our "new" Hymer in the autumn of 2015 it had just over 500 miles on the clock. The dealer had had it for nearly a year (it was one of the first 2015 models) and driven it to some shows (they only went to local ones) and I suspect used it for a few test drives. All on trade plates so we were the first registered owners. It had over £20k worth of factory and dealer fit extras on it and I suspect it had been used as a demonstration van to show off the possible extras. I also suspect that it did not sell because the price was too high at first.

The price had been reduced considerably from list price by the time we looked at it and suffice it to say that it reduced further before the deal was done. We were happy with the deal; in reality we got a RHD Hymer with a high spec for about the same price as we would have if we had imported a LHD equivalent, but without any of the hassle. And the dealer service has been very good too.

So my view is that as long as the mileage (and the fact that they are not selling well of course) is reflected in a hefty price reduction there should be no problems with your 450 miles

 

[TheBig1]

any my19 stock is going to be heavily discounted now, with my20 vans already ordered. 450 miles on the clock is of no great concern if the price is right

 

[Vipar]

I would and always ask for a discount whatever I buy if you don’t ask you don’t get. But I would be happy to know that it had had a 450 mile test drive if it’s diesel it will not have any damage to the engine due to the governors.

I got a reversing camera, 2 new front tyres, 1 year RAC breakdown cover, 1 year parts and labour on vehicle and habitation, full tank of diesel, and £1000 knocked off the original price.

 

[Lenny HB]

Mine was 5,500 miles !

Mind you it was a year old and had been used as the (major) dealers demonstration vehicle, so had been to every trade show in the land as well as driving potential punters around.

We got about a 20% discount off the new price

I would have expected a lot more than that. Our current Hymer was a factory order and I got 19.75% off arrived with 2km on the clock. ?

 

[Ivory55]

Save clocking a new van, would it not be easier to pull the Speedo fuse and drive it on the sat nav speed.

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[bertiebasset]

Years ago when I worked for a firm selling Benimars (some will remember RDH) we used to drive them (on trade plates) up from the factory in Spain when customers wanted them "now" so a good mileage on them at the point of registration. Never had any complaints then.

 

[JJ]

2 new front tyres

...on a new vehicle?


JJ

 

[PJGWiltshire]

We picked up our brand new van and it had 240 miles on the clock and we were informed that it has been taken to a show prior to me agreeing purchase. No problem in that it had 240 miles on the clock but there was to be an issue in that Carthago have a 500 mile ingress check, which if I had taken possession of it the 500 would have been due by the time I would have got home on the South coast. Clearly I was not going to Pay for this so included in the great deal price the 500 mile ingress test was carried out upon collection.FOC
As has already been said, it’s not a used vehicle with the mileage but is a point to be taken care off during negotiations. In my case as I was made aware that the vehicle had been at a show the van was immaculate at hand over. Needed to be as the deal was done over the phone so we never saw it until collection

 

[PeteH]

Back in the 70`s. I rather fancied one of the then latest "turbo" SAAB`s. But having watched the Wharfies "rally" brand new cars off the Ferries in Immingham, many cars actually bottomed out on the ramp! you could see sparks!. I said the Dealer salestaff, I want one only IF I can go the Sweden and collect it!.

 

[jezport]

My van had over 200 miles on it when I bought it. I saved quite a few thousands of pounds because of this. Plus I sold my old van privately meaning I ended up around £16K better off than ordering the van to be built.

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[Blue Knight]

Some great advice guys. The van in question hasn't yet been reduced but I like Jez's example above jezport so I might give the dealer a prod and see what type of deal they'll accept.

 

[Crazylegs]

Just a thought, if they are struggling to sell them, perhaps you will too when you decide to sell.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

...on a new vehicle?


JJ

Obviously not

 

[boxerdog]

supprised if they are moving more than one van they arnt taken by transporter

 

[jezport]

IMHO you want to look at the list price.
Then knock £5K off for the mileage and not being able to decide the spec. Then knock of the price of any extras. Finally if you are not PXing knock £2K off. Plus you will then sell your van for more than the PX gaining you around an extra £5K.

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[Blue Knight]

Just a thought, if they are struggling to sell them, perhaps you will too when you decide to sell.

Yep, agreed, but it seems some dealers are just struggling to sell their stock. We've heard of a few good news stories about people buying vans at the NEC but some dealers are definitely feeling the pinch.

 

[Ivory55]

supprised if they are moving more than one van they arnt taken by transporter

It must be more economical to do then hiring a transporter as an awful lot of dealers do it.

 

[HandyAndy]

Not with 450 miles on the clock they can't. It can be reset up to 200km (125miles) on Sevel vans, maybe up to 200 miles on some other vehicles. At 450 miles they've either missed the chance or it has been done once already.

If they're struggling to shift them surely you would want to negotiate a discount or walk away anyway?

You can reset an odometer to any figure you like of any age and mileage...
Doing it legally is another matter entirely

 

[CazPaul]

Some great advice guys. The van in question hasn't yet been reduced but I like Jez's example above jezport so I might give the dealer a prod and see what type of deal they'll accept.

You thinking of swapping already Andrew?

 

[Caggsie1]

I may be wrong but I believe that the dealers can reset the display to zero to eliminate delivery mileage if they wanted to, I would not be concerned about 450 miles on the clock though.

Yes they can.

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