Dishonest dealer or acceptable practice?

[the happy bunny]

If this car has been stored in good conditions, that's none of a concern... But if the car remained with a one-digit SoC for more than a year, it's sub-optimal to say the least.

There's one way to know for sure: it's to perform a battery health check.

 

[Cooperman]

How is this possible? Ad says 'Brand New' but car has 17" wheels, no rear wiper, no central headrest. So about 18 months old

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Trading standards, anyone?

Hi @Eve, Got to say I'm not too familiar with the MG4 but I followed the link from your post and the black MG4 in the pictures looks like it has a rear wiper and looking through the windscreen from the front view there is a lump of some kind above the central rear seat?? Have no clue re the wheel size!!

 

[salty]

Hi @Eve, Got to say I'm not too familiar with the MG4 but I followed the link from your post and the black MG4 in the pictures looks like it has a rear wiper and looking through the windscreen from the front view there is a lump of some kind above the central rear seat?? Have no clue re the wheel size!!

Agree. If that's your actual car in the link. It's Defo got a rear wiper. And a middle rear headrest. Not sure about the wheels, but they are the latest wheel trims.

 

[Everest]

Hi @Eve, Got to say I'm not too familiar with the MG4 but I followed the link from your post and the black MG4 in the pictures looks like it has a rear wiper and looking through the windscreen from the front view there is a lump of some kind above the central rear seat?? Have no clue re the wheel size!!

Agree. If that's your actual car in the link. It's Defo got a rear wiper. And a middle rear headrest. Not sure about the wheels, but they are the latest wheel trims.

The link I posted was a red one - seems they've changed the advert. Wish I'd screen-shotted it now!

As you say, now it is the mark 2 version pictured. Maybe they read my post! LOL

 

[JonnyG]

........... Maybe they read my post! LOL

Probably some people on here enquired !!

.... they've difintely changed the pictures in the last day or two

 

[DaevM]

I was somewhat disappointed when I bought what I thought was a "brand new" SE LR in March of this year only to find out later that it had been manufactured 10 months before. To be fair that is the only 'problem' I've had with it 9 months of ownership and still love it to bits. I think as stated earlier in the thread the reg date ('24) and manufactured date got somewhat confused in my simple mind. Wish they'd have pointed it out prior to me signing the dotted line though.
My first time of buying 'brand new' , won't fall for it again. Excellent price though tbf

 

[siteguru]

To be fair - you could have made that same statement about just about any "new" car (ICE or EV), especially if you're buying from "stock".

 

[SteveO]

Does make you wonder when the 'built to order' transitioned to 'stack em high and sell them cheap' for both ICE and EV.

Big question is when will balance restore because that's when list prices will have some semblance of meaning, again.

 

[Tuareg]

My Xpower had to be ordered. An initial wait time to delivery was 7 months. Was due about now but was delayed to complications with new EU tariffs. That was sorted out, no more to pay for me since I ordered the car well before they were announced but that delayed my delivery date to March 2025. Should get a build/manufacture date from the dealer over the next couple of weeks. I'm in no rush as the car will mostly be used for pleasure/fun trips.

 

[Everest]

I was somewhat disappointed when I bought what I thought was a "brand new" SE LR in March of this year only to find out later that it had been manufactured 10 months before.

Was it missing the rear wiper too?

 

[DaevM]

Was it missing the rear wiper too?

Nope, later edition with rear wiper and headrest, just 10 months old

 

[FrancisM]

Nope, later edition with rear wiper and headrest, just 10 months old

Hmm, bought mine after yours in September, 20 mths old and no rear wiper. I haven't found that to be a problem but I do wipe it along with the side windows before setting off in the morning.

 

[salty]

Yep, got my X Power in Sep 2024, so registered "new". But built in December 2023. So 9 months old. At the time, I was a tad disappointed, with that. But as I seem to have dropped on a "good un"
Obviously doesn't bother me now.

 

[Everest]

Yep, got my X Power in Sep 2024, so registered "new". But built in December 2023. So 9 months old.

I would expect a new car could well be several months old, unless it was built to order as some manufacturers do. My concern was those dealers selling the previous (i.e. since discontinued) model as 'brand new'.

 

[tsedge]

Sometimes people get confused about month-day date order in the manufactured date - it isn't always when it appears to be.

Dealers generally consider any "new" car to be one that is not registered - ie never had a number plate. As far as value is concerned it is the first registration date that dictates this, it will still be 74 plate (eg) even if the car was made in 2023.

Pre-registered cars are often also sold as "as new" with low miles, sometimes these are newer (in terms of manufacturing date) than "new" unregistered cars.

You can always ask the dealer to find out when the car was made, how long it has been sitting around etc... and to show you evidence.

 

[Everest]

As far as value is concerned it is the first registration date that dictates this, it will still be 74 plate (eg) even if the car was made in 2023.

I'd totally agree with that viewpoint if the model has not been updated in the meantime. No one will know or care what the date of manufacturer is, provided the car you're getting is up-to-date for that year of registration.

However, I find it hard to believe that the "value" of the vehicle will be the same when you return to the dealer to trade it back in if you have a mark 1 version (i.e. without rear wiper and headrest) vs. the mark 2 with those items. IME the dealer will take a sharp intake of breath and say something like "well, those mark 1 versions are tricky to sell so I can only offer you £n,000 for it".

 

[tsedge]

I'd totally agree with that viewpoint if the model has not been updated in the meantime. No one will know or care what the date of manufacturer is, provided the car you're getting is up-to-date for that year of registration.

However, I find it hard to believe that the "value" of the vehicle will be the same when you return to the dealer to trade it back in if you have a mark 1 version (i.e. without rear wiper and headrest) vs. the mark 2 with those items. IME the dealer will take a sharp intake of breath and say something like "well, those mark 1 versions are tricky to sell so I can only offer you £n,000 for it".

I agree and I agree they may do that, although I don't think the mk2 spec differences were big or represent a huge value shift.

It is worth what someone will pay, so you can gather the evidence to challenge your dealer or find someone else who will pay more for your car.

 

[Brian0]

I wouldn't expect a new car to have the same registration date and date of manufacture. After all it was made in China and shipped the long way round, due to the middle easy crisis.

 

[Ian Key]

I wouldn't expect a new car to have the same registration date and date of manufacture. After all it was made in China and shipped the long way round, due to the middle easy crisis.

Not heard it called the middle easy crisis before

Don't you just love spell check. My friend just thanked me for the adventure calender I sent her.

 

[Deleted member 18108]

I agree with that, but using the term "brand new" in my mind is downright misleading (*).

OK, it's not an issue for me as - thanks to this forum - I know lack of rear wiper and 17" wheels means it was made early 2023 or earlier. But to the old couple wandering into a dealership, probably not even knowing the Chinese own MG these days, they'd be thinking they are getting the latest vehicle... only to find it's not worth as much as they thought come resale time. I bet even the same dealer buying it back 2 years later will say that's a MY23 and not worth as much as a MY24 car

(*) not just my mind either... Googling "brand new vs. new" comes up with several definitions along these lines...

"'Brand new' is more about when it dates from. It has only just been opened. It has not yet had time to become in any way worn out or obsolete."

"In the phrase "brand new," it emphasizes the idea that the item is not just new but also in pristine condition, untouched and unblemished. The term has come to signify the highest quality of newness, often used in marketing to convey a sense of freshness and desirability."

I was agreeing with this until I realised that I would fall into the category of one half of that old couple. I would say not to worry about someone's age, as it's not a definitive marker. That older couple have probably being buying cars long enough and might be way more astute because of it. Also in terms of model year (the car that is, not the customer), there are many uncertainties when it comes to buying a new car, sometimes you win on the far side when it comes to trade in, sometimes you lose. I bought my previous car between Covid lockdowns. It was a one year old pre registration and was massively discounted as demand was low. It was also the previous model as the new one had come out a month or so earlier. A few months later with the decreased availability of new cars, second hand values began to go through the roof and stayed high for a considerable period. As a result when I went to trade in my car, it had retained its value very well. This could just as easily have gone the other way, had I left my initial purchase of that pre-reg for another month. My point is that it is hard to predict what price you will get at the far side, because there are so many factors at play. So if you see what looks to be a good deal and you are happy with the spec, then go for it.

Another case would be when the Mk3 escort was coming out, the MK2 Elite model came on the market loaded with spec (probably stuff like a passenger side door mirror, a radio and intermitent wipers, but you get the drift). There were good deals to be got at the time, even though it was a previous model. No doubt, there was less demand for the MK 2 a few years later, when the owners came to trade them in, but they were happy with the spec at the time and many were going to keep them for years, as was the norm at that time.