While waiting for my wife's car to be serviced, there was a demo 2012 XJ in the showroom with only 5200 miles driven with an asking price of $58.000. I was interested in the car and asked if it could be leased. Salesman told me cars that have been titled to dealers only cannot be leased. The dealer is in Pennsylvania. Anyone know if this is true?

 

I dont know if that's true or not - but it does make sense..sorta.. These "demo" cars are owned by the dealer and cannot be considered 'new' - does that mean it can't be leased because it's used? i dunno..
FWIW, i just bought the wife one of those old, beat-up, used 2012 XJ "demos" with 194 miles on it - FULLY loaded, $63k

 

actually....demo cars are not considered used because they never get titled. which means you are allowed to lease demo cars (i did)

there must be something that the dealer is unclear about. because only used cars can not be leased. they must have bought the car back from someone and titled it for themselves as a company car.

 

Great deal. I'm still interested in the car and offered the dealer $55k. Looks like they'll go for for it. Any comments about buying a 2012 with 5200 miles are welcomed.

 

The very first document of any car is the MSO. The dealer should have it, because that is the 'legal' title of the car. What you do when you buy a car, with all that paperwork, is also to sign an authorization for the dealer to give this MSO to the government in exchange for a permit, called the 'certificate of title'. You own the car, but you don't have legal control over it anymore. You only have owner/operator equitable title. So, in order to really know if the car hasn't been titled yet, just ask the dealer if they have the MSO in their possession. If yes, the car is brand new, regardless of miles. If you say you will take the car to another jurisdiction (State), you can and should get the MSO off the hands of the dealer and take it with you.

 

Incorrect here, for my dealer.
Our dealer purchased something like 75 "demos" and stored them in a garage, then brought them out at the end of the year for sale, with less than 10 miles on them. Something about the discount they get because it's a demo, then hopefully when they sell it they will make a better profit..

Anyway, we purchased one and the title clearly lists it as "used", and transferred from "Rusnak Jaguar Pasadena" (or whatever the corporate name is which I cannot recall).

 

Did you get the car Randy?

 

I'm sorry, I meant to say, Did you get the automobile Randy?