The problem is, it's a broad term for any car that is owned by the manufacturer or a dealer and provided by them to their customers, staff, journalists & so forth for test drives, loaners, promotion days, etc., or for an ex-rental, or for an ex-fleet car. So it covers a lot of turf.

Over here, we tend to distinguish between all of those categories. I've bought an ex-dealer courtesy vehicle (a 'loaner' in US parlance), got a great deal and been very happy with it, but I'll admit it wasn't a performance car.

An XKR that's been used for a Jag promo track day and had the **** thrashed off it would be a different proposition. So if SoCal is talking about that type of car, I agree with her sentiments. But a dealer demonstrator or loaner might be worth considering, especially if it comes with a decent warranty.

 

Being someone from eastern euro, like myself, I would never call a brit ignorant. You and I both know who the ignorant "tourists" are!! There are 2 categories of program cars. The first group ae the program cars that are provided for major sporting events like those for the Pro-Am tournaments at Pebble Beach or the Preakness or Super Bowl. Those cars are provided by dealers in the areas those events are held in under a subsidy from the factory. Cars driven by these sponsors for these events are often driven hard, not cared for, but only driven for a few days. Nothing more. Kind of like a demo at the dealer. The 2nd group of program cars are those that should not be bought unless they are,IMHO, sold for half of list or less. These are the cars that are supplied to journalists for car mags. by-line writers for commercial advertisers in the auto industry and at events that are sponsored by the maufacturer for certain auto industry purveyors that are connected with the manufacturer that benefits the cars exposure to those purveyors. Most car mags make their money off advertising and you will rarely see a car mag "slam" a car interms of quality or performance. The mag depends on ad revenue of different car brands to print and sell their mag. Events are set up by the manufacturer where individuals from the mags and pruveyors can "track" a car. These program events are typically held in vegas or southern california or florida. These events are kind of a treat for the folks at the mags or purveyors or whoever. Often celebrities can be seen tracking cars at these events. These cars are driven into the ground, they are abused, adn they are defiled. These cars are often driven beyond the limits of their mechanical capabilities, all day long. The manufacturer could care less about the abuse these cars take. They just want their car to be exposed to as many people that count as possible. WHen the event is over, the car is detailed, put of a car hauler and taken to the next program event and the abuse process starts all over again. At the end of the program events cycle, which can be many events thru many states, and last for several months and rack up thousands of miles on the car, the car is then sent to a dealer close to wherever the lst event was held and then it is put up for sale. The program car is usually that model year car. The selling dealer typically only details the car and tries to get away with whatever they dont have to replace, like tires. A program car with say 5,000 miles really has 50,000 hard driven miles on it. A program car, especially a sports car that has 10,000 miles on it is basically junk in my opinion. Most people who are given the opportunity to drive a program sprts car dont know how to drive it or what they are doing in it, and make a mess out of it. Often red-lining it or overheating rotors by keeping one foot on the brake while they think they are Speed Racer. I had never driven a jag of any kind till last year in vegas. I had the opportunity to dive a red xkrs. I was stunned at the power it had. I had driven several other brands like my bf 9114s ragtrop and this xkrs ranked rite up there with it. Many of us that got to track this xkrs, went out of their way to trash it to see how much abuse it could take. I personally tried to blow the thing up adn I couldnt. Fantastic car! I talked my dad into buying the 2013 xkr rag and he then sold it to me. I would never drive my car, my bf's porsche or a friends car the way I drove the red xkrs. I have been to many events and have driven many cars, every time trying to tear them up or blow them up. Just my way of blowing off steam. And i am not the only person that does that at these events. Bottom line: DONT BUY A PROGRAM CAR. YOU ARE BUYING SOMEONE ELSES THROW AWAY!!

 

Being ignorant in certain areas is no insult - everyone has areas of ignorance! And thanks for taking the time to do that excellent explanation - my ignorance in this area has gone!

 

I agree with you 100% on the designation of the use of cars not only in England but also in Germany. However, the U.S. govt doesnt require the manufacturer or the dealers to put any type of designation on a car if it HAS NOT been titled. In the U.S. the car can be called "new". U.s. manufacturers give a new model year car to regional corporate individuals to drive to find any anomalies or headaches. But the car is still considered new. U.S. dealers have stopped calling previously driven cars, "demos". people often gave bad connotations to the use of the word "demo". So they started calling everything, "programs cars". Making them sound like they were special. These covered everything from demos to loaners to the car the dealer drove; to event cars, that people like me destroyed. This bullsh** would not fly in England and never in Germany. You and I both know that. We have a saying at the office "Calling a car a program car is like gently getting raped. But it is still rape."

 

The sad thing is that in this day and age with the preponderance of Carfax and Autocheck, getting a "good deal" on a car that was a demo car, had a previous accident, was stolen, etc., may not be such a good deal on the back end when it comes to sell. Many buyers assume the worst and that really drives the value down!

 

I guess I keep my cars so long that most of their previous history is in my hands, so their prior ownership is irrelevant. We traded the car I mentioned earlier (Toyota Aygo) in at a Skoda dealer for 55% of our purchase price 6 years after we bought it, and the 6 months it had been in the Toyota dealer fleet wasn't even mentioned.

 

I had been to 2 Jaguar event days and they were conducted at race tracks. One was at Lime Rock park in Ct and the other was at Watkins Glen in NY. I was also invited to one in Texas for the introduction of the F-Type (didn't make that one). The 1st one was for the introduction of the XF and we drove it on the track as well as the skid pad. The 1st lap was with the Jag driver then we would follow the Jag driver. You are right as some of the guys drove the tires off. These cars were most likely sold after all of the events were done. I must admit it was a lot of fun pushing these cars.

 

this vehicle is suspect to me. I do not like buying high end vehicles that are listed on e bay, go to a respected dealer to purchase one. There is still a blue xkr s listed that has never sold on e bay and it sits at some lot other than Jaguar. You can get good deals and more info on the vehicle. Reference the above mentioned vehicle, the mileage is suspect. Trip mileage shows 1106, actual miles is 1111 not 4800. I would stay away from this one for sure.

 

Ebay ads need to provide Full Disclosure and have lots of photos to inform any potential buyer. Some ads have few photos, and lack a good description.

I just listed my Ford F-150 yesterday on eBay, but my ad is much different than the ordinary, it is detailed and lots of photos whichis what every private seller needs to do.

There are allot of good vehicles listed on eBay, but sellers need to be informative and offer true facts about what they are selling.

Ford F 150 XLT Supercrew Cab Pickup 4 Door | eBay

 

Most seller may not and are not as thorough as you. The facts they list or use to tout the vehicle is suspect and because they say its so does not mean it is and that is my point. It's always buyer beware.

 

Nice looking truck! Good luck with your sale. Judging by all your posts and the care you take of your Jag, I'm sure it was impeccably maintained.