Buying loaner cars
02-07-2021, 12:42 PM
#1
Buying loaner cars
Hello has anyone bought a loaner rdx 2020 tech pkg recently? Just wondering what a good dealer offer would be for this type of car. Thanks for your help guys. I appreciate it
02-07-2021, 01:49 PM
#2
iWhine S/C 6MT TL
iTrader: (1)
Loaners are treated like rentals, mostly driven more aggressive. Dealerships should keep up with maintenance required on loaners but that varies per dealer. Loaners end up being CPO's unless there's an issue. At the end of the day, you're buying a used vehicle so use your best judgement when looking it over and taking it on road test.
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nist7 (02-07-2021)
02-07-2021, 03:31 PM
#3
5th Gear
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I just bought a 2021 RDX w/tech dealer loaner with 3000 mi. on it for 36,375.00, not including tax, tags, etc. Had to finance through them, but can pay it off w/first pmt.
Seemed like a good price. I did find a very small mark on the right rear wheel, no big deal. Car is like new and drives great!
Seemed like a good price. I did find a very small mark on the right rear wheel, no big deal. Car is like new and drives great!
02-07-2021, 03:50 PM
#4
Racer
Make sure you shop around for aggressive pricing on a new 2021 model. RDX CPO are notoriously overpriced. Often times they want MORE than a brand new one, and at best it’s only a $1-2k savings.
As an aside, I’d also be skeptical of buying a loaner from the COVID era. They spray the interiors down with chemicals between clients and who knows what kind of damage that’ll show in a couple years (cracked leather, etc.). Maybe it’ll be just fine, but after jumping in a loaner myself the other day that was soaked in cleaner I found myself wondering about it.
As an aside, I’d also be skeptical of buying a loaner from the COVID era. They spray the interiors down with chemicals between clients and who knows what kind of damage that’ll show in a couple years (cracked leather, etc.). Maybe it’ll be just fine, but after jumping in a loaner myself the other day that was soaked in cleaner I found myself wondering about it.
Last edited by jmhumr; 02-07-2021 at 03:53 PM.
02-07-2021, 04:19 PM
#7
iWhine S/C 6MT TL
iTrader: (1)
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02-07-2021, 05:22 PM
#9
Skeptic
Most people drive loaners like they stole 'em. I don't but many people do.
02-07-2021, 05:37 PM
#10
People always say this, but the reality is that people generally drive that poorly in their own cars, too. Most people aren't going to drive safely in their own cars and then get a loaner car and start drifting in traffic or doing General Lee jumps over construction sites. If you see someone driving like crap in a loaner car, then they usually just drive like crap.
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RickRDX (02-15-2021)
02-07-2021, 06:24 PM
#12
Racer
02-08-2021, 06:15 AM
#14
iWhine S/C 6MT TL
iTrader: (1)
When I worked for Acura and BMW, calls would come in for aggressive driving with loaners and the associated loaner number. Dealership would always call the customer and request to have the vehicle returned. Many of these loaners were involved in accidents as well. When I use to CPO these loaners they were mostly beat to hell with body damages (mostly minor stuff), curbed wheels and interior spots worn.
Recently I went in for service myself and Acura gave me a loaner and to my surprise it didn't have a tracker. I drove the vehicle as I do with my own vehicles but with more caution and care (i'm a conservative driver). In fact, I currently have a BMW loaner and i'll check it out but I doubt it has a tracker.
02-13-2021, 07:23 AM
#15
2020 RDX White/Espresso
I think there a few things going on with loaners. First, if someone is given a sportier car then they normally drive, they may very well drive it more aggressively. I know when I first got my RDX I drove it more aggressively (but still safely) than I drove my old car because, yeah it was fun and I wanted to see what my new purchase was capable of. So I can imagine someone who gets an RDX loaner who comes from say an older ILX might be inclined to push it a bit. That said, Acura owners tend to be older and, one might presume, more conservative in their driving.
The other thing about loaners is that there could well be observation bias. @04WDPSeDaN says people would call the dealer if they saw a loaner being driven aggressively, and I believe that’s true. But if people see a BMW being driven aggressively that doesn’t have a dealer loaner sticker and phone number on it, who are they going to call - the dealer? Probably not. So yeah 100% of the calls the dealer gets about someone driving a BMW aggressively are about loaners, but that doesn’t mean that 100% of loaners are driven aggressively, nor does it mean that loaners are driven more aggressively than other BMWs.
To really know whether a loaner is treated worse than a car that someone owns or leases, it would take a deep dive on the data; you’d have to look at the short term and long term problems cars have. I don’t think there’s probably enough data collected loaners to know the answer. I have a buddy who works for Honda on the data side, and I can ask him. He might even take on the project out of curiosity. One might also be able to glean some insight from data about rental cars in general, and what kind of service they need. And while it might be hard to tell with only a few thousand miles, even something like the wear on the tires or engine oil might be a good litmus for wear on the car, if they are out of line with what a normal car might have.
The other thing about loaners is that there could well be observation bias. @04WDPSeDaN says people would call the dealer if they saw a loaner being driven aggressively, and I believe that’s true. But if people see a BMW being driven aggressively that doesn’t have a dealer loaner sticker and phone number on it, who are they going to call - the dealer? Probably not. So yeah 100% of the calls the dealer gets about someone driving a BMW aggressively are about loaners, but that doesn’t mean that 100% of loaners are driven aggressively, nor does it mean that loaners are driven more aggressively than other BMWs.
To really know whether a loaner is treated worse than a car that someone owns or leases, it would take a deep dive on the data; you’d have to look at the short term and long term problems cars have. I don’t think there’s probably enough data collected loaners to know the answer. I have a buddy who works for Honda on the data side, and I can ask him. He might even take on the project out of curiosity. One might also be able to glean some insight from data about rental cars in general, and what kind of service they need. And while it might be hard to tell with only a few thousand miles, even something like the wear on the tires or engine oil might be a good litmus for wear on the car, if they are out of line with what a normal car might have.
02-13-2021, 01:36 PM
#18
RDX ILX TSX
I'm guilty as charged but with a rental. Back when I was traveling with my company I had an Avis account. One trip they gave me a Nissan Maxima and I could not believe the speed. Back then I knew nothing about Maxima's but needless to say - I drove it like I stole it.
02-15-2021, 01:44 PM
#20
02-22-2021, 10:33 AM
#21
Intermediate
Hoping good. Picked up a loaner (2021 RDX Advanced with ~1100 miles). Seems good so far and like new. Since it was CPO feel a little more comfortable. I usually driver loaners/rentals about the same as my cars. Will push them sometimes but nothing crazy that would hurt the vehicle.
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