Taking delivery of my first new car - What to look out for?
Discussion
JimmyConwayNW said:
I usually jump into the rear seats and rock back and forth to make sure they are in.
I once bought a brand new seat Ibiza and the rear seats fell out under heavy braking and bashed my passenger on the head. Seat were not interested and blamed the spaniards.
I know you now have a good reason for doing so, but you must look like a right nutter stroking the windows ans rocking back and forth in the rear seats. I once bought a brand new seat Ibiza and the rear seats fell out under heavy braking and bashed my passenger on the head. Seat were not interested and blamed the spaniards.
over_the_hill said:
AlexIT said:
anothernameitist said:
Check the number plate is correct.
My wife once got a new 56 plate car.
It came with as a 55 plate.
Talking about number plates, check that the front matches the rear one.My wife once got a new 56 plate car.
It came with as a 55 plate.
A few years ago a friend of mine was delivered a car with different number plates front and rear (dealer mixed up with ones from another car while fitting them)
I have known plates going on the wrong car. 2 x Ford Focus - same spec. and colour etc. Plates got crossed over and ended up on the other car so the Reg. Plate and VIN didn't match.
alangla said:
EnthusiastOwned said:
Anything else I should ask the dealer to do or check?
Get him to show you how to operate the fuel filler. Nothing more embarrassing than standing in a petrol station not being able to figure out whether you need to pull a lever inside/open the central locking/press a particular button/just push the fuel nozzle in through the cap etc.If it's something quick, check if it'll run on 95 or if it needs super.
My mate couldn't be there to collect his new 458 Spyder so they delivered it to his home and left it there. We go out for the first run, he wants to fuel up. Took him 15 mins before he admitted defeat and asked me. Seemed like a lifetime with everyone looking at the car!
Have to admit that I have very nearly handed over the wrong car; the valeter cleaned the wrong one, I didn't check the reg.
After all paperwork had been completed at my desk, I took them to the car and the customer pointed out that the reg was wrong; as I was mega busy I just hadn't noticed, it wasn't a case of the wrong plates on the car, it was completely the wrong car, theirs was still sat in it's spot un-valeted.
I have also handed over a car with different plates front and back, again this was pointed out to me at handover.
Fortunately in my 15 odd years of doing this job, the above two are the only instances that I can recall where that has happened to me, they were both this year too.
After all paperwork had been completed at my desk, I took them to the car and the customer pointed out that the reg was wrong; as I was mega busy I just hadn't noticed, it wasn't a case of the wrong plates on the car, it was completely the wrong car, theirs was still sat in it's spot un-valeted.
I have also handed over a car with different plates front and back, again this was pointed out to me at handover.
Fortunately in my 15 odd years of doing this job, the above two are the only instances that I can recall where that has happened to me, they were both this year too.
The Moose said:
alangla said:
EnthusiastOwned said:
Anything else I should ask the dealer to do or check?
Get him to show you how to operate the fuel filler. Nothing more embarrassing than standing in a petrol station not being able to figure out whether you need to pull a lever inside/open the central locking/press a particular button/just push the fuel nozzle in through the cap etc.If it's something quick, check if it'll run on 95 or if it needs super.
My mate couldn't be there to collect his new 458 Spyder so they delivered it to his home and left it there. We go out for the first run, he wants to fuel up. Took him 15 mins before he admitted defeat and asked me. Seemed like a lifetime with everyone looking at the car!
Took a TT roadster in part exchange and fancied running around in it for a few days.
I looked a right lemon having to read the owners handbook to find out how to open the fuel filler.
Other than obvious stuff like that it is what you ordered, the main thing is make damned sure that it's in perfect condition cosmetically - you don't want to be going back 2-3 days later once the excitement has worn off pointing out any defects and potentially having to argue whether they were there when you collected it etc.
Dealer valeting does tend to be poor quality, they pay peanuts so corners get cut - if it isn't too late I'd ask them not to have it valeted, but they have to do a certain amount to remove all the stuff that comes stuck on at the factory.
The main thing is just enjoy it - some people just don't "get" the new car thing, which is fair enough, but once you've had one it's very difficult to go back to something that isn't pristine - that sounds a bit weird but I'm sure a lot of people will know what I mean - possibly not datum or whatever his name is who always shows up to piss on peoples chips
Dealer valeting does tend to be poor quality, they pay peanuts so corners get cut - if it isn't too late I'd ask them not to have it valeted, but they have to do a certain amount to remove all the stuff that comes stuck on at the factory.
The main thing is just enjoy it - some people just don't "get" the new car thing, which is fair enough, but once you've had one it's very difficult to go back to something that isn't pristine - that sounds a bit weird but I'm sure a lot of people will know what I mean - possibly not datum or whatever his name is who always shows up to piss on peoples chips
Roo said:
The Moose said:
alangla said:
EnthusiastOwned said:
Anything else I should ask the dealer to do or check?
Get him to show you how to operate the fuel filler. Nothing more embarrassing than standing in a petrol station not being able to figure out whether you need to pull a lever inside/open the central locking/press a particular button/just push the fuel nozzle in through the cap etc.If it's something quick, check if it'll run on 95 or if it needs super.
My mate couldn't be there to collect his new 458 Spyder so they delivered it to his home and left it there. We go out for the first run, he wants to fuel up. Took him 15 mins before he admitted defeat and asked me. Seemed like a lifetime with everyone looking at the car!
Took a TT roadster in part exchange and fancied running around in it for a few days.
I looked a right lemon having to read the owners handbook to find out how to open the fuel filler.
Bebee said:
funkyrobot said:
Check it's the car you have ordered.
A very fine and worthy point.A red Ford might have been ordered but what sits in front of one's eyes of the day of collection, is a Kia in fern green. [/quot
This. I have had a new car delivered, and as the delivery bloke began undoing the straps on the low loader we both agreed it was a very nice car. But I had then to add, `but unfortunately it was not the car I ordered!' The look on the poor blokes face was the absolute picture of dismay.
I helped him re-do the strapping, and left him furiously talking to someone in his office on his mobile
PorkInsider said:
Leptons said:
robsco said:
V8LM said:
EnthusiastOwned said:
V8LM said:
Depending on how fussy you are, make sure the dealers haven't washed it:
Is that a brand spanking new car!!!?I was planning on giving it a good once over, wash, glaze and wax.. Was hoping it didn't need a polish from the word go!?
ETA: And this was the dealer's solution to the problem:
Crappy Autoglym or similar resin polish!!!!!
Not happy.
Edited by V8LM on Friday 29th May 20:57
He has a problem with the autoglym polish as it's designed to a temporary filler to cover up the swirled damage. After a few washers those washes the filler will come off revealing the damage again.
Has anyone heard the tape recording of a car dealer in the US talking to a woman on the phone, who had just bought a new car from them ( and after getting it home, and on her drive for a while, discovered what she described as a big *ss human t*rd on the back seat. It is quite funny, and well worth a listen. hope the OP doesn't get one of these!
JimmyConwayNW said:
Take a torque wrench and personally check all the wheel bolts are to the manufacturers spec. This works well for 2 reasons. It ensures your safety and that of the general public on the way home. Secondly it sends out a clear message to the dealership that you are not someone to be messing with and you are someone in the know.
Priceless 
PositronicRay said:
JimmyConwayNW said:
Take a torque wrench and personally check all the wheel bolts are to the manufacturers spec. This works well for 2 reasons. It ensures your safety and that of the general public on the way home. Secondly it sends out a clear message to the dealership that you are not someone to be messing with and you are someone in the know.
Priceless PositronicRay said:
JimmyConwayNW said:
Take a torque wrench and personally check all the wheel bolts are to the manufacturers spec. This works well for 2 reasons. It ensures your safety and that of the general public on the way home. Secondly it sends out a clear message to the dealership that you are not someone to be messing with and you are someone in the know.
Priceless Secondly it sends out a clear message to the dealership that you are not someone to be messing with and you are someone in the know.
It definitely sends a message to the dealership, unfortunately for you, not the one you think.
Dear god, they live among us..
..Anyway, back to it. OP ask the dealer not to wash the car, do it yourself.
Go read up on the bodywork section and detailing world about how to do this properly (2 buckets, washmitts, fallout remover, clay etc).
The reason I say this is because with a little information you'll do a better job and be more careful than the valeters at the dealer, leaving the car in a better state and with less damage. With the soft paint on many cars its easy to damage paint.
You can take as much time as you like. Don't read too much in to detailing world, some of it is a bit extreme - but I do love a properly detailed car that doesn't have loads of swirls etc. Some cars arrive from dealers in a shocking state and need paint correction immediately - its obvious to avoid this if you can (to me at least..).
I don't mean to offend valeters, but with the best will in the world they can't do a perfect job with a sponge thats done 100s of other cars this week in 20 minutes.
Aside from that, just make sure is clear of defects, small dents etc.
Consider gap insurance. It can be inexpensive and should the worst happen it'll cover you. Easily less than £1 a week - look at ala gap and gapinsurance.co.uk. (plenty of others too). I may be being a little over cautious, but I'm glad of it - my 17 day old car was hit by another driver - that gap insurance policy may be coming in very handy already
Above all else, enjoy it!
..Anyway, back to it. OP ask the dealer not to wash the car, do it yourself.
Go read up on the bodywork section and detailing world about how to do this properly (2 buckets, washmitts, fallout remover, clay etc).
The reason I say this is because with a little information you'll do a better job and be more careful than the valeters at the dealer, leaving the car in a better state and with less damage. With the soft paint on many cars its easy to damage paint.
You can take as much time as you like. Don't read too much in to detailing world, some of it is a bit extreme - but I do love a properly detailed car that doesn't have loads of swirls etc. Some cars arrive from dealers in a shocking state and need paint correction immediately - its obvious to avoid this if you can (to me at least..).
I don't mean to offend valeters, but with the best will in the world they can't do a perfect job with a sponge thats done 100s of other cars this week in 20 minutes.
Aside from that, just make sure is clear of defects, small dents etc.
Consider gap insurance. It can be inexpensive and should the worst happen it'll cover you. Easily less than £1 a week - look at ala gap and gapinsurance.co.uk. (plenty of others too). I may be being a little over cautious, but I'm glad of it - my 17 day old car was hit by another driver - that gap insurance policy may be coming in very handy already
Above all else, enjoy it!
When buying a brand new car, it is perhaps what you `don't' get that you are actually paying the extra cash for, over the price of a used car which needs to be considered.
earing in mind, the moment any new car gets onto the tarmac for the first time, it loses a number of thousand pounds depending on the car type.
On the plus side, you don't need to worry about how it was driven / treated `before' you got it, or pay for MOT`s for 3 years, and generally (depending on how it is driven) new tyres, expensive mechanical work, body nicks or damage etc, initially at least.
Over the years I have had quite a number of both new, and used cars, but cannot remember that either had any overall significant advantages or disadvantages over the other. Just take the car enjoy it and for what it is, something that you want, and are prepared to pay a specific amount for, depending on whether it is new or used. Buying used has the advantage of being able to get a car type which is above the spec you could afford when it was new, You pays your money, and takes your choice.
earing in mind, the moment any new car gets onto the tarmac for the first time, it loses a number of thousand pounds depending on the car type.
On the plus side, you don't need to worry about how it was driven / treated `before' you got it, or pay for MOT`s for 3 years, and generally (depending on how it is driven) new tyres, expensive mechanical work, body nicks or damage etc, initially at least.
Over the years I have had quite a number of both new, and used cars, but cannot remember that either had any overall significant advantages or disadvantages over the other. Just take the car enjoy it and for what it is, something that you want, and are prepared to pay a specific amount for, depending on whether it is new or used. Buying used has the advantage of being able to get a car type which is above the spec you could afford when it was new, You pays your money, and takes your choice.
Crafty_ said:
Consider gap insurance. It can be inexpensive and should the worst happen it'll cover you. Easily less than £1 a week - look at ala gap and gapinsurance.co.uk. (plenty of others too). I may be being a little over cautious, but I'm glad of it - my 17 day old car was hit by another driver - that gap insurance policy may be coming in very handy already
Most, if not all, insurance policies allow for new for new in the first 12 months as long as you're the first owner. GAP insurance really kicks in during years 2 & 3. Don't buy from the dealer as they will have 200% mark up but cover is easily got for 3 years for < £100.If you haven't bought GAP then don't panic as most allow purchase up to 90 days after you have bought the car.
Oh, and Enjoy it.
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