Taking delivery of my first new car - What to look out for?

[EnthusiastOwned]

Hello All,

I'm taking delivery of my first brand new car in the next few days (nothing exciting unfortunately). What, if anything do I need to look out for?

Should I expect a copy of the PDI report to see if there were any issues or damage on delivery etc? Should I inspect it like buying a used car or just get in and drive away? What delivery mileage should I accept (or is expected)? Any other questions I should be asking?

Any advice welcome!

[Monty Python]

Just give it a good once-over at the dealer, checking for bodywork issues (scratches, dents etc), the wheels are undamaged and the interior is clean and blemish-free. The PDI report won't tell you much except that the guy who did it knows how to tick a box.

[Bebee]

Check it has the full Bentley tool kit.
Check the oil and water, look out for head gasket blown.
Check the windscreen is in, that sort of thing.

[SturdyHSV]

Depreciation mainly

That and physical obstacles like lamp posts, people, cars, all that good stuff

Happy to help!

[funkyrobot]

Check that the engine is in the bay.
Check that it has four wheels.
Make sure there isn't a body in the boot.
Check the mileage. It isn't new if the odometer says 65,000.
Also check that the interior and steering wheel looks new. It could have been clocked.
Check the boot. My mum bought a brand new Golf and the boot wasn't attached properly. The salesman attempted to rectify it with a can of WD40!
Check it's the car you have ordered.

[Bebee]

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.

[EnthusiastOwned]

Thanks for the constructive help here guys

[hornetrider]

Check the bodywork and wheels with a fine tooth comb, because anything you spot later will be tough luck. With that in mind, ask for it to be inside and dry when you get it (it's raining here today).

Hopefully you'll get a good handover showing you how everything works, and all the paperwork for the car.

The above point about checking it's what you've ordered is actually a good one, if there are any additional options you have specified. It's not been unknown for options to have been missed.

[Bebee]

OP
Just ignore me, I'm just jealous cuz I'm not getting a new motor.
Things to look out for is damage/scratched to paint, tick box man can overlook dents.
Get what you specked, i.e. over mats, the right alloys etc.
Dealers sell many cars thought out the year and can genuinely miss what you agreed in the deal.
When I bought my new vw caddy I paid for rear boarding out, I went to pick it up and it wasn't done, it was worth £145, so I had to wait a week more to pick it up.

[Roo]

EnthusiastOwned said:

Thanks for the constructive help here guys

Just the usual PH banter.

You might get a few more sensible replies if you tell us what it is.

[funkyrobot]

EnthusiastOwned said:

Thanks for the constructive help here guys

fking hell.

There were constructive replies. Can't you read?

[Nickbrapp]

If you've ordered any options make sure they are Atchally fitted to the car. Ten same as above check the body work and wheels for dents etc.
find out which side the filler cap is

[Crusoe]

Make sure any extras you ordered are fitted, check all the shut lines to make sure all the panels line up and nothing has been repaired. Check for matching tyres all round, try all the buttons and features, check the paintwork (preferably inside under lights but not outside in the wet). Then read the manual for the running in instructions before taking it away.

[Save Ferris]

The delivery mileage will vary, but from my experience (with Toyota) they are usually 1-6 miles.

[SonicShadow]

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.

You joke, but it's actually a very important thing to check - make sure that it is the spec you actually ordered, and has any options you selected. Mistakes happen.

[funkyrobot]

SonicShadow said:

You joke, but it's actually a very important thing to check - make sure that it is the spec you actually ordered, and has any options you selected. Mistakes happen.

I wasn't joking with that point.

Yes, some of my other bits were a tad silly, but they all make sense when you think about it.

[markmullen]

Save Ferris said:

The delivery mileage will vary, but from my experience (with Toyota) they are usually 1-6 miles.

Most manufacturers delivery can be up to 100 miles, depends how much they're shuffled around pre-delivery.

[EnthusiastOwned]

Thanks guys.

It's a Seat Ibiza FR Black 1.4 TSi ACT. Nothing too exciting, it's a bit of a daily run around and something for the Mrs to learn in. It's a fairly decent spec and not too shabby to look at or drive, but cheap to run and economical. Win Win. I wish my first new car was something a little more grown up and petrolhead-esque though, needs and musts I suppose.

So standard check the car over for damage and to make sure everything is there. And mileage sub 100 miles?

Anything else I should ask the dealer to do or check?

Edited by EnthusiastOwned on Friday 29th May 11:42

[alangla]

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.

[northwest monkey]

funkyrobot said:

SonicShadow said:

You joke, but it's actually a very important thing to check - make sure that it is the spec you actually ordered, and has any options you selected. Mistakes happen.

I wasn't joking with that point.

Yes, some of my other bits were a tad silly, but they all make sense when you think about it.

Definitely worth checking it's the right car. A mate of mine ordered a 5-series & it turned up with a couple of options missing which were on the order form. They weren't obvious ones like leather seats or alloys - from what I can remember it was something daft like chrome round the windows and the wrong wood on the dash. They were very good about it & offered him the chance to reject the car or have an extra years warranty instead.