What a customer can do re PDI?

[21Rouge]

We keep cars to the end eg our 5 speed Corolla was with us 14 years and our 5 speed Eagle Summit wagon is now 13 years old and has done good service but will be replaced next week with a brand new Pontiac Vibe.  

So as you see a new car purchase for us is few and far between and we are excited about the impending delivery. But I want to do my best as a non car person to make sure that the car waiting for me has been properly inspected when I do pick it up from the dealer.

What do you suggest I can do re my own inspection of the car before I drive away from the dealer or does it really matter as the car is under warranty.

[Sterling]

What did you do with your Corolla and Eagle? They seemed to turn out OK.

What kind of inspection are you talking about? Checking for dents and dings? Or hovering over the tech's shoulder while he checks the tire pressure?

[21Rouge]

Those cars were too long ago for me to remember but I probably did nothing or very little and maybe that's how it will be this time.

[barrie1]

I would think there will not be much to do as the PDI is generally pretty thorough by the dealer. I would certainly do a good walk a round the car when you are picking it up as to the overall condition of it. Please post pics when you get it.

[21Rouge]

Hi Barrie, you now see a bit more of the car picture for our family. This Vibe is to replace our old Eagle Summit but we have been worried about our only 5 year Montana. As you know there are tranny "issues" lurking but that has been only one of many issues with this vehicle...many fixed during the 3 year warranty but many occuring beyond. Our intention now is to use the Vibe as much as we can and 'baby' (reduce the kms) the van. We cant afford to sell the Montana.

[ovr50]

Speaking to PDI, it seems the one area that always seems to be missed is that the tires are usually overinflated. I think they are aired up for transport, but many times the vehicle delivered to me is perfect EXCEPT for tire pressure. Happened again on the HL 8 days ago, checked the tires at home soon as I got there and they were albout 40 psi. Door sticker is 30 cold. Not a biggie, but just always check them yourself.

[tpl]

Yes Ovr50:   Put me down as paranoid but my personal POST delivery inspection is.

Take the owners manual indoors and read the whole thing.  
If the manual says check the oil warm...go back out and check it, if check cold then wait til the morning.
Go to Google and see who publishes a shop manual...attempt to buy  online from Amazon.ca.

next morning when car is cold:

check tires with my trusted gauge including spare
check oil, radiator, washer fluids. I dont buy automatics so I dont know what one should/would do with one.

set mirrors on both sides,set the seat exactly ( my car has memory for these)
set my radio stations.
set the clock exactly.  
At work where I have a flat surface and a vertical wall check headlight aim. My car has self levelling but all that means is that it could always be wrong.  

After that; check oil and radiator each week for a few months. Most cars still use some oil in the first 5000kms.   This list used to have: Check battery level, but that seems superfluous now with modern sealed batteries. Keep checking the tires just in case one has a leaky rim or a slow leak.
After three months one usually has a good idea of the oil consumption. My bmw used a noticeable amount during the frst 2,000 km and then tailed off to nothing over the next 20,000.

In the first month or two.
Buy a trunk/hatch rubber mat with a lip from WeatherTech to protect the trunk...dont know why these are not standard.

[slybry]

I bought only 1 new car in my life. I picked it up at night and did a quick walk around. I did not do a very close inspection. The car looked beautiful and I was excited about jumping in an driving away. After a few days I saw a couple flaws. The rubber gasket around front windshield does not seem to be aligned properly and I suspect the windshield is maybe a bit off center. There was also a small paint defect around rear window that appears to have been touched up. I went back to dealer about these things and they advised me that fixing the problems would create more issues than they fix.  

  I have to admit these are very minor defects that I doubt I would have ever spotted even if I took time on delivery. But it does prove that new cars can have problems in build quality.

  I would recommend you take delivery during the day and ask to be allowed to look car over (without sales agent hoveering over you). Take your time. Look for variations / defects in paint and problems with gaps in panels. Check out interior fit and finish. If you see issues talk about them before taking delivery. If issue requires any repainting I would ask for another car.  

 You have much more leverage before accepting car than after.  

  When buying new or second hand I wish I could offer to wax the car before I buy it. During a waxing you uncover all the little issues with the body of a car. Of course this is not feasible.

[Smainville]

Hey Ovr50, you got an 05 HL!  When did I miss that?  Congrats, great vehicle, any pics yet?

[ovr50]

Whoa, Smain, we're you been man? Picked it up 9 days ago on Apr29. Check out the story/pictures in the 2005 Toyota Highlander thread under New Autos. Can't repeat it all here as the rest would be bored (when has that ever stopped you they say in unison?). I'll post initial first impressions soon. Bet y'all can't wait....

[S60]

NEVER take delivery of your new car in the evening!!!

1st thing to do is check proper operation and orientation ridemost salespersons want to sign all documents before checking out your new vehicle). DO your pre-inspection 1st, if all is agreeable to you then finalize the paper work.

Check the operation of all equipment--especially any items that the dealer may have added.  
Check for dents, scratches or mismatched paint. Even brand new cars can have paint defects.  
Check the interior--fabric, carpeting and make sure that you look up at the headliner.  
Make sure that the owners manual, service schedule, and warranty book are with the car.
Look at the odometer to make sure the "new" car you're buying isn't actually a demonstrator.  New vehicles should not have more than 100 miles on their odometer, unless it was obtained in a dealer-to-dealer trade.  
Review procedures for the service department--how appointments are handled and who to contact if you need service.  
Check over all of the financial papers and the sales contract. Make sure that they match the figures that you and the dealership agreed on. Confirm that no additional items (and costs) have been added.  
 
If anything is not right, either get it fixed on the spot or, if that is not possible, get it in writing and signed by a manager. If considerable additional work is needed, leave the car without signing any contracts or financing papers. If you need transportation (for example, if you have already sold your old car) insist that the dealership gives you a loaner car while the work is done to yours.

[safristi]

Ah... First impressions 2 weeks later!!!! are you in a TIME WARP with all the warm weather...OR are they fixing the first 13 TSB's and re_calls!!.

[ovr50]

Tpl and S60 - good lists of things to check. Even if you can't do all those things right at the dealership, do it ASAP on arrival home and phone the dealer IMMEDIATELY if anything is amiss and get it recorded. Saves a lot of hassle after.

[marineboy]

I check everything and do a complete road test of the vehicle before I sign the final papers. It is easier to get things fixed quickly before accepting the car.

[21Rouge]

Lots of good suggestions. Thanks very much.  

Btw, when doing a reply to 'canadiandriver' forums I would like to quote. There must be such a feature in this forum...right?

[Mdxtasy]

Highlight the text you want to quote....press Ctrl C...then click into the post box...hit Ctrl V and away you go.  

Yeah...it's primitive....

[21Rouge]

Mdxtasy wrote: "Highlight the text you want to quote....press Ctrl C...then click into the post box...hit Ctrl V and away you go."

Oh that is a nice feature. I was worried I would have to retype it all

[tenpenny]

windows windows windows.  Almost every windows-based programs use the same concept.

ctrl-c for copy, ctrl-x for remove, ctrl-v for paste...even cad programs use it.  despite its ungodly propensity for failure, there are benefits to windows.

[johngenx]

For the $1500 many makes are now charging for PDI, the car should not only be perfect (including tire pressures) but the hot blonde receptionist should come home with me for a week.

I'm with this person.  We should really start paying attention to what the most expensive service our car is likely to see in it's first ten years consists of.

[slybry]

One more thought about accepting delivery of a car. Bring a friend along to help you inspect. Your friend won't be so caught up in the excitment and can look at the car more objectively.  
  I often go with friends of mine when they are looking at used cars. I look at it with them and give the straight goods on what I think. It has save some from some questionable purchases.