Things to check at the Pre delivery inspection...
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Things to check at the Pre delivery inspection...
At the Pre-delivery inspection what are some of things one should check with the salesperson and dealership before driving away in the new car?
1) Exterior intact, interior trim finish.
2) test drive for wheel alignment
3) Test drive for pinging motor
4) Listen for any rattles or vibrating pieces.
what else?
1) Exterior intact, interior trim finish.
2) test drive for wheel alignment
3) Test drive for pinging motor
4) Listen for any rattles or vibrating pieces.
what else?
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 173
From: New York
Car Info: 2002 WRX wagon
Check all fluids, even if the salesperson assures you that they are all ok. Ask for a tech to check tire pressures: you will be amazed at how different they can be, and not too close to factory specs. Check all doors, panels, gadgets, the radio, CD, whatever; all lights, horn, ect. Do no take anyone's word for anything!
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Essogas,
When I was in HS and college one of my job 'responsibilitis' included at first actually doing PDI's and then I was promoted to managing the PDI staff at a now defunct Subie dealer.
I have seen so many cars go out looking like absolute scat, I could tell stories for hours...but I won't.
Here are some things that i do before driving away;
* Go look at a car different than your own (preferably something from service thats already been sold) to use as a 'baseline' toward comparison to your own car. Check that baseline car both inside & out and pay attention to the details. My mom once bought a car in the summer and drove away with _no windshield wiper blade assemblies_! Three weeks later whenit rained for the first time in ages she goes to activate her wipers and the arms etched huge arcs into her windshield not to mention leaving her stranded in a new car at work (embarassing!). The dealer balked at first but eventually acquiesced and replaced her windshield and wiper assmbly. This happened because I lived in MA at the time and couldn't be with her to pick-up and inspect the car. My point is its the details that will go missing while most folks will check to be sure it has four wheels and an engine only.
* Another scenario I've seen is a buyer drive away in a brand new Hyundai Excel that had two different style rims! The reason being is that the service & parts dept had been playing musical wheels with the service demo that had been damaged by a service writer. as part of his efforts to cover his tracks he had swapped the front wheels of the busted car on to the passenger side of a car in inventory that he picked at random. Well days go by and the car is sold and nobody catches it and the car hits the street with the drivers side having one style (alloys) and the passnger side having steel rims w/covers. The buyer comes back two days later with his wife who was hella mad (and embarrased!) as it was their neighbor that pointed out the unmatched wheels. It was funny as hell, but guess who got the blame for "not noticing"...me and the PDI guys.
* Check to be sure all of the gadgets actually work. That means HVAC for both hot _and_ cold. Iv'e see a new car with a blown blower motor come off the truck that way. Be sure the hi & low beams work as this car has dual ligthing systems of HID (low) & halgoen (high). Be sure the gauges all illuminate evenly and fully.
* Check the car for damage...any kind of damage.
At my old Subie store we had a porter actually drive a car into the structural dividing beam in his bay and scratch a single line along the entire side of the car. The fix as okayed by the sales manager, apply three coats of touch up paint _borrowed_ from three vials of paint secured from parts (and later sold as new!), then we waxed the car and no the buyer was never the wiser...out the door it went. This car should have gone to the body shop but the buyer picked up the car at dusk and was happy as a clam to be in his new white RX. We never heard back about that car.
Vehicles get damaged inside and out all the time. Check interior trim pieces fro tears, snapped off plastic pieces, cracked interior trim along the 'B' pillar (from dragging the vac hose inside the car), look for scratches on flat plastic pieces. One of the G35C's i drove had a _huge_ scratch running diagonally across the face of the Bose radio on the plastic where the station ID and such are displayed. This was a car that was fresh off the truck and had not been driven by anyone other than me and the delivery driver.
* Triple check your paperwork.
When purchasing my Volvo I found that the calculations for state tax were _high_ by 2 % and that the county tax was low by several dollars. The finance officer played like he was stupified from me catching this and claimed "its all done by computer". Yeah, uh huh.
* Check the VIN# of your paperwork agiant your car as I've seen keys accidentally swapped amongst identicial setup cars. Its not done on purpose but it does happen.
* Check to make sure you are getting a spare tire & jack.
Invariably we would get a car off the truck missing one or the other or both. The solution would be to play musical chairs withthe cars moving parts around until you inevitably find a dunce buyer who doesn't check his trunk and that guy drives away with no speare or tool kit.
I could go on and on and on but I think you get my drift.
Be aware and if possible bring a friend along who is thinking clearly (not just your wife) and can help withthe process.
Best of luck friend!
- Janq
When I was in HS and college one of my job 'responsibilitis' included at first actually doing PDI's and then I was promoted to managing the PDI staff at a now defunct Subie dealer.
I have seen so many cars go out looking like absolute scat, I could tell stories for hours...but I won't.
Here are some things that i do before driving away;
* Go look at a car different than your own (preferably something from service thats already been sold) to use as a 'baseline' toward comparison to your own car. Check that baseline car both inside & out and pay attention to the details. My mom once bought a car in the summer and drove away with _no windshield wiper blade assemblies_! Three weeks later whenit rained for the first time in ages she goes to activate her wipers and the arms etched huge arcs into her windshield not to mention leaving her stranded in a new car at work (embarassing!). The dealer balked at first but eventually acquiesced and replaced her windshield and wiper assmbly. This happened because I lived in MA at the time and couldn't be with her to pick-up and inspect the car. My point is its the details that will go missing while most folks will check to be sure it has four wheels and an engine only.
* Another scenario I've seen is a buyer drive away in a brand new Hyundai Excel that had two different style rims! The reason being is that the service & parts dept had been playing musical wheels with the service demo that had been damaged by a service writer. as part of his efforts to cover his tracks he had swapped the front wheels of the busted car on to the passenger side of a car in inventory that he picked at random. Well days go by and the car is sold and nobody catches it and the car hits the street with the drivers side having one style (alloys) and the passnger side having steel rims w/covers. The buyer comes back two days later with his wife who was hella mad (and embarrased!) as it was their neighbor that pointed out the unmatched wheels. It was funny as hell, but guess who got the blame for "not noticing"...me and the PDI guys.
* Check to be sure all of the gadgets actually work. That means HVAC for both hot _and_ cold. Iv'e see a new car with a blown blower motor come off the truck that way. Be sure the hi & low beams work as this car has dual ligthing systems of HID (low) & halgoen (high). Be sure the gauges all illuminate evenly and fully.
* Check the car for damage...any kind of damage.
At my old Subie store we had a porter actually drive a car into the structural dividing beam in his bay and scratch a single line along the entire side of the car. The fix as okayed by the sales manager, apply three coats of touch up paint _borrowed_ from three vials of paint secured from parts (and later sold as new!), then we waxed the car and no the buyer was never the wiser...out the door it went. This car should have gone to the body shop but the buyer picked up the car at dusk and was happy as a clam to be in his new white RX. We never heard back about that car.
Vehicles get damaged inside and out all the time. Check interior trim pieces fro tears, snapped off plastic pieces, cracked interior trim along the 'B' pillar (from dragging the vac hose inside the car), look for scratches on flat plastic pieces. One of the G35C's i drove had a _huge_ scratch running diagonally across the face of the Bose radio on the plastic where the station ID and such are displayed. This was a car that was fresh off the truck and had not been driven by anyone other than me and the delivery driver.
* Triple check your paperwork.
When purchasing my Volvo I found that the calculations for state tax were _high_ by 2 % and that the county tax was low by several dollars. The finance officer played like he was stupified from me catching this and claimed "its all done by computer". Yeah, uh huh.
* Check the VIN# of your paperwork agiant your car as I've seen keys accidentally swapped amongst identicial setup cars. Its not done on purpose but it does happen.
* Check to make sure you are getting a spare tire & jack.
Invariably we would get a car off the truck missing one or the other or both. The solution would be to play musical chairs withthe cars moving parts around until you inevitably find a dunce buyer who doesn't check his trunk and that guy drives away with no speare or tool kit.
I could go on and on and on but I think you get my drift.
Be aware and if possible bring a friend along who is thinking clearly (not just your wife) and can help withthe process.
Best of luck friend!
- Janq
Guest
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Wow. You've been a continual source of information. Thank you so much for taking the time to write all that. I'm going to print it out and highlight all the bits to look for. I can't believe the dealer let the car out after being scratched like that. The defunt dealership is well deserved for their actions. I'm sure many do this so I will take the time to CHECK. Two more days to go...
Oh by the way, I was able to swindle the extra Gauge DIN accessory that replaces the clock on the upper dash. I got it for free after much arguing. I plan on putting the headunit up there in the gauge DIN and a LCD screen in the stock double DIN.
Oh by the way, I was able to swindle the extra Gauge DIN accessory that replaces the clock on the upper dash. I got it for free after much arguing. I plan on putting the headunit up there in the gauge DIN and a LCD screen in the stock double DIN.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hey Esso,
I found an advertisement that I hope you find to be as hilarious I did!
<Movie link Removed: Never mind Essogas...it was funny but not worth a concern. - Janq >
I hope your dealership isn't affiliated with these guys. : )
- Janq
I found an advertisement that I hope you find to be as hilarious I did!
<Movie link Removed: Never mind Essogas...it was funny but not worth a concern. - Janq >
I hope your dealership isn't affiliated with these guys. : )
- Janq
Last edited by Janq; Jun 17, 2003 at 01:50 PM.
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