Excellent thread. This will definitely help me in selecting car for my Dad. Thanks guys for the information shared.
New Car Pre-Delivery Inspection – An Exhaustive Guide
- Thread Starter 350Z
- Start date
Welcome Imran, somehow I did see the post now. I am sure you must have gotten the car by now, but just to answer the pending questions.
Just a clarification: Is it safe to leave the new car at dealer's stockyard after the TEMP registration?
Many won't give you a chance to do a test drive during PDI. But you can move the vehicle a bit forward and reverse it back as I also got only this much to do during my PDI
Many won't give you a chance to do a test drive during PDI. But you can move the vehicle a bit forward and reverse it back as I also got only this much to do during my PDI
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Thread Starter
#34
Re: HeLLO
Yes. But do remember that once the full payment has been made, liability of the dealer is over. Get it parked in a safe location in the stockyard and cover it if possible. Also take both the keys just to stay assured that the dealer will not use it to offer test drive to other customers.
Drive Safe,
350Z
Yes. But do remember that once the full payment has been made, liability of the dealer is over. Get it parked in a safe location in the stockyard and cover it if possible. Also take both the keys just to stay assured that the dealer will not use it to offer test drive to other customers.
Drive Safe,
350Z
Re: HeLLO
During this period who is responsible for damages? Dealer or We?
During this period who is responsible for damages? Dealer or We?
Thread Starter
#36
Thanks a lot for the info
Hello All,
What should be the allowable cut off till we should not reject the car?
As I have posted here, I rejected the car since I observed paint issue (overpaint?).
I also observed a 1 mm X 1 mm scratch over the rear wheel, should that be also a rejection criteria?
What should be the allowable cut off till we should not reject the car?
As I have posted here, I rejected the car since I observed paint issue (overpaint?).
I also observed a 1 mm X 1 mm scratch over the rear wheel, should that be also a rejection criteria?
Small dents and scratches do happen while transporting cars from the factory to the respective dealers and the dealers promptly fix them prior to delivery. Though it does break the heart to accept a new car that has been touched up here and there on the day of delivery, it shouldn't really be a deal breaker provided there are no signs (visible or otherwise) of a major shunt. In your case, the defects mentioned are nothing very major and could be easily fixed by the dealer. However, in case the dealer could provide an alternative (as he is indeed doing), its always better to go for the better piece out of the two. The SA lied to you obviously because he wanted to move that particular piece. You did the correct thing by asking for another car. Do the PDI thoroughly and accept the car only if you are fully satisfied. Also, do not take anything orally. Ask the dealer to put down everything in writing on his letterhead, even if it be a small issue of repainting an almost invisible scratch on the first service. Better still, take delivery only after all issues, if any, detected by you are rectified. I would consider any one or more of the following issues as reason(s) enough to walk away from the car:
1. Strange noises/rattles/squeals from the body/engine/steering/clutch/brakes etc (may be an accident repaired car).
2. Alignment issues i.e. car pulling to one side (suspension/chassis problem).
3. Electrical problems (accessories not working).
4. Signs of major dent repair (accident damage).
5. Stance of the car seems improper (suspension damage/accident repair)
6. Improperly fitted body panels/inconsistent panel gaps/shutlines (accident damage).
7. High odometer reading (demo car being sold off as new one).
8. Missing pieces of body trim/improperly fitted body trim (accident repair).
Please check your car for all such issues. Take a PDI check list with you (available on another TAI thread). The dealer would always try to woo you into accepting a piece that is lying with him - don't get impressed by the goodies/freebies that he offers with the car and try to keep the 'new-car-buying-enthusiasm-syndrome' under control. Walk off straightaway if you feel suspicious. It's your hard earned money after all.
1. Strange noises/rattles/squeals from the body/engine/steering/clutch/brakes etc (may be an accident repaired car).
2. Alignment issues i.e. car pulling to one side (suspension/chassis problem).
3. Electrical problems (accessories not working).
4. Signs of major dent repair (accident damage).
5. Stance of the car seems improper (suspension damage/accident repair)
6. Improperly fitted body panels/inconsistent panel gaps/shutlines (accident damage).
7. High odometer reading (demo car being sold off as new one).
8. Missing pieces of body trim/improperly fitted body trim (accident repair).
Please check your car for all such issues. Take a PDI check list with you (available on another TAI thread). The dealer would always try to woo you into accepting a piece that is lying with him - don't get impressed by the goodies/freebies that he offers with the car and try to keep the 'new-car-buying-enthusiasm-syndrome' under control. Walk off straightaway if you feel suspicious. It's your hard earned money after all.
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You mean, the one on the window. It has the VIN number. I guess scanning the barcode will give you the details you get from the VIN decoder. Not sure though.
Thread Starter
#41
Excellent post. Very well said.
Sometime ago while taking the delivery of my new car, I was discussing with dealer about warranty void issue if I install certain electrical accessories from outside. He answered that I can safely add them without affecting the warranty. I was surprised and asked him to give me a permission letter for the same on a company letter head. He immediately went to confirm with his boss and returned back to me with a sorry face that what he told was incorrect. So remember that even sales persons can be ignorant. Play safe while buying your new car.
The Automotive India's PDI Checklist is attached with Post #8 of this thread.
Drive Safe,
350Z
Sometime ago while taking the delivery of my new car, I was discussing with dealer about warranty void issue if I install certain electrical accessories from outside. He answered that I can safely add them without affecting the warranty. I was surprised and asked him to give me a permission letter for the same on a company letter head. He immediately went to confirm with his boss and returned back to me with a sorry face that what he told was incorrect. So remember that even sales persons can be ignorant. Play safe while buying your new car.
The Automotive India's PDI Checklist is attached with Post #8 of this thread.
Drive Safe,
350Z
Thanks a lot Sam, that was very helpful and concise.
Yes, I did carry & fill the PDI checklist.
Today's update: We went to see the new car, this time there were no panel gap issues on door, bonnet etc. Also, I located 3 small scratches (about 0.5 mm each) but it was ok. But my wife pointed out that the front speaker (driver side) cover was not fitted correctly, on all other doors it was perfect but here it was bubbled.
When I asked SA if it could be fitted, he said that was difficult and cannot be rectified, when pressed harder, I got to know that the door had to be removed or some sort of major work required. I still tried to see if it was just some fitting problem but looking further seemed the plastic net size was perhaps more than the actual space that was the reason it had bubbled.
Other things noticed:
1) ODO reading (with H) was ok - 18Km
2) Front tyre threads were gone, rear and spare tyre threads intact
3) Tyres read 2311 Goodyear --> probably June 2011
4) Was surprised that VIN number sticker was not present on the window but from the data on TAI I was aware of better locations to look for it (on chassis near front passenger seat, boot) so no issues.
This time around I was ok with the car (even the speaker cover issue) but my wife objected and we left without taking test ride![[frustration]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Frustration.gif "Frustration [frustration]")
Hemant
Yes, I did carry & fill the PDI checklist.
Today's update: We went to see the new car, this time there were no panel gap issues on door, bonnet etc. Also, I located 3 small scratches (about 0.5 mm each) but it was ok. But my wife pointed out that the front speaker (driver side) cover was not fitted correctly, on all other doors it was perfect but here it was bubbled.
When I asked SA if it could be fitted, he said that was difficult and cannot be rectified, when pressed harder, I got to know that the door had to be removed or some sort of major work required. I still tried to see if it was just some fitting problem but looking further seemed the plastic net size was perhaps more than the actual space that was the reason it had bubbled.
Other things noticed:
1) ODO reading (with H) was ok - 18Km
2) Front tyre threads were gone, rear and spare tyre threads intact
3) Tyres read 2311 Goodyear --> probably June 2011
4) Was surprised that VIN number sticker was not present on the window but from the data on TAI I was aware of better locations to look for it (on chassis near front passenger seat, boot) so no issues.
This time around I was ok with the car (even the speaker cover issue) but my wife objected and we left without taking test ride
Hemant
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Thanks a lot Sam, that was very helpful and concise.
Yes, I did carry & fill the PDI checklist.
Today's update: We went to see the new car, this time there were no panel gap issues on door, bonnet etc. Also, I located 3 small scratches (about 0.5 mm each) but it was ok. But my wife pointed out that the front speaker (driver side) cover was not fitted correctly, on all other doors it was perfect but here it was bubbled.
When I asked SA if it could be fitted, he said that was difficult and cannot be rectified, when pressed harder, I got to know that the door had to be removed or some sort of major work required. I still tried to see if it was just some fitting problem but looking further seemed the plastic net size was perhaps more than the actual space that was the reason it had bubbled.
Other things noticed:
1) ODO reading (with H) was ok - 18Km
2) Front tyre threads were gone, rear and spare tyre threads intact
3) Tyres read 2311 Goodyear --> probably June 2011
This time around I was ok with the car (even the speaker cover issue) but my wife objected and we left without taking test ride
Hemant
Yes, I did carry & fill the PDI checklist.
Today's update: We went to see the new car, this time there were no panel gap issues on door, bonnet etc. Also, I located 3 small scratches (about 0.5 mm each) but it was ok. But my wife pointed out that the front speaker (driver side) cover was not fitted correctly, on all other doors it was perfect but here it was bubbled.
When I asked SA if it could be fitted, he said that was difficult and cannot be rectified, when pressed harder, I got to know that the door had to be removed or some sort of major work required. I still tried to see if it was just some fitting problem but looking further seemed the plastic net size was perhaps more than the actual space that was the reason it had bubbled.
Other things noticed:
1) ODO reading (with H) was ok - 18Km
2) Front tyre threads were gone, rear and spare tyre threads intact
3) Tyres read 2311 Goodyear --> probably June 2011
This time around I was ok with the car (even the speaker cover issue) but my wife objected and we left without taking test ride
Hemant
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Seven years back
iwas ignorant and didnt look for a PDI and result
that TML has fitted electric motorised headlights in my Base variant, and i just cannot adjust the headlights.
So this time i have done two rounds of general PDI and will be going again on saturday to do a detailed PDI with the checklist. I have obsreved few issues like a bit loose rear left tyre wheel arch, a deep scratch on left rear door roub rail of 1.5mm by 1mm, interiros has a bit of dust due to almost 8-9 months in stockyard.
so it is better to be pro active...
