Checks When Buying New Car

[John105]

For those in negotiation, Never EVER give them an outrageous "Doc Fee" of 500, 600 or 700 dollars - which is so common now.
It will still likely remain as a line item, but work to get most of it removed from transaction price or moved into the trade value padding

Ours is $477, no other add ons. Custom order with GM. Since they discontinued more than any other dealer and said so up front, I’m ok with it. My dad is the type who even gets registration fees removed. Old school squeezes blood from stones. Didn’t work at Honda, but did at Buick.

 

[John105]

Make sure the vehicle has the engine you paid for. I’d check the suspension too (air ride, magnetic ride control). Maybe this is more pertinent on a domestic vehicle that is highly configurable. Japanese make sure it has the correct trim/packages.

How? I guess window sticker and price on said sticker. Imagine driving home and realizing you got the wrong engine or you have no trailer brake controller

 

[JWC86]

I second the tire pressure adjustment. Factory or port tends to fill it to max side wall which is a BAD practice.

Don't let them fill it with Jakes Cheep-o Pump and Run - go with the salesman for the fill up and dont tip-top it off in the hot weather - the evap canister doesn't like to be flooded.

Test drive again and Check alignment and tire balance at 40 50 and the max speed you will go on the HW. No use going back a week later. If your state has safety/emission inspection, make sure they performed it.

If it is a FORD or GM get it on a lift and make sure nothing is falling off or bolts missing. I have had a front light truck Cab not bolted on, transmission only held in by the starter bolts with fuel line laying on the bellhousing, clutch slave fail as the factory left a barcode label in the reservoir when they filled it, a major exhaust hanger bracket fall off, tire side walls split open from over inflation, tail light fall out on the first bump in the road. List goes on.

Check the finance paperwork if you took out a loan. Make sure you have the correct loss-payee address. It can be different from the Corp. office addr. Double check the VIN on the title app with the stamped number tag.

Enjoy. Remember that new car smell is a toxic outgassing of glue and plasticizers. Open those windows whenever possible and No AC recirc for a couple months.

Enjoy!

BTW what's the vehicle?

2025 Honda Pilot

And yes I’m a paperwork nazis so I always check that well. I can usually find an error.

No loan, so less paperwork there fortunately.

 

[JWC86]

Besides the above, I always try to get prior history like how long it’s been sitting on the dealer’s lot, was it a dealer trade, build date, etc…
Enjoy the new ride!

This one just arrived, actually having the PDI done today.

 

[John105]

I personally might not pick up the vehicle if it’s raining or storming, unless you can inspect it inside. If there are body defects one wouldn’t even be able to tell in the rain. It’s a major purchase, I’ve decided it’s ok to look things over. The Buick was terrible the salesman pressed the clock button repeatedly as it wasn’t progressing fast enough and said he needed to meet his daughter at 3 pm. Class act. Terrible.

 

[SC Maintenance]

All things cosmetic. If it’s in the shade drive to the sun. If sun drive to shade. Check the roof. Cosmetic is not covered by warranty.

Make sure you get all the promised keys.

 

[Pablo]

Listen listen listen

On smooth and bots dots and bumpy roads....LISTEN and report. Don't let any (unusual) sound pass. Press the dealer to not just put it in the record (often times they won't bother)

 

[JohnnyG]

I'd also check the normal places that you stick your hand into. Such as the center console, glovebox, trunk, etc. This will sound odd, but my 2018 MB had a sharp edge on the inside of the center console trim piece. It was a metal chrome part attached to the PIANO BLACK (Uggh) console. It was replaced under warranty, but they had to replace the entire"tunnel" to do it!

 

[fantastic]

Checking the paperwork is as important as checking the vehicle.

A coworker's mother years back thought she had bought a new Camry and learned after the term ended that she had actually leased the car when the dealer called to see how she wanted to finance the remainder.

A dirty trick dealers used to do in the days of desktop calculators was to enter $500 on the machine before you came into the office to go over the financing. That $500 would be included in the final amount financed. Calculators are less common today, but watch for funny business with computer software.

That's awful!
Slimy dealers WILL take advantage of anyone! I've seen it too.

 

[K-Man]

Make sure all manuals that are supposed to come with the car, meaning the owner's manuals, tire warranty flyer, entertainment system info, etc., are actually included. They should be in the glove compartment.

Just as an aside, used-car dealers are notorious for throwing all that stuff away, so the used car never has any owner's manual (etc.). I don't understand why. That package has vital instructions and info.

 

[lovcom]

The first check before buying a new car is to ask oneself:

1. Is the decision an emotional one, or an objective one?
2. Can I purchase it without damaging my retirement?
3. The bank has okayed the loan, but does that mean I can really afford it?
4. Is the car the best in quality, reliability, and economy available?
5. Should I lease a car when I cannot write off the payments?
6. What is so wrong with my current car, that I feel the need to replace it with a new one?

 

[CKN]

So of these posts seemingly are from the Twilight zone................

 

[The Critic]

Make sure all of the interior accessories are there.

Make sure the vehicle doesn’t have any repaired lot/transit damage that you were not aware of.

 

[JWC86]

The first check before buying a new car is to ask oneself:

1. Is the decision an emotional one, or an objective one?
2. Can I purchase it without damaging my retirement?
3. The bank has okayed the loan, but does that mean I can really afford it?
4. Is the car the best in quality, reliability, and economy available?
5. Should I lease a car when I cannot write off the payments?
6. What is so wrong with my current car, that I feel the need to replace it with a new one?

I didn't ask what to ask oneself before buying a car, I asked what to check when picking up a new car.

FWIW I paid cash and have been researching this decision for about 3 years or more. We historically keep our cars for over 10 years.