96redLT4

Ok. My new car is not here yet. I mean come on, I only ordered it in April, but I am getting a little antsy. I thought I would pick the collective brains here to start a list on what to look for and ask about when picking up a brand new car. My dealer is about 80 miles from me so I would like to not forget the essentials. The delivery and payment process together with the fun of meeting all the dealership/finance personnel have some potential for angst I think.

Any thoughts on what to look for re damage in the shipping process? Scratches on the front lip, nicks on the wheel rims., scuffs on the leather. What else?

How about the comfort features;
-working the e brake
-interfacing my I phone w the Bluetooth
-programming the garage door opener

What else?? Thanks in advance for your ideas
Jim

drcollie

I'd recommend you get a prescription for Xanax.

LexVan

Smile and say 'no thank you' to all the add on stuff they'll want to sell you.

Draft a very simple letter stating the car (include VIN) has not been repair for any damage during the transportation and dealership pre delivery preparation process. Sign it and date it, and ask a senior manager to also sign it. The thought process here is, most state laws only require this full disclosure IF ASKED. Others vary on the actual dollar amount of repairs. I like forcing their hand and keep the document with the car's history file.

Your salesperson should review the car's major features with you, example, sync your smart phone. This could be 10 minutes. Could be an hour. Depends how competent and thorough your guy is.

THPorsche

ask them for a free pair of clear side markers (ask for the LED type first)

Quadcammer

And if they decline to sign it?

LexVan

Walk.

Or.

Renegotiate the purchase.

heartcolorgrey

OP you ordered a 991 911 and haven't taken delivery yet?
I ordered my C4GTS in late august, and I'm taking delivery in november....

Did you order special options that were manuf. delayed?

Also, in terms of DMG, dont be so critical. Of course look for major damages (dent, ding, orange peel paint, rim chips, etc). Dont nitpick and ruin the experience of new car delivery for yourself though.

Larry Cable

when I took ED of my GTS, we put the front plate on it () they took a picture of me with the car, I got in and drove it out of the delivery center and onto the autobahn... and pointed it northwards towards the Nurburgring

checklist complete...

LexVan

Email dealership, and tell them:

No front plate.
No dealership stickers or badges.

LexVan

Don't ask for free stuff. Who does this, really? Strange.

If they start giving you a bunch of free stuff, this is clue #17 that you overpaid for the car.

Next time negotiate a better deal, and ask for free stuff before order is confirmed and accepted.

Porsche_nuts

+1

Do Porsche dealers ever stick dealership badges on cars or do they just advertise with plate frames? BTW - those plate frames with dealer names on it is the first thing to come off.

LexVan

I've seen both. For example, a large Porsche dealership here is Motor Werks. They put a gawd awful round stick on crest in the back with an "MW". NFW Jose'!

mathfuzzy

Jim - from whom are you buying?

If you're going south to Porsche of Santa Barbara, my experience with the finance manager was great. I gave her my now standard preface when we met - that I was going to decline everything she was about to offer to sell me - so we skipped the whole waste of time. It was nice. Printing and signing took all of 10 minutes.

With respect to the checklist, I think it's a walk around the car, activate satellite radio if that hasn't already been done, pair your phone since that takes two minutes, and you're out of there.

Are you on a boat yet?

Gofishracing

AGREED !
No front plate.
No dealership stickers or badges.

sracer

I hate the dealership advertising. Got a new F150- it had the dealership name in 4 places...for about an hour until I got home and removed it all.