Hey all

I read a few comments recently from people make a few specific requests from their dealer when buying a new car. I don't mean options to be added to the car, but things like 'don't screw the plates, stick them' or 'don't put your dealer stickers all over the windows' and 'I'll supply my own tax disk holder', blah blah blah.

Is there anything you guys ask for when ordering your new motor?

Cheers

Danny

Dont wash it.

Dont wash it.

Bad experience?

No, just like doing it myself.

Dont wash it.

I've been having this discussion with teh salesman at my dealership, at I'm looking to get the car professionally detailed from new and the one instruction from the guy who'd be doing the work was not to let the dealership wash the car before it gets to him. Reason being that no dealership is going to take the same care about washing a car as detailer would, so there's a high risk of getting micro-scratches and swirls into the finish, meaning that the car could then require full paint correction rather than just a stage-one correction, clay bar treatment and sealant.

I also need to discuss number plates with them, as it looks like the standard ones they use carry Seat branding rather than Skoda. (They used to hold the Seat franchise, so it forms part of their web address, and even my Yeti's order form is on Seat-branded stationery.)

Edited 24 April, 201313 yr by MOCAM

Dont wash it.

Bad experience?

Most use a sponge, pressure wash and Industrial strength truck wash.

As above comments, our two previous new cars have been perfectly fine however I have got a bit "detaily" in my old age.

De badge for me as I like the clean no clutter look.

Not particularly fussy myself. Expect the car to be immaculate naturally and all the things ive negotiated or asked for to be provided to be supplied on handover.

I find the valeting standard of my local dealer absolutely fine, but then i tend to only ever give my cars a good wash and vac now and again; I rarely polish a car only if it really needs it.

I usually just ask to not put a dealer sticker in the back window and also request europlates be put on, dont care how they are attached to the car so long as they are level.

I've been having this discussion with teh salesman at my dealership, at I'm looking to get the car professionally detailed from new and the one instruction from the guy who'd be doing the work was not to let the dealership wash the car before it gets to him.

The big problem with this is if the car does have some transportation damage on it you may well not spot it but once its handed over you've missed your chance to pick up any problems, especially if someone else has worked on the car because the garage will just ask them to prove they didn't damage the car which is impossible to do.

As bad as it sounds IMO its better to get them to do their normal prep, then you can pick up any issues on delivery and then let the detailer handle making it look first class.

The only exception to this is if your dealer will let your detailer do it on their premises before delivery but very few dealers will allow this

I've normally asked them not to put a dealer sticker in the back window. They've normally ignored me.

The big problem with this is if the car does have some transportation damage on it you may well not spot it but once its handed over you've missed your chance to pick up any problems, especially if someone else has worked on the car because the garage will just ask them to prove they didn't damage the car which is impossible to do.

As bad as it sounds IMO its better to get them to do their normal prep, then you can pick up any issues on delivery and then let the detailer handle making it look first class.

The only exception to this is if your dealer will let your detailer do it on their premises before delivery but very few dealers will allow this

You've summed up precisely my own thoughts on the issue. I wanted the work done on the dealer's premises prior to collection, so that any pre-existing issues could be detected and brought to the dealer's attention before the detailer commenced work. However, a full protection detail takes 3-4 days to complete, and the dealership could not accommodate the detailer working at their premises for that length of time (a day would have been OK). There were also logistical issues in terms of securing the detailer's services at a time to coincide with the car's arrival (he's in high demand), so I've ended up telling the dealership to prepare the car as they usually would and I will then get it detailed separately.

I also need to discuss number plates with them, as it looks like the standard ones they use carry Seat branding rather than Skoda.

Resolved this point today - the Seat-branded plate I'd seen on a Yeti in the showroom was evidently and old show-plate, as other cars on the premises have Skoda-branded plates.

Euro plates, please don't put the dealer sticker on the rear window unless they are going to pay me to advertise their garage, and don't bother with the Autoglym Life Shine that my dealer automatically added to the list at a cost of £200 as it's rubbish. (My wife paid to have it on her new Honda Jazz and the water stopped beading after only a few months) . I wax my cars with Zymol and it lasts much longer!

Should be able to see any damage easily enough, its a new car its not going to have tons of dirt and grime on it to cover any bad defects.

If its been on a car transporter it may be covered in grime. More than enough to cover up marks and bad scratches.