My car has arrived and I am picking it up this saturday . I have read enough other threads where someone picks up the car and then gets home and notices something thats wrong. When I am at the dealer, what do I need to ask them, and what do I need to check on the car?

Thanks

 

Oh man, you're at the point I am really looking forward to, the pickup.

I don't have any "experiece" advice as I haven't done this myself, but I'd say test everything. Radio, A/C, heater (all fan settings), lights (inside and out), windows door locks (both manually and with remote), test cruise control, on board computer, cd player, gas tank latch, wind sheild wipers and washer fluid, heated seats if you gottem, power seats, heated rearview mirror, rear hatch manual latch, and check the paint inch by inch.

I think most of my suggestion is obvious stuff.

 

Hey Congrats on the new car! Why did you have to wait? Was your car being shipped over from Japan? I am asking cause I am waiting for mine to get to my dealership which is being shipped from Japan. They said it shows on their report that they should get it July 23rd but I was hoping it would come in sooner than that. Any ideas? What's your VIN?

-J

 

Your best bet would be to review all the issued TSB's (the thread can be found via a search) and keep them in mind when you inspect the car.

 

Check every panels on the car carefully. My 350 got a bad rear bumper, and it did not line up with the rear 1/4 panels well. After the dealer replace the bumper, it is still not right. They told me to wait for the Nissan rep to take a look end of this month.

 

They origonally told me the car was coming in early August, then a few weeks ago they called and said it would be her July 17th. Then I called on monday 6/30/03 to check on the status and they told me the truck just pulled in. So it ened up being over a month earlier than the 1st date they gave me. But I am not complaining.

 

I definitely plan to check the basics. I was wondering more along the lines of if any of you even got your car home and said "damn, I wish I noticed that" or Damn, I wished I asked him that". I will definently check the body with a fine tooth comb, but its hard to ask questions if you don't know what is supposed to be there. For example I saw a thread where someone just realized that if you hold the door lock button down for 20 seconds, the window opens. I would have never known to ask about that.

 

Check this list out:

http://www.courtesyparts.com/350z/delivery.html

 

Check the odometer! It should have 5 or fewer miles when it rolls off the truck and only a few added on for the pre-delivery inspection drive. If it has, say 10 or more raise hell! Someone has been test-driving and/or joy-riding in your car. Someone who doesn't care how well he treats it. Make him give you stuff! Make him hit his knees! Threaten to refuse the car!

Look carefully for swirl marks in the paint. If it has them, his guy who washed your car probably put them there. Make him pay to have them buffed out.

I would def recommend the optional rear cargo area floor mat and cargo nets. If you didn't already order them, those are perks he can give you to make you happy if you discover things you don't like.

Good luck! Get ready to enjoy an awesome car.

 

i would also suggest checking the windows for grease streaks when you roll them up and down. Its a common problem that the dealers can fix. Also, when I got mine the tire preassure sensors didn't work, not that I really use them, but i paid for them so they should work. So I would advise checking for that as well as everything listed above.

 

Hopefully your salesman will go over all those features that are not obvious. Mine did and it took forever. I just wanted to hit the road. One thing I did not notice since it was dark by the time I got the keys was a chip on one of the rims. Check those carefully and if there is a scratch or chip then ask for another rim. Don't be afraid to be obessive- this isn't a $100,00 car but it's not a $15,000 beater either. Enjoy the ride!

 

That link from ddtread says it all dude.

I picked mine up last Saturday so I've had it for 4 days now. It's almost imposible to notice every little detail. So far all I've noticed on mine is a pen mark on my interior roof like if someone went to point to something and forgot he had a pen in his hand. Besides that I noticed a scratch by the hazzard light button but not that noticable.

My car was supposed to arrive on July 20th, but then the dealers computer showed July 9th and then I got a call on June 28th from the dealer telling me the car was outback getting unloaded off of the truck!!

Apparently there was a hail storm in Tenessee (or somewhere) that damaged mucho new cars that were going to be delivered to dealerships. THey had a hail-damage blowout sale (I heard as something like $10K under MSRP from the dealer). Well, the next batch of cars was then trucked out early.

Have a great weekend getting your new Z!!!!!

my only complaint was fighting off the finance and warranty guy.......

 

hey congrats....
i picked mine up last tuesday. i did the usual checks...... my only suggestion is go during the day. i went at around 7pm so there was still a little daylight left, and i inspected the car, but by the time i finished the paperwork and the salemen showed me all the features it was 9:30pm. be sure to check the car while there is daylight so you can see scratches, dent, dings, etc. i had 7 miles on my z, so it should not have more than that on the odometer. also try to get some freebies from the dealership... i was able to get 2 z baseball caps, wheellocks, and a cargo net.
congrats, again. enjoy the car.

 

Congrats You will love this car

Now...besides what everyone else has said...when you take your test drive with your salesman, DO NOT turn on the stereo...you want to listen to every sound of the car for anything that sounds strange...rattels...squeeks...etc. The salesman will want to talk to you but politely tell him/her that you will talk later...you're listening now

When checking for grease streaks on the windows and the Bose 'Audio Pilot' fix (if you have the Touring), let the dealer know that you are aware of the TSBs...always good for them to know that they are dealing with an educated buyer You might also ask what they are doing about the front tire feathering problem...that will get their attention!

Don't forget to bring a camera...you'll want pics of you picking up your new baby

One last thing...I hope you told them NOT to drill holes in your front bumper

Enjoy

 

You've received a lot of good advice above, but here's the bottom line as I see it.

The main things that you want to check when you pick up the car are things that might be wrong that - how can I say this - they could blame on you later after you've taken it home. For example, check the following:

No dents, dings, irregularities in the metal at all.
No marks in paint at all.
No wheels scratched against the curb.
No scuffs under the nose piece from getting too close to a curb.
Trunk tools and spare tire are actually in the trunk.
No marks on bumpers.
Don't let them drill holes in the front bumper for a license plate (unless you want them to).
Door sill plate not scuffed/scratched.
Inside panels not messed up.
If you're getting tint, make sure the tinter hasn't damaged anything.
Full tank of gas.
Two (black) keys with one remote each; one valet key (red).
Oh, yeah. Make sure you get an owner's manual.

Everything else is covered by warranty and can be rectified later: CD player doesn't work, they'll fix it; turn signal doesn't work, they'll fix it; guage doesn't work, they'll fix it; panel doesn't line up, they'll fix it. But, if you brought it back for one of the items I mentioned above, they could say that you caused the damage, or you lost the second key, or someone must have backed into your bumper, etc.

Mainly look for damage now; they can fix warranty stuff, even if discovered later, at a more convenient time.

Finally, be careful driving. It sits low so don't pull up too close to a curb - front / back / or on either side!

WayneTN

 

Thanks for all of the advise!!!!!!
I will be there on 10am this saturday to pick it, and I will be sure to check all the things you guys suggested.
I can't wait!!!! Only 46.5 hours to go.

 

Don't let them wash it. Most places use an automatic car wash, and that's where you get your scratches / swirl marks from. You wash it, you wax / zaino it, you be lots happier.

 

I got one suggestion for ou. Do a search on clear bra on this website. Read up on it and decide if you like it or not. Your paint is going to chip so if you like it, get it install right away so your paint is still perfect. 1000 miles later might mean damaged paint.

some people love and others hate clear bras. To me, the film by 3m is fine, just make sure you get a certified installer and it will be perfect. Window tinters cannot do it right.

I am VERY picky. I drove to see another members car to make sure i liked it. I did, then found a certified installer. They are listed on the web, do some searching. Mine is perfect.

Good luck. Jeff

 

Did you get it? What do you think?

 

He's probably out driving!!!