How "new" is a new car.?

Question

I've bought a new car. I live in Northern Ireland and the car is being delivered from England in three weeks time. I have not bought it from a dealer as such - it is a company that does hire purchase, personal loan, personal contract hire etc.

My question is what kind of condition can I expect car to be in. Any miles at all on the clock i.e. it obviously has to be driven onto transporter, if so how many miles on the clock is acceptable? Will the plastic wrapping be still on the seats?

You can probably tell I've never bought a new car before.

Anything else you can suggest I should check for?

Thanks

Answer 1

Up to 20 miles is normally OK. there shold be protecting tape at various places on the bodywork, the seats shoudl definately be covered and paper in the footwells. it depends if they have done the prep at your house or at the distribution place. Somecars arrive needing a polish to get protective wax off, the delviery man should do this, it should be sparkling clean when you get it.



Check the body lines, look askance to see for any dents or ripples. The tyres are a good indication if its been driven on the road, the tread area should not be scrubbed at all.



My dad used to work for vauxhalls, cars used to sit on the airport near ellesmere port for 6 months, half were rusty before they reached the showroom !



I guess things might have improved with regard to rust but I would still bet its months old.

Answer 2

I waited until I was 40 years old to purchase my first car then 51 years old for my second car. I received both in as new condition #1 with 43 miles on it and second car with only 83 miles. I told the dealership that I would clean the cars. I am very picky about rubbing dirt into the paintwork. You will really like driving a new purchase. Hope you get what you wanted, and did not scrimp when it came to options. Fully loaded cars sell better ten years from now if all the features still work. Don't let the thrill of the new car cloud your mind. Bring along the paper work and make sure the car has every feature you agreed to. Correct wheels tyres and interior trim options, seat heater? radio? Auto Climate control, Blue tooth hands free phone etc.. If the car is not what you agreed to turn it back right there. Buying options financed over the time of the loan is much cheaper than installing the custom rims and satellite radio later.

Answer 3

Your car should arrive with low (but reasonable) mileage on it as you need to take into account it may have been driven before arriving with you. However, if I was having a brand new car delivered I would be very unhappy if it had more than 50 or so miles on the clock (don't forget it may have been given a 'test drive' to check everything is working). The lowest mileage on a new car I've had has been 7 miles. It probably won't arrive with plastic wrapping (that's how it arrives at the dealer before they send it to you) but it should be spotless and smell nice and clean. Give it a thorough check over when you pick it up/it's delivered and if you are unhappy in any way contact the seller.

Answer 4

I once looked in the cars that had just come straight off the transport truck from the factory in Detroit, MI (US) and all of the cars had between 3-12 miles on them. The dealer told me that they never get them with any more miles than that on them from the factory. Then he went on to say that dealerships consider a car "new" as any car with less than 100 miles on it as this can be considered "test" miles. And that in terms of "blue book" value a car starts to depreciate in value the moment it is driven off the lot by a new owner.



On these cars from the factory there was no plastic on the seats but there was plastic on the bottom half of the doors--I guess to protect the door panels from shoe scuffs--and paper matts in the floorboard.



Congrats on the new car! Hope you enjoy it. Drive carefully and be safe.

Answer 5

The car should have less than 300 miles on. The car should have a pre-deliver check (which is mainly visual look for scratches etc) the plastic wrapping may be removed at this point.



You should also check for scratches, dent, etc. As you will be able to refuse the car there and then. If you drive the car off the forcourt and discover a dent it will be harder to prove that the car originally came with it.

Answer 6

it shouldnt have very many (under 20) miles on it if it is coming off the transporter to the dealer. Check for scratches, dents, dings, etc and if there are any then do not buy it. It shouldnt have anything at all wrong with it. The dealer should remove the plastic on the seats, wash the car, etc. If you are not 100% happy with the new vehicle....... do not buy it. Good luck to you!!

Answer 7

A car is no longer new as soon as it has more than acceptable delivery mileage on the clock. Shouldn't be more than 20 miles - normally about 12.

Answer 8

6 to 10 to a mx of 20 miles on odometer - when it has more negotiate a discount or refuse to accept a "not-so-new" car.

Answer 9

It's from a Hire Firm, it will be at LEAST 6 months old and have in EXCESS of 50,000 miles on the clock. The engine will be close to exploding. SERIOUSLY