I am picking up my car (5AT/Navi) in the next week or so, and I wanted some help for you guys. I have read (albeit briefly) the comprehensive list of early build problems thread and have appreciated what you have written.

Basically, I would like to have a succinct, ordered list in hand of things I need to look for/check out when I go pick up the car.

Like:

1. Check steering wheel to see if it is not straight.
2. Blast stereo and see if rear deck shakes excessively.
3. Look at left hand side of glove box and see if it is loose/rattles.
4. Look at rear deck to see if uneven (higher on driver side)
5. Look for bubbled paint on gas door, rear deck (or wherever this commonly happens)


etc. etc.


Can you owners compile and ordered list (MOST IMPORTANT AT THE TOP) of things you would recommend, from your personal experience, that I should not leave the dealership without 1. looking at and 2. having them fix.




ALSO...



If I want to test drive the car before signing on the dotted line, what would that list be like?

My guess would be something like:

1. Get quickly on highway at observe for flat-spotting in first 5 minutes or few miles.
2. Drive at 50-60, and check for vibration.
3. Listen for rattle in lower steering column (?)


What else? What are the most important things to check according to you guys?




If I could get two top-ten ordered list (one for checking out the car, and one for while in motion) from you guys, I would be MOST appreciative.

THANKS IN ADVANCE !!!!!

 

I think you are worrying too much. I took the list with me and checked everything expecting to find at least a few probelms. Couldn't find one problem on the list that matched my car and still no problems.

All of these things should have been checked by the dealer and at the factory level. If any of them slip through you are fully coveed by the waranty.

 

Worrying too much? I am not sure what you are talking about. Everything I mentioned came from owners, as they mentioned themselves in the early build problems thread.

Obviously, they did "slip" through.

 

Fully agreed -- any information in this thread will help me out too. Check the map compartment area -- I hear that there's some rattles there occasionally.

 

What I meant was check everything obvious of course, but you sound like you are expecting a huge number of problems. All I was saying is not everyone is experiencing all of these problems. Thats not to say that something isn't going to happen eventually but thats where a good dealership comes into play. Also some of the problems I read about are "sometime" problems like lights flashing and memory loss, which would be difficult to duplicate in a delivery inspection.

In my opinion the most important things to check in a delivery inspection are the fit and finish and any extras you ordered have been installed properly. The mechanical and electronic stuff is very difficult to check in such a short time and if its really obvious your dealer is at fault, after all what are you paying him the pre-inspection for?

 

I would check for the 50mph vibration and scratches.

As a previous poster said, I don't think any of these problems are pervasive, so don't be shocked if you find none of the problems on this list.

It's human nature: people will be vocal about problems and silent when there are none. Hence you are seeing TL issues from a pretty one-sided perspective.

Good luck with your new TL.