What are the precautions for picking up a new car?

[MacLena]

Precautions for picking up a new car: 1. Park the vehicle in an outdoor area with sufficient light, inspect the body paint surface to ensure there are no scratches or wear, check if the paint is uniform, and observe if the paint appears translucent under sunlight reflection; 2. Open the car door, locate the vehicle identification plate near the driver's side door or B-pillar, and verify the relevant information on the plate; 3. Open the engine compartment, check if it is clean without dirt or dust accumulation, and ensure that engine oil and other fluids are at adequate levels; 4. Manually test the smooth operation of door opening and closing, check if windows can be raised and lowered normally, detect any strong odors inside the cabin, verify air conditioning cooling functionality, test wiper operation, and confirm all lights function properly; 5. Start the engine to assess if the idle speed is stable, check for noticeable noise inside the cabin, and observe if the steering wheel vibrates significantly; 6. Verify all necessary vehicle documents are complete, including the purchase invoice, certificate of conformity, vehicle type approval certificate, vehicle registration certificate, warranty certificate, owner's manual, and new vehicle delivery checklist.

[DelClaire]

Last time I picked up my car, I was extra cautious. I walked around the vehicle several times, using my phone's flashlight to carefully inspect the paint for any scratches or color discrepancies, especially on the bumper and other areas prone to bumps. I opened the doors to test all the buttons, checked if the windows rolled up and down smoothly, and tested the sound system and air conditioning at all levels. I even got down to inspect the undercarriage for any transport-related scrapes and pulled out the dipstick in the engine bay to confirm the oil level. On the way to the gas station, I paid special attention to the brake feel and steering wheel play. Finally, I verified the VIN and all paperwork to ensure everything was complete, making sure the invoice amount matched the configuration sheet before signing.

[OJonathan]

You must bring a car-savvy friend when picking up your new car—I learned this the hard way. He had me sit in the driver's seat first to power on and check the dashboard warning lights, then listen for engine smoothness after starting. He crawled under the car to inspect exhaust pipe rust and manually checked all four tires and rims for damage. Special attention was given to the onboard tools, spare tire, and emergency equipment like the warning triangle. Any odometer reading over 30km required explanation. Every electronic device was tested, even the cigarette lighter charger. Before leaving, he made the salesperson redo the car wash—water droplets reveal paint flaws better.

[BraxtonMarie]

Put on your reading glasses and take your time! Start inspecting from the roof panel by panel. Test the folding function of both side mirrors three times repeatedly. Pull the seatbelt to its full length to check the retraction speed – the child lock switch test is particularly important. Lift the trunk mat to check for water accumulation in the spare tire well and verify all included tools are present. After starting the engine, turn the AC to maximum fan speed to detect any unusual odors. Test for steering anomalies by turning the wheel to full lock. Adjust all seats to their extreme positions while listening for motor sounds. Use a business card to trace around the windshield gaps checking sealing integrity. Finally, confirm the free first-service voucher and user manual are properly packed in the document bag.

[Carol]

Don't just get excited and take photos, first record a video walking around the car as evidence. Remove the transport film by hand to avoid covering flaws. Pay attention to whether the door seal strips are even and if the production dates on the corners of the car windows match. Check under the floor mats for any water stains, and test the insertion and removal force of the charger in the cigarette lighter. After starting the engine, let it idle for five minutes to observe fluctuations in the tachometer, and press the accelerator to listen for any abnormal noises in the engine compartment. Test the switching between high and low beams, and check if the hazard lights flash at a normal rhythm. The temporary license plate should be clipped to the lower right corner of the front windshield, and the original insurance policy should be placed in a separate document bag. Finally, test the brakes by intentionally accelerating and then braking hard to check if the ABS engages.

[DeBethany]

The car pickup process may seem simple, but there's a lot to it. I prefer printing out a checklist and ticking off items one by one: exterior paint inspection covers eight areas including the hood and doors; interior inspection focuses on whether the dashboard gaps are even; the lighting system requires testing all lights including fog lights and reverse lights; all four wheel hub covers must be intact. The engine's cold start state provides the most accurate sound check - valve abnormalities are harder to detect after warming up. Remember to open the fuel cap to check the seal's elasticity and adjust the windshield washer spray angle. Finally, verify that the PDI inspection sheet is signed and stamped, and double-check the first maintenance date in the service manual.