First things you do when you get a new car?

[Diabolik]

Evening all,

I know there are some obvious answers like "DRIVE IT!", but I was just thinking about the first things I am going to do with my car once I get to it. No doubt I'll want to give it a personal valet inside and out and tidy up any bits that need doing. Might even try and take it for a once over/service if I get the chance. The most annoying thing is a family member is going to collect the car for me, so it's going to be sitting at home waiting for me to get back from university to get to it (I've already had a viewing and test drive).

For anyone who happens to remember, I had a topic discussing a Mk2 Golf GTI or 106 GTI - in the end the Golf seller I had 'set my sights on'(foolishly) ended up pissing me off, so I went for the 106 - decided to not give a bugger about the 'image' and just enjoy the smiles per miles it will hopefully give me....

So, any 'rituals' or such, that you always feel neccessary to give your new cars?

[aidandavies]

Move the seat.

[y282]

hand wash it. you'll notice a lot of stuff, some good, some bad.

[jsg612]

Mine is drive home from the dealership and take some good quality photos.

[aclivity]

It's been a little while but I can recall that I usually:

1) Used too much force to shut the door then worried about breaking something.
2) Kerbed it during it's first outing.
3) Forgot to lock it when parked somewhere.

[LukeSi]

Wonder why the same week we have a new car they are putting fresh tarmac on the roads. Has happened on the last two cars we had. Just under 12 months apart.

[shino]

Take the dealers advertising stickers out of it. Im not paying that much for a car & then giving them free advertising when they cant even put fuel in it !

[Pork]

y282 said:

hand wash it. you'll notice a lot of stuff, some good, some bad.

Same.

And then sit and play with all the buttons, controls, stereo/nav/tv and whatever other bits it might have.

THEN, and here's a top tip, if the car has electric seats, set everything up to be Mem1 for me, then use another of the Mem settings to have exactly the same position but with the mirrors foleded right down for parking near kerbs. Save the alloys.

Then drive it.

[shino]

Take the dealers stickers off it. Im not paying that much for a car & giving them free advertising, especially when they cant even put any fuel in it !!

[thinfourth2]

Fix it normally

[Dog Star]

shino said:

Take the dealers advertising stickers out of it. Im not paying that much for a car & then giving them free advertising when they cant even put fuel in it !

+1

[boredofmyoldname]

thinfourth2 said:

Fix it normally

I seem to have bought a car whose bulbs (inside and out) have just reached or are nearing their end.

[Flog123]

Buy a haynes manual for it.

[wackojacko]

y282 said:

hand wash it. you'll notice a lot of stuff, some good, some bad.

+1

and then Drive Drive and Drive it some more

[y282]

often do oil, filter, fuel filter change too.

[WeirdNeville]

Go through the service history with a fine toothed comb.
Buy 4 matching tyres.
Service it.
Check/replace the brakes.
Then and only then do I start driving it a bit harder.

[The Tea Boy]

See how fast it goes in each gear, time some 0_60's to see if it gets anywhere near book time, then spend time working out how to make it faster

Matt

[CampDavid]

Depends on the car. Most of mine come from auction so I get to work spending the money saved on getting things just right.

When the V5 comes through I call the previous owner to see if I can glean any extra information. Usually a good move. The Megane appeared to have no service history when I bought it (low owners and immaculate condition imply that it has been serviced) so I asked if they'd kept it up to date, turns out it has a full main dealer history from new which the dealer will happily supply. Handy.

[Jasandjules]

Usually pick them up on a Saturday, then drive it all day Saturday, maybe a little of Sunday morning too. Then Sunday afternoon she gets a wash and a wax and hoover and the usual interior cleaning up (leather seats get treated etc).

[mrtwisty]

ramps-jack-axle stands-torch-wire brush-prodding device.