Ever taken delivery of new vehicle in rain?

This may sound like a dumb question but has anyone ever picked up a new car on rainy day? I have not. We are supposed to have rain next week when my ORP arrives. I don’t think my dealer has provisions for that but not sure. Any advice on how to inspect 4 Runner, look it over real well and get familiar with it if raining ?

 

They should be able to pull it into a vehicle maintenance bay?

 

The service Dept is across the street but I hope they have something similar at the sales location. I may drop by tomorrow and talk with Sales Mgr about their delivery process. Additionally, I want to verify all the Technology stuff works, the Toyota Safety Sense stuff, sensors, alarms etc. My 2016 Tacoma was fairly simple compare to the standard TSS stuff. I don’t know how any of it works. Some of the sales staff looks so young, I can’t imagine them being too thorough. My sale was negotiated directly with the Sales Mgr. So he is likely to assign someone to work with me. Hopefully he picks someone knowledgeable.

 

Do they have a delivery bay? They did where I bought my Taco!

 

That’s nice. I’m not sure about delivery bay. I’ll ask tomorrow. When I got my Taco the delivery was outside at the same dealer.

 

Don't pickup in inclement weather or poor lightening.

Beside you need to test drive twice early morning and broad Sunlight condition.

 

Why drive drive twice? Check for rattles under Warmer conditions?

 

Congratulations on your new ORP! You are right about the possibility of the sales staff not knowing their stuff (although I think their age is irrelevant in this case.) They will all know how to pair your phone, but it’s hit or miss after that.

I recommend you download PDFs of the manuals. You should download:
Toyota 2023 4Runner Owner's Manual
Toyota 2023 4Runner Navigation and Multimedia System Owner's Manual
Toyota 2023 4Runner Warranty and Maintenance Guide

You have a few days to familiarize yourself with the vehicle before you pick it up. At the very least, having skimmed through the manual will help you know the right questions to ask. I have my manuals downloaded to my phone so the printed manuals don’t have to take up precious space in my glove box. Another benefit is that the PDFs are searchable.

When I picked up my ORP, the tires were at 50 psi instead of 32, and the parking brake had never been adjusted and wouldn’t hold the vehicle on a hill.

 

Did you have the service department adjust the parking brake BEFORE you took delivery? I’m a little anxious about a situation like that. I really don’t want my brand new vehicle needing to go thru service Dept before taking delivery. But it would be irritating to not have a functional parking brake. I wonder how a 4 Runner leaves the factory like that? Seems like an initial quality issue.

 

Isn’t “accepting delivery” an actual legal thing? As in, it’s the final consummation of the deal (legally, not biblically lol). It’s probably not as formal as that for cars since they’ve have control of the fine print. But regardless, accepting delivery is an important point in a large transaction for complicated things. Taking advantage of this step is worth it (legally enforceable or not), since they’ll feel more pressure to resolve legitimate problems if they are the ones holding the bag.

If you say can’t accept delivery until x, y, and z issues are resolved, i could see them responding a few ways. They cantake issue with it and minimize any issues you find, they can correct it on the spot if it’s a quick fix, or they can say “sure, I’ll make an appointment for you with the service dept and they’ll take care of you” and get you to sign, and take the vehicle. If you take that last option, you’d be giving up any leverage you have and just join the ranks of “warrantee” service appts, and the usual “could not replicate” or “normal functioning, all trucks do that” responses. You might have a headache free resolution, but that would be because they genuinely
care about their integrity and customer satisfaction. Temper your expectations lol.

Ideally, Big things should be checked before you agreed to buy the vehicle, on the test drive. Things like needle bearing noise (if you’re lucky enough to catch it), or a loose parking brake, other mechanical noises etc. They’re pretty rare, but if you catch something you can tell them up front that you’ll accept delivery when those issues are resolved, and have that written in the contract. Or if you find big issues you can pass on the deal, or drive another vehicle on the lot.

If you do end up noticing something on the actual day, it’s still worth mentioning and saying they need to resolve it before you take it. But if you dont have the option to wait, it will be a service dept appt.

I wish I had noticed the parking brake when I picked mine up, but that’s how it is. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s actually an issue until you start using it every day.

 

Your car will always have been through the service department before you take delivery, probably both at the port and at the dealer. There’s a delivery check list that is supposed to be gone through before delivery. Perhaps when you talk to the sales manager you should ask him to put his best man on the delivery checklist so that nothing falls through the cracks and you don’t have to come back.

 

I appreciate your thorough response. I placed a deposit on a new (in transportation) 4 Runner so it is “pre-sold” to me. As such I have not had any opportunity to check anything. I think I would adjust the parking brake myself and take the new 4 Runner to avoid delay and bypass the Service Dept for warranty work. Now if I hear what sounds like the needle bearing issue on the test drive for a new 4 Runner, I would have a problem. Under that scenario I would reject the vehicle and see if my deposit would apply to another similar 4 Runner. The delivery process can be stressful. My 2016 Tacoma , made in San Antonio, went great! I hope for the same from a Japan made 4 Runner. If the Sales manager would not transfer my deposit to another 4 Runner, or refund it, I would probably discuss with the General Mgr. I hope that doesn’t happen. I don’t plan on changing the suspension on it but have heard of a new vehicle with the needle bearing problem and that would be a buzz kill for a new car. Hope that doesn’t happen. If I were test driving a used 4 Runner the test drive is a great time to decide if you want the car. But when going the “pre-sold” route we are really risking the deposit potentially. I guess it depends on the dealer. They are so hard to get I can’t imagine not getting the deposit back. I have heard of people changing their mind once a pre-sold arrives. I wonder why someone would do that unless they had a problem with the vehicle? I guess their financial situation could have changed or they decided they really didn’t want a 4 Runner after all.

 

I think “accepting the deal” as you say is different from accepting the car “as is.” Rather, it means that you now own the car and you can’t return it and get a refund based on a cooling-off period or whatever. If there are issues with a new car I’m pretty sure the dealer is obligated to fix them.

 

Captain Spalding, was your new ORP good on delivery? Any issues requiring service Dept before signing the papers? Was initial quality good? Congrats on the 2022 4 Runner BTW.

 

Just the tire pressure and the emergency brake. Everything else was perfect.

And don’t worry about your deposit. They can’t obligate you to buy a car sight-unseen.

 

I would simply wait for a dry day. You have a a deposit obviously and it’s yours. I would just wait until you have a dry day or half day at least. At the very least ask them to keep it inside for a full inspection

 

The hazards of joining a forum prior to taking ownership of a vehicle...it sounds like you've discovered potential "problem" areas that could possibly happen, and that's got you concerned, probably for no reason, really. Like the needle bearing.

 

The intermittent groaning/spinning of the front differential/Bushing manifests in cold weather.
But runs smoothly in warm weathers

 

Well just calling for rain. Got me thinking though, never picked up new vehicle in rain. Hopefully they have a dry area for new car delivery. I’ll drop by tomorrow. I am excited to finally get it. Would be better on dry day.

 

As a former stealership detailer.....never take delivery in the rain. Lol.

But these guys are right in that you will be able to ask for delivery on the covered service drive or maybe a shop bay. Once you take delivery, that's the final step so definitely look it over somewhere before you shake a hand and get keys. At least that gives you a chance to get an appt or any immediate issues worked out then.

 

Dont worry about it, you’re over thinking it. I bought my PRO w/out me inspecting and took delievery undriven. Walked in, sign paper and drove home.

Once papers are signed, you can always ask to drive it home another day.

 

PC836, I may be overthinking it. However, if you were driving it home AND you noticed a driveline issue needing to replace the front differential (for example) would you wish you had known that before signing the papers? It should be rare, but it is possible. If I am spending $49,000, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to not want to experience that. Again, my Tacoma was perfect in 2016. I think the 4 Runner should be as well.

 

I have never not chosen which day I wanted to take delivery of a vehicle. One of those vehicles, I took delivery 3 weeks later. The dealer isn't going to start charging you rent or give your car away (As long as it is within a reasonable amount of time.) The third prong to a legal contract is "consideration," so don't give them the money and sign the papers until you are comfortable with what you are getting. If that means taking it for a ride on a dry day then so be it.

 

Visited my dealer today. They do have 2 bays in the sales area for dry delivery. After they detail it that’s where he said my 4 Runner would be if inclement weather. They said the PDI is done at Port. There was a truck at dealer with some new cars today. None were covered with plastic? I thought the paint was protected in shipping? Maybe only on the actual ship from Japan? Maybe not at all? When I bought a Corvette in 2006, it had white plastic film over entire car.

 

I didn't even test drive my 2020. I had a 2016 and knew what I wanted.

 

I thought PDI was done at dealer. Mine was shipped to Michigan dealer with plastic on it. My buddy who was at my dealer saw my unit get taken off truck and sent me this pic back in 2021. Plastic on hood and wheels.

I had some residue taken off paint from plastic that they did not notice but no big deal. I was fortunate but picked it up on dry day. I had them keep it locked up inside too to avoid prowling eyes since there were not many 4Rs available

 

Yes, I had seen a pic like that before? There were NO 4 Runners on their truck today? Maybe it’s just a 4 Runner thing from Japan shipping? I assume the Port is in Florida for SE distributor? Maybe they remove plastic at Port if trucked less than 1000 miles? I have no idea.

 

Good point could be different protocols form different locations. Mine came out of California or Portland I think to MI via rail car to Chicago to Detroit.

From what I read that SE Florida distribution center does a lot near Jacksonville. They offer that XP package with the trd wheels and pro grill etal and what else they other than charge more money I have no idea.

When I watched Toyota Jeff videos and he shows the window stickers I see needless and dumb markups from SE Toyota regional. He is great for explanations for sure but it’s sad you guys have those markups

 

Sometimes it's a roll of the dice on a new vehicle. We flew from Colorado to Tennessee in Dec 2022 - raining and some thunderstorms. Delivery bay was dry, tried to absorb what they tried to show (operationally), walk around, look at everything, open everything, cross your fingers before you do final papers and drive off. Our real test was the 1100 mile drive home through the pretty constant rain plus heavy downpours on secondary and main highways, all the while learning how things work in the vehicle, how it drives and feels, generally fun because the trip went well and finally saw sunlight halfway across Missouri the second day. Not a hitch all the way or since then (15K miles).

 

I took delivery of my current 2019 in the showroom, then drove out of the showroom and into a storm. So my first drive was in a storm, since I never test-drove one before buying this one.