Thread: How many Kms should a "new" car have?

As someone who has never bought a new car and in 47 years of car ownership has only ever bought four second hand sedans and three second hand 4WDs, I find this obsession with the number of kms on the odometer of a new car mildly amusing.

Within a day or so, the vehicle will likely have more kms on the odometer than the tiny number that seem to worry some people so much.

I can understand that someone might be mildly miffed if their new vehicle had damage, but what difference does it make whether the odometer has 1 km or 100kms? Even 100kms represents only about 1/4000th or about 0.00025% of the life of the vehicle. That doesn't seem like a big deal.

Perhaps I just don't understand the emotional attachment new car owners have to their vehicle or the importance they place on being the person who put the first few kms on the odometer.

Probably has to do with if people are paying top price for new, they want it as described i.e. new. Not possibly driven by some idiot who has trashed the gearbox and been off-road.

I've never bought new either but totally understand why people get ****ed off with mileage on a 'new' vehicle.

When you buy second hand you expect to have to fix up issues left over from the previous owner. When you are paying a premium for a new vehicle you expect not to have to have prior damaged caused by other drivers repaired.

This shot was taken literally on the showroom floor before I took delivery. I don't expect damage and rust on a new vehicle. I refused up accept it until they agreed to replace it and fix the other problems. I'm still waiting to hear when that will happen.

It may surprise many of you but in all my years in the motor and machinery trades, every employer of mine deliberately never used the word "new" on a sales invoice. The only times and places this occurred was on a pro-forma invoice to a lender during the period of the ill-advised investment allowance for new plant. Some lenders insisted the goods be described as "new". A broker informed me this meant that the lender was going to claim the investment allowance, not the customers who usually leased. The customer was usually not in a position to argue with the lender who had them by the short & curlies.

Originally Posted by JamesB71

Given how much they stuffed me around you would think they would have offered me something as a sweetener. No dice. Take it as it is or leave it. His reason for 40 unexplained kms?

"I cant explain it, it must have been one of the subbies".....

Im drafting a letter to LRA as we speak.

I think you are making a rod for your own back here.
Given what you will most likely do with the car, and what will most likely happen to that car I'd chill a bit.

You can make enemies with the dealer of become quite liked by them. 80klm so what, not good I agree, but over the next 3 years if you get along with the dealer than a relationship in positive ground WILL be worth your while.
Mine had 37klm when I picked it up. Iron filings inside from where they fitted a mod plate, and plenty of rust underneath. Yes I was a little surprised it was not all perfect, but just first world problems really. My first 4x4 outing with less than 500klm on it I flattened my nudge bar and dinted a sill. So a bit of unfortunate stuff from the dealer was trivial.

I'd just take a chill pill. Let them know you are disappointed. Ask the salesman or principal would his wife be happy with what he is asking you to accept. And move on.

I have to agree with Newhue on this one, there were imperfections on my car, but nto as high a km's but within the first 100kms my car was looking pretty 'used' i had 'teething' issues with my dealer service center, but now we get on fine.

if you continue down this road you will have a sour taste about your car, best to hope they replace the parts, and go enjoy your new toy
Leroy

Thanks for the input guys. The dichotomy in points of view is interesting to note. People who only buy second hand cars seem to not care, people who fork out for new seem to agree with me that if you buy something new it should at least start out undamaged.

Re ****ing off the dealer. I have no intention of having a relationship with that dealer. He isnt my closest dealership and they screwed up so much I wouldnt be trusting them anyway. The hatchet job on the protection bar was done in the dealership.... so Im not confident that their work is of acceptable quality and the attitude of the salesman when I pointed it out was not remotely acceptable. When i found the damage while inspecting it in the showroom and asked why it was allowed to be released like that he said "well its not like we get under and inspect them"...

Ill take it to the one in Parramatta for servicing for the warranty period. After that I will be doing it myself like I always have. I plan on this lasting me a long time.....

Im surprised you guys consider damage and corrosion in a new car acceptable because you plan on bashing it up anyway. If its going to be used in the bush and damaged the guy paying 50 grand for it should be the one to do it I reckon.

How much pre-delivery damage would you be willing to shrug off on a brand new vehicle?