I'm curious how others' deliveries have been lately and what people think about mine. Has anyone else experienced something like this? Maybe I'm too picky? Or was I just unlucky?
I was pressured to sign paperwork and hand over my cheque before they would let me even go over to look at the vehicle. I asked at least twice and was told no (once by my DES and once by some guy that I think was the Delivery Manager). The (assumed) Delivery Manager was ingratiating, lingering on and off, and trying to butter me up periodically with comments like, "that's a real beauty you have over there!" with a huge grin and that sort of thing. (If it's such a beauty, why can't I go over and look at it?) The third time or so, I was more firm as they were asking for the cheque or first signature... only then did my DES reluctantly permit me to walk over and look at the car I was about to hand over a $170,000 cheque for. At this point I was already peeved and a bit rattled.
So for delivery, my vehicle was presented to me parked like this:
It wasn't moved btw... just a change of perspectives. I also assumed they had done a proper PDI and would be ethical about everything. I should have been more assertive and asked them to move it though.
The passenger side FWD had issues along with the roof panel immediately behind it imo (in the C-pillar area but on the roof). When I pointed out that something looked off with that area, my tiny DES squeezed in next to me, but I think she couldn't see what I was talking about (I'm 5'9 and was wearing high heeled boots, so different perspective) and she said, "oh I think that's just some excess rubber they didn't trim off correctly... we can get them to trim that for you..."
This is what my roof panel/FWD alignment looked like... the rubber seal was being dragged way below the part it's supposed to sit flush on top of and was already deteriorating/shredding along the edge (you can see that a bit in the first photo--it looked worse in person):
It's like the door was set too far forward and too low on the back side... although the seal at the front side of that same door sat where it should, so I was having trouble seeing how they were going to make it all fit correctly. If you would move it back, it would start opening up the seal at the front...
The other thing is, that narrow roof panel piece behind the FWD looked like it was winging up--way more than any other X's in the lot when I later compared them. This is how that same panel looked from behind (but it tilts up even more towards the front):
In terms of fit/finish, that issue scared me the most... but they had someone from service look at it (more at the FWD/trim below the window though I think--which was my initial concern before I noticed the problems at the roof area) and he said it could be fixed--but it would take a while so the vehicle would need to go to a 3rd party body shop for repairs because they said they were too busy for it. It (along with the other problems I pointed out in the delivery showroom) was referred to later in an email to me from another DES as a "minor adjustment", granted that DES was not present during my delivery.
There were a couple other things I noticed and they noted for them to be repaired (hood misalignment on one side plus gaps on both sides, a dent above the driver's side door handle).
So fast forward... I told myself they'd fix the few things I found, I accepted the vehicle, was given a very brief orientation, and then they put it out in the lot for me. When I got to the lot, I opened the passenger side door and FWD for the first time to reassure myself, but saw this:
I don't know if they just forgot about it and it was done temporarily, but they didn't attempt to smooth it out and you can see right through it in parts it's so thin.
And this:
Yep, those are all scratches and abrasions on a brand new vehicle... I couldn't remove them... some deeper than others (appearing to go completely through the paint in places). I didn't see issues on the door where that would match up. I have little car experience and have no idea how easily these can be fixed, but I felt like they maybe concealed them purposely by parking the vehicle like they had during delivery... or if not, why were they so sloppy as to not be aware of them and/or not mention them to me given that they were concealed? Don't they do PDIs? And when it's this obvious, why not just fix it first before offloading it on me?
So when I got home, I couldn't get that FWD or the rear hatch to open fully about 5-10% or so of the time. I don't think anyone or any objects were too close any of the times this happened. Then they would magically go back to opening fully other times. The window on that FWD always sounded like it was moving very slowly and like the motor (or whatever) was struggling a lot to open and close it. The other FWD window went up and down quickly without effort or weird moaning.
There was a laundry list of other fit/finish issues that I later uncovered from longer, but less numerous, similar paint scratches visible when the driver's door is opened, to paint overspray drools running about 2" wide, a bit of drooping weatherstripping at a window, missing weatherstripping at another window leaving a hole so large I could stick my index finger in it (I have small fingers though), damaged weatherstripping near that hole (appeared to be damaged by a tool/equipment and was mangled and not doing its job), scratched headliner (~2-3"), most misaligned panels and trim stuck out at the front into oncoming wind a bit (imo, concerning for wear from airborne debris over time and maybe even for aerodynamics/range?), gaps that were large/odd and didn't match, etc. You get the point.
Someone else's phone was paired with my car already when I went to set up bluetooth. The mileage on it was really low though... it didn't indicate it was used before and it was sold as a new vehicle.
The steering column also seemed to vibrate oddly (not lane departure) twice during the same drive down a steep curving hill and I was not braking at the time. I wasn't sure if something was wrong with the vehicle or not, but I couldn't seem to replicate it and didn't notice it doing it again.
..............................
So, I gave up adding to the list and just asked to return the vehicle instead the next evening (there's a 3 day return policy here if you haven't had a demo/test drive) and it was returned the following afternoon (17th) after talking on the phone that morning with the Delivery Manager. I still hadn't heard anything regarding the refund (I was basically told to sit tight and the DM would update me when he knew something), so I emailed him today and he's now telling me he'd expect me to receive the refund mid-January.
Markets were down yesterday, so I would have really liked to have my money back already. I told him that's unacceptable that my funds be held without interest paid for a month and that I expect to receive my refund next week at the latest. I told him to make sure it gets prioritized on Monday. I find this all to be absurd--so much so that it's quickly turning me off buying another X altogether. I shouldn't have to chase after them and escalate things to get my money back within a reasonable time frame. I can understand not having it ready that day that I return it, but this is ridiculous.
Has anyone had a situation with their FWD's (and maybe roof panel) like mine and had it fixed to their satisfaction? I think mine was worse than the average one with alignment issues, right?
I was pressured to sign paperwork and hand over my cheque before they would let me even go over to look at the vehicle. I asked at least twice and was told no (once by my DES and once by some guy that I think was the Delivery Manager). The (assumed) Delivery Manager was ingratiating, lingering on and off, and trying to butter me up periodically with comments like, "that's a real beauty you have over there!" with a huge grin and that sort of thing. (If it's such a beauty, why can't I go over and look at it?) The third time or so, I was more firm as they were asking for the cheque or first signature... only then did my DES reluctantly permit me to walk over and look at the car I was about to hand over a $170,000 cheque for. At this point I was already peeved and a bit rattled.
So for delivery, my vehicle was presented to me parked like this:
It wasn't moved btw... just a change of perspectives. I also assumed they had done a proper PDI and would be ethical about everything. I should have been more assertive and asked them to move it though.
The passenger side FWD had issues along with the roof panel immediately behind it imo (in the C-pillar area but on the roof). When I pointed out that something looked off with that area, my tiny DES squeezed in next to me, but I think she couldn't see what I was talking about (I'm 5'9 and was wearing high heeled boots, so different perspective) and she said, "oh I think that's just some excess rubber they didn't trim off correctly... we can get them to trim that for you..."
This is what my roof panel/FWD alignment looked like... the rubber seal was being dragged way below the part it's supposed to sit flush on top of and was already deteriorating/shredding along the edge (you can see that a bit in the first photo--it looked worse in person):
It's like the door was set too far forward and too low on the back side... although the seal at the front side of that same door sat where it should, so I was having trouble seeing how they were going to make it all fit correctly. If you would move it back, it would start opening up the seal at the front...
The other thing is, that narrow roof panel piece behind the FWD looked like it was winging up--way more than any other X's in the lot when I later compared them. This is how that same panel looked from behind (but it tilts up even more towards the front):
In terms of fit/finish, that issue scared me the most... but they had someone from service look at it (more at the FWD/trim below the window though I think--which was my initial concern before I noticed the problems at the roof area) and he said it could be fixed--but it would take a while so the vehicle would need to go to a 3rd party body shop for repairs because they said they were too busy for it. It (along with the other problems I pointed out in the delivery showroom) was referred to later in an email to me from another DES as a "minor adjustment", granted that DES was not present during my delivery.
There were a couple other things I noticed and they noted for them to be repaired (hood misalignment on one side plus gaps on both sides, a dent above the driver's side door handle).
So fast forward... I told myself they'd fix the few things I found, I accepted the vehicle, was given a very brief orientation, and then they put it out in the lot for me. When I got to the lot, I opened the passenger side door and FWD for the first time to reassure myself, but saw this:
I don't know if they just forgot about it and it was done temporarily, but they didn't attempt to smooth it out and you can see right through it in parts it's so thin.
And this:
Yep, those are all scratches and abrasions on a brand new vehicle... I couldn't remove them... some deeper than others (appearing to go completely through the paint in places). I didn't see issues on the door where that would match up. I have little car experience and have no idea how easily these can be fixed, but I felt like they maybe concealed them purposely by parking the vehicle like they had during delivery... or if not, why were they so sloppy as to not be aware of them and/or not mention them to me given that they were concealed? Don't they do PDIs? And when it's this obvious, why not just fix it first before offloading it on me?
So when I got home, I couldn't get that FWD or the rear hatch to open fully about 5-10% or so of the time. I don't think anyone or any objects were too close any of the times this happened. Then they would magically go back to opening fully other times. The window on that FWD always sounded like it was moving very slowly and like the motor (or whatever) was struggling a lot to open and close it. The other FWD window went up and down quickly without effort or weird moaning.
There was a laundry list of other fit/finish issues that I later uncovered from longer, but less numerous, similar paint scratches visible when the driver's door is opened, to paint overspray drools running about 2" wide, a bit of drooping weatherstripping at a window, missing weatherstripping at another window leaving a hole so large I could stick my index finger in it (I have small fingers though), damaged weatherstripping near that hole (appeared to be damaged by a tool/equipment and was mangled and not doing its job), scratched headliner (~2-3"), most misaligned panels and trim stuck out at the front into oncoming wind a bit (imo, concerning for wear from airborne debris over time and maybe even for aerodynamics/range?), gaps that were large/odd and didn't match, etc. You get the point.
Someone else's phone was paired with my car already when I went to set up bluetooth. The mileage on it was really low though... it didn't indicate it was used before and it was sold as a new vehicle.
The steering column also seemed to vibrate oddly (not lane departure) twice during the same drive down a steep curving hill and I was not braking at the time. I wasn't sure if something was wrong with the vehicle or not, but I couldn't seem to replicate it and didn't notice it doing it again.
..............................
So, I gave up adding to the list and just asked to return the vehicle instead the next evening (there's a 3 day return policy here if you haven't had a demo/test drive) and it was returned the following afternoon (17th) after talking on the phone that morning with the Delivery Manager. I still hadn't heard anything regarding the refund (I was basically told to sit tight and the DM would update me when he knew something), so I emailed him today and he's now telling me he'd expect me to receive the refund mid-January.
Markets were down yesterday, so I would have really liked to have my money back already. I told him that's unacceptable that my funds be held without interest paid for a month and that I expect to receive my refund next week at the latest. I told him to make sure it gets prioritized on Monday. I find this all to be absurd--so much so that it's quickly turning me off buying another X altogether. I shouldn't have to chase after them and escalate things to get my money back within a reasonable time frame. I can understand not having it ready that day that I return it, but this is ridiculous.Has anyone had a situation with their FWD's (and maybe roof panel) like mine and had it fixed to their satisfaction? I think mine was worse than the average one with alignment issues, right?
