Brand new car sat at the dealership - should I be concerned?

jaybeetoo

My brand new car has been sat at the dealership since the start of lockdown (it was built in February and arrived in the UK in March).  I am unable to collect it until the dealership is allowed to re-open and non-essential journeys are once more permitted.  I assume my car hasn't been started or moved since it arrived at the dealer, and I don't expect it will be until the lockdown is over.  I've paid a £250 deposit.

Should I be concerned my car is sitting unused?  Is it likely to suffer any damage if the lockdown lasts for much longer?

daveyjp

Many cars sit for months in car lots without moving.

The key issue is not to pay for it or sign any paperwork until you are happy everything is OK.  So inspect properly before accepting. 

Farway

daveyjp said:

Many cars sit for months in car lots without moving.

The key issue is not to pay for it or sign any paperwork until you are happy everything is OK.  So inspect properly before accepting. 

And if you can, find exactly where it's stored, you may think it's in a nice warm showroom but the reality could be a disused airfield, dockside or even a muddy field

https://www.theguardian.com/business/gallery/2009/jan/16/unsold-cars

Scrapit

You should be very concerned, there's a global pandemic.

Mercdriver

Farway said:

daveyjp said:

Many cars sit for months in car lots without moving.

The key issue is not to pay for it or sign any paperwork until you are happy everything is OK.  So inspect properly before accepting. 

And if you can, find exactly where it's stored, you may think it's in a nice warm showroom but the reality could be a disused airfield, dockside or even a muddy field

https://www.theguardian.com/business/gallery/2009/jan/16/unsold-cars

This is no different to normal.  How exactly does it cause issues more than it normally would?

Farway

Mercdriver said:

Farway said:

daveyjp said:

Many cars sit for months in car lots without moving.

The key issue is not to pay for it or sign any paperwork until you are happy everything is OK.  So inspect properly before accepting. 

And if you can, find exactly where it's stored, you may think it's in a nice warm showroom but the reality could be a disused airfield, dockside or even a muddy field

https://www.theguardian.com/business/gallery/2009/jan/16/unsold-cars

This is no different to normal.  How exactly does it cause issues more than it normally would?

Because it's likely to be sat there a lot longer? i'm sure you can work it out if you care to, I CBA

AdrianC

Farway said:

Because it's likely to be sat there a lot longer? i'm sure you can work it out if you care to, I CBA

Unless your new car is a factory order to your spec, you have absolutely zero way of knowing how long it's been sat prior to registration.

lincroft1710

Many decades ago, it was claimed that it was possible to buy Ford Anglias with a G registration (Aug 68 - Jul 69). How long had these been sitting around as they were probably last made in Nov 1967? 

Car_54

If you cancel now, anything you order after lockdown ends will have an equally mysterious past.

Penelopa.Pitstop

Some cars are sitting for months and years before they are sold. Nothing will happen if yours spends 1-2 months waiting. It will go through checks before it's handed over.
I have 2 cars which spent respectively 9 months and 2.5y sitting somewhere before first registration and delivery.  They do not fall apart yet.

[Deleted User]

Check it when you collect it, make sure the tyres are okay etc.

But also have a look around to see what deals are available. You might be better of cancelling and forfeiting the deposit because new prices will have crashed. You could always negotiate with the dealer for a discount given that you could go elsewhere. Whatever price you agreed before lockdown is probably too much now unless it was a real bargain.