Picking up a 2012 v5 on Wednesday. Any "musts" to check?

Ask for the "as delivered" alignment specs in writing. Too often cars are delivered out of spec and the initial tires are ruined because of course the new owner assumes they are running true and doesn't get the alignment until the tires are worn out.

 

I don't remember a SINGLE owner here reporting that.......nor in either of the other two brand forums that I'm active in either.

I personally think this is overkill.
Are you going to ask for a written record of the torque spec's on every bolt and nut in the car too ??

I would personally check the tire pressure and probably add a couple of pounds and check all of the liquid levels.
And if the car won't be driven a lot right away, I also would be sure that the 12 V battery is fully charged. Sometimes they come off the lot significantly discharged.

 

Yes. Should be plenty.

 

I suggested it because my wife's 0 miles Avalon was delivered out of alignment. On "check alignment" the alignment was way off. Will cost me an early set of Michelins.

Wasn't the first car I've purchased that was out of spec.

 

Good point Mikefocke, our Prius went through it's first set of tires in under 50k kilometers...has me thinking.

 

+1 on alignment.

When I took posession of the 2007, when new, the alignment was clearly off: steering wheel was off center to go straight. So much for new car pre-delivery check.

I doubt any dealership puts a new car on the alignment rack, as part of the new car pre-delivery inspection. Only if a customer complains of alignment will they put the car on the alignment rack.

Consider buying a lifetime alignment from a tire place. I bought one from Firestone Tire ($120, 6-2010). I just drop the car off once a year for alignment check/adjustmentt, unless new tires or suspension work, cause me to go in sooner. One of the angels is always slightly out of spec every time.

Consider doing a transaxle drain/fill and getting a magnetic drain plug for the transaxle too.

Ultimately, you wallet, your car, so do as you please.

 

Wait a sec.
I hope you aren't telling us that you put on a new set of tires without having the alignment checked ?
Did you look at the old ones.......or ask the dealer to do that ?

If they all pretty much wore in an even pattern (that is, no pattern), the bad alignment probably is NOT the cause and they were just fast wearing compound.

 

OK. But, this is a USED car not a new one.

 

OK, so let me tell you about the '01S Boxster that I bought with 18k miles on it and on its second set of tires. It had Yoko's on it that were worn in a way that was noisy...cupped. Aligned and replaced the tires in the first month even though they had legal tread depth due to noise and 6 years later the new tires were wearing evenly/normally on a car notorious for going through rear tires.

The point is that it can help your tire wear to know that the alignment is within spec. New or Used.

 

But you won't make any friends at the dealership by insisting that they give you a printout of the alignment as a condition of the sale.
Often HAVING a good relationship with the dealership is important.

 

Change all the fluids, replace air filter and wiper blades. enjoy the drive.

 

This is pre-sale. The sales department goes and gets the service department to produce the printout (15 minutes max unless it doesn't meet the specs). The consumer doesn't go near the service department until the first visit where he is spending money that goes on the service department's accounts.

I've found that asking never hurts anything if done politely and with a reason behind it. I'm always quick with the complements, understanding in my post-service ratings. But if I have a need, I express it.

When I was in customer service (probably 25 years) , I always appreciated a polite customer helping me understand what would satisfy him. With that, we could figure out how to meet those needs if we could. Without it, we were guessing.

 

When brand new my '12 PriusV5's original brakes made noise. Toyota paid for replacement caliper assemblies and rear discs which fixed the problem. This noise is/was common in 2012's at least and noted in Toyota Service Bulletin 0081-13, according to the dealer. I'd have this checked. Otherwise, I have no complaints with my car, which BTW I'm selling or trading in next week. Good luck with your new car!