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Originally Posted by TheIndian If all goes well, touchwood, I shall be picking up Endy 3.2 Titanium 4x4 next week. |
Well, first of all, good on you for making such a great choice - even though this is coming from people who are all smitten by the truck anyway, experiencing this thing over longer periods makes you realise just how well spent the money is, and just how GOOD this thing is. Over time, as you occasionally (unfortunately IMO) have the odd jaunt in different cars (around and much above its class), the seats, ride comfort, engine performance and quietness of the cabin (suspension and engine-wise) will SHOCK you (pleasantly, very very pleasantly). The only real gripes (different from the nitpicking idiots like me can do in any object) will be removal of 8 way adjust from the passenger seat and seat memory (both front seats), removal of 220V inverter (India) and the (universal) lack of a 7th gear.
Secondly, did you or did you not get the PDI checklist and print out a couple of copies? Standard advice - take someone well versed with vehicles, vehicle delivery issues and dealer malpractices. Divide the PDI between yourselves.
Also, top tip from my side - I made the mistake of having the dealership wash the car for delivery in order to make sure I didn't miss any flaws in the paintwork, and ended up with unsightly swirl marks in the process. Best would be to go for a more thorough and time-taking inspection with a dirty car, and wash it yourself/have it done professionally post-delivery and tyre change.
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Originally Posted by n.devdath The checklist is comprehensive enough for the PDI, in fact, you may not need to check all the boxes off the checklist, it is that detailed. |
Agreed, but I'll just list some of the important stuff (IMO) to best safeguard against getting a problem piece:
1. Panel gaps (fit and finish) - best to compare with a piece standing by in the showroom. While the overall build of the Endeavour is confidence inspiring and satisfactory, some gaps are larger and less uniform than others, and some panels yield more than others on pressing. I didn't find any discrepancies between my vehicle and another to-be-delivered vehicle parked a few feet from mine, which was reassuring. Low chance of issues given Ford's quality control standards, but best to check, as it is one of the easiest ways to check for in-transit and dealer handling damage.
2. In continuation of that theme, check all the stuff regarding possible damage repair - repainted panels, excess wax residue in panel gaps etc. Good light is essential.
3. Engine testing is essential - have the vehicle revved through the power band in neutral. Look out for odd sounds. Since the engine is bench-run, you can go right up to 4500 RPM a couple of times in neutral without risk of any damage - have your friend do the revving and stand outside the car with the bonnet open. Do more runs from 1.5k to 2.5k rpm, and try and stay at few rpms along there.
4. IMO, not strictly required, but if it is convenient, go for a short ride over bumpy patches to check for suspension noise.
5. Check all fluid levels on an absolutely flat floor (with even a 1 degree slope, the levels go slightly off in my Endeavour and give me scares by threatening to reach minimum markers - with a flat surface, everything "comes back" to normal). For making sure you're on a flat floor, use the RHS MID - it's excellent.
6. Have tyre pressures at no more than 32psi - dealership will likely inflate them to 35. A bit off-topic in terms of PDI, but I personally run 28 front and 30 rear for 2 people, and 30 and 32 for loaded or highway runs. Rather comfortable. But impacts FE by about 7% to 10%.
7. Make sure all doors close and seal properly.
8. Have global open and close activated.
9. Check all tyres - one of mine came with a sidewall cut.
10. Check all interior surfaces for blemishes/cuts etc.
11. Check sunroof and sunshade operation.
12. Check all windows (all have auto up/down).
13. Check electric driver's seat control.
14. Check tailgate and seat folding operation (both 2nd and 3rd row).
15. Use RHS MID to check for wheel alignment.
16. Check odometer reading.
17. Check all speakers - don't bother using fade and balance, just put an ear to each.
18. Check headlamps.
19. Check ambient lighting.
20. Check HVAC - vents, button and touch controls.
21. Check if rear diff-lock, terrain modes and 4x4 Low engage.
Those are what I can think of off the top of my head.
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A few things I would recommend as small but useful accessories are the window visors and the "ENDEAVOUR" sticker on the doors along with extended warranty.
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The Endeavour sticker is purely subjective, but I think the window visors ruin the looks (not so much on black). I'm personally waiting for the next monsoon to take a call on them - only if they appear quite necessary would I bother with their addition to the car.
Extended warranty is a must, but I've only extended it to the third year so far - think hard about your usage before extending further. You can always take fourth year warranty anytime in the first three years.
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If your budget permits, you can also swap the tires straight out of the showroom to a different brand.
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I STRONGLY recommend doing this. I myself couldn't due to a variety of logistical issues (and some impractical considerations on my part), but I cannot recommend this enough. The wanderers are a cheap, low quality tyre which though not exactly terrible, are incredibly poor for use in a vehicle of this quality.
MOST IMPORTANTLY - tell them to be very careful while debeading the tyre for replacement (now, or later). The tyre pressure sensor is attached to the valve, and the tyre shop idiots have a great propensity to damage them - this happened to me despite going to a shop frequented by premium cars - one can never be too careful with
all your (not just prized) possessions. (this is India, after all).
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That apart, there are a lot of options but best to take them slow.
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1. I would recommend a parcel tray (though I haven't seen the OEM tray quality yet), but in my experience, the level up to the parcel tray is sufficient even for expeditions with HEAVY luggage requirements (as I just found in my trip to Spiti), hence I am considering getting one soon - it can be left on most of the time, I think, and removed for the odd exceptional occasion, so it now appears to be a sensible purchase to me.
2. Neck pillows might be helpful for certain passengers - I wasn't sold on the OEM neck pillow quality hence I haven't yet got a set.
3. DO NOT take OEM floor mats. Go for 7D mats (those quilted pattern stitched ones with noodle mats on top). Even though beige isn't a popular choice for many, I'd highly recommend them - they really go well with the upholstery and the mud type in my area really melds with the colour making for a less dirty look until i clean them. They brighten up the interior too. Though i do think a coffee colour would be rather aesthetically pleasing as well - especially if the shade matches the dash cladding. If you can, buy them before delivery. If not, what I did was - went with grain sacks for delivery and installed the mats when I received them a few days later.
4. On the topic of mats, get trunk mats ASAP. They'll be the 5D part of the 7D above, and if, like me, you transport stuff in the vehicle as you would in a truck, rather than like you would baby the boot of a 4m INR car, you'll be really happy. I'm truly disappointed about not having picked them up as yet when I crossed Delhi. By my reckoning, despite aliexpress prices being what they are, in Delhi both interior mats and trunk mats together can easily be picked up for around 10k (not individually, total). I shouldn't think you'll have much of an issue finding them in Bombay.
5. A cargo net is a must. Get it from the aftermarket asap.
Depending on how much you plan to clean the vehicle yourself/under your supervision, and how much you plan to off-road, I think the community can help you out with a lot of equipment on that count too.
And absolutely no need to wish you happy motoring - provided you have a good dealer (higher chance with Ford India), and a non-lemon (again, high probability),
delightful motoring is GUARANTEED. There hasn't been anyone who's sat in it (let alone driven it) for a 100km or more trip and hasn't absolutely fallen in love with my car.
Cheers!