I have aggregated few facts of mishandling of brand new cars as well as sold cars in the Indian Auto dealerships. Let me share the facts. I have kept a track from unloading the vehicle from the truck, to driving it to the stock yard, the way cars are handled in the stock yard, the way they are driven back to the showrooms for delivery and how they take care of your car when you give it for servicing or fitting the accessory. I will not take the name of any particular dealer over here but have seen almost the same scenario across India. This post is not directing to all the showrooms across India but many do so.
1)
Unloading from the truck-
The showroom guys or the truck drivers with there assistant mainly do this job. I have seen while unloading once a car slipped of from the slop and it hit the lower driving shaft. Few guys lifted it back and it was parked by the side. Now if the new cars driving shaft gets damaged who will be responsible for it? The factory has sent a perfect car but it gets damaged while in the transit and the blame goes to the car manufacturer for procuring a defective vehicle.
Secondly i was shocked to see a driver took his friend along with him with a 2 liter bottle of diesel. He pour that in the vehicle and he was training his friend how to drive! No wonder few new cars land up with a higher odometer reading at the time of delivery. Now when the owner will buy that car he has every chance to get a car with shortened clutch life. Again the manufacturer is blamed for no fault of them.
In another occasion i saw a car while getting loaded in the truck for going to the showroom. The guy climbed up the slope so fast that he goes and straight away hit the car parked in front. Both the cars suffer a damaged bumper and they were again off loaded from the truck and went inside the factory for repair job. Again the owner will get a brand new car with a repair job.
These are three occasions i witness and am sure there will be many more.
2)
Driving from the truck to the showroom stock yard-
New car has less fuel. So what the driver did was he was putting the ignition on and off for several times. So the fuel pump can get some fuel. With very less fuel in the tank it can affect the fuel pump. Secondly when the car got started he was revving like hell! A new car with hardly 1km in odo is revved hard! Another driver put on the self in 1st gear with out clutch and the car jumped forward then he just holds the accelerator and tries to start the car. This is what they do to start the car.
Once they are on road they are no less than a F1 driver! Oh did i mention the cars with factory fitted music systems and air condition are treated as air conditioned Disco on wheels.
3)
Inside the stock yard-
Most of the showrooms don't have shades in there stock yard. So for a good period of time your new car is exposed to a layer of dust, rain, harsh sun light and the heat of the day with rolled up windows. It can fade the plastics and make the rubbers hard. The car cabin in summer becomes no less than a hot oven! I wonder does it damaged the electronic systems inside the car or not. At least if they keep a window 1 inch open it can disburse the heat. But they never do that.
Apart from the above points the more worst case occur during the monsoons. Few stock yards are placed in low lands and during heavy rain those places get water logged and the cars are kept in 2-3 feet deep water for few days. This has happened with few eminent dealerships in India. The good dealers scraped the defective cars and the rouge dealers sold those cars to the customers.
4)
Driving from stock yard to the showroom-
Its pretty similar to the situation i said in point no 2.
5)
At the time of delivery-
This is the time your car is pampered the most. Every one will clean it polish it. They will show you how they take care of your prized possesion. Starting from the cleaner to the manager of the showroom will take good care of your car.
6)
Fittings of accessory-
There are few experienced mechanics, few are novice. The novice ones are under training. If the experienced mechanic do the job you are lucky. But when a trainy mechanic is doing the job for your car i am afraid of the out come in the long run. What i have seen is if its a costly car the experienced mechanics always do the job but in case of a cheaper car the trainy / newbie will try to make there hands set.
7)
After deliver you give your cars for the routine servicing -
The service executive will be polite with you and will pose as if he is the most knowledgeable person out there. He will try to influence you to get the unnecessary jobs done. For example- Engine de-carbonizing on a car with around 20-30k in the odo or cleaning the braking system every 10,000 etc etc. The mechanic will come to test drive. They will drive the car in the most disgusting way like sudden steering the car, sudden braking, revving it hard, jumping from stand still and what not. I wonder why those are required for a car which has no complaints and if a car has a particular problem he should focus on that.
Now what can be the remedies for all these-
Buy a car when you can spare some time. While booking a car avoid taking delivery from the stock yard. Ask your SE when your car will be unloaded from the truck. Personally go over there and take care of the vehicle. If you cant spare time send some one you can trust. If possible take the VIN number in advance so you can get to know the exact car. If VIN is still not alloted you can make a guess by the model/trim and color you booked. Follow the car to the stock yard. If required tip the driver so he drives it with extra care. Again do the same when it will be brought back from the stock yard to the showroom. And off course carry a Team BHp PDI list with you. Once in the showroom your car goes for the fitment of the accessories you stay with your car and get the job done.
Before giving for a servicing do your homework. The day before read out your owners manual for what all needs to be changed and what are not needed so the service executive cant take you for a ride. Get the things done that are mentioned in the owners manual for that particular service. If your car has no complaint avoid getting it test driven by there mechanic. While on a test drive you drive yourself or if there mechanic drives the car be strict with him so he drives in a sane way. In case your car has got any complaint and you feel the service center guys are charging you too much do not given in. Politely walk out from there take a second or third opinion from other mechanics and then decide. If you are too confused Team Bhp is there to help you.
These are few points i can think as of now. Am sure other members over here will have many more valid points to share and guide us.