I've just realised after all this time what a massive gamble I'm taking with my new car, essentially what I'm doing is exchanging a dead reliable, very young motor for one I know nothing about - not even test drove as its a brand new factory order (not even built yet)

I hadn't realised until now what a huge gamble us new car owners take

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Yep it's a very big gamble to take really. I'd just make sure you do test drive the car with the salesman to make sure it's all ok before you leave the dealership.

And go over it with a fine toothed comb inside, outside & upside down! Seeing far too many things over the internet forums lately about people taking cars back with relatively minor problems only for the dealers to refuse to rectify them after they sign on the dotted line.

Yep I had that issue when I bought my ST and I was still at the dealership. When I pionted out the curb wheel and sill plates not illuminating and they still tried to get out of sorting them out.

Really? I had slight marks on my paintwork which I noticed when I got the car home the first day but didn't end up mentioning to the garage for around 9 months. When I eventually did I asked if it could be sorted out at it's first service and they were fine with that! Machine polished under warranty a couple of days before it was a year old with no problems at all. Can't fault my dealer!

Yep was told sill plates only illuminated half way and the wheel is not something they usually do. But my persistance that I would buy the car if they didn't get done paid off.