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By Jen Hyslop
When buying a vehicle from us whether it be new or used, all our vehicles are thoroughly inspected by our qualified technicians before being handed over to the new owners. I thought it would be worth exploring the process behind how our new and nearly new vehicles find the way from the transporters, to our showrooms, sales pitches, and then on to their new families.
I have found that there is much more to buying a car than simply price. The number of previous keepers, who they were and what the vehicle was used for are all important factors to consider. One can often assume that all vehicles are owned and used in the same way that we own and maintain our own cars. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Some vehicles can be ex-rental, ex-hire or even ex-driving school.
The same applies to ownership as it does maintenance. Has the vehicle got a Full-Service History (FSH), is that all with the manufacturer? If not, can you be sure that the work has been carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s specification? In our case, this is a Full Ford Service History (FFSH). When our sales teams and buyers are sourcing vehicles for sale, we consider all of these factors so the vehicle you buy provides the very best backstory. Read more about this on our Locally Sourced programme.
Once a new vehicle is safely off the transporter, the sales team inspects the vehicle, removes protective stickers and covers and confirms receipt of the vehicle. The vehicles will be parked in the compound for the next stage of the process, the PDI.
Used vehicles can also arrive on transporters if they are sourced from approved sources such as Ford direct but the vast majority are our loyal customers who are renewing. This means that in most cases, our used vehicles are known to us; supplied by us, serviced by us and cared for by us.
PDI is an acronym for Pre-Delivery Inspection. This is a thorough process laid out by the manufacturer where checks are carried out specifically tailored to a vehicle model and derivative.
Our technicians are trained accordingly and only certain technicians can carry out PDIs on select new vehicles. All new vehicles arrive at our dealership in a transport mode where certain systems are deactivated. At PDI, this mode is deactivated which activates some of the onboard modules including the onboards modem and telematics. The vehicle is thoroughly checked to make sure there are no mechanical issues, all fluids and pressures are set correctly before the number plates are fitted.
Finally, the vehicle is fuelled and taken on a road test to ensure it is safe to be driven on the road. Once the check is complete the service book will be stamped and the vehicle will then be passed on to our valeting team. I’ll talk more about these hard-working guys another day!
After receipt and inspection by our sales team, all of our used vehicles go through a thorough a comprehensive pre-sales check where the vehicle is then prepared for sale to specific Pye Group standards.
The preparation starts with the same 30-point Video E-Check that accompanies all of our scheduled servicing. A technician provides the sales team leader with a video tour of the underneath of the vehicle complete with a voiceover describing the condition of the components in detail. These are then documented on the vehicles service history with us. This information enables the correct decisions to be made on the level of preparation required; If the vehicle is due a mot or service within the next six months. This is unusual for our industry but we feel that if we had just bought a car, then receiving a bill for a routine service in the next six months would not be pleasing.
Areas affected by wear and tear such as tyres and brakes. Brakes will be checked and replaced based on their measurements. These will vary from car to car according to manufacturer specifications but are changed well ahead of safety standards. Tyres are also replaced well ahead of the minimum standards. If the tyres are found to have less than 3mm then the tyres will be replaced.
I hope that provides a useful insight into how we get vehicles ready for their new families. If you have any questions or interested in purchasing a vehicle from us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.