Collect new car or have it delivered?

[Bungleaio]

Depends on if you buy a new car frequently or not. Personally I would go and collect it. What will you do as soon as it gets delivered?  Chances are youll be taking it for a drive for a couple of hours anyway.

You could look at a one way rental,  most of the national chains do it for quite reasonable cost. 

[Hawaii-Five-O]

I say pick up in person. It's fun. Adds to the excitement.

I got the train from Cheshire to JCB Medway in Kent (via London) for my GTI. Then drove home. Fantastic feeling.

Just my twopence worth.

[mezzer123]

I am having mine delivered on a trailer, not having someone on national minimum racing it down a motorway to our house, I did have to state this to the dealer who is about 120 miles away, as they originally wanted to drive it to me, but after a phone call this was sorted and now its on a trailer when it gets to them, can't wait for the next phone call when I tell them not to wash it at all!!!!!!!

[kalimon]

I think the only issue with the trailer delivery is if you are financing the car, as papers need to be signed.
I boought my son a Fiesta on a PCP deal through DTD from a dealer in Wales. They said they would have trailered it to me if I was buying it outright or I could have driven down a few days earlier, signed the finance papers and got them to deliver it.
I decided to drive down with my wife and drive it home myself, PITA that it was
I'm sure people have had many different experiences with DTD but you just phone them up and tell them you want it from a dealer that will trailer it to you.

[Booth11]

Always collect. 

Gillingham on it's own will not be a great day out, I can assure you.   But picking up a new car will turn it into a great day, regardless of the glamour free location.

JCB collection is a no frills affair on the forecourt, rather than the unveiling ceremony some dealerships do. But their customer service is excellent and they are very happy for you to talk your time checking the car over.  I went over mine with a fine tooth comb and felt no pressure to rush. My salesman, James, was excellent and had gone to the trouble of setting up main radio stations and logos on the media system and other little things.  Car had full tank of petrol and he was very patient as I crouched on the floor checking for transport pucks.

Then you have the drive back to get to know your new car.   

[CARMAD KEV]

I was thinking about collecting in person but decided against it.

We are in Glasgow and the car came from Crewe VW.

The guy who drove ours up was a 70yr old retired traffic cop who drove it up the M6 M74 at 70MPH averaging 37mph on his 235mile journey. No problems, no damage, no hassle.

Any damage could have easily happened to me as it could him.

Car was not preped by the dealer (my choice) and arrived bogging due to the weather but it was great fun detailling it myself and was totally unmarked.

When i got my new company car last year 520d m sport the local dealer done a crap prep on it and made no big deal about the handover. It was parked out with other cars in for a service etc. Probably because i screwed them on price. So collecting in person was not a big deal for me as expectations were fairly low.

Anyway it did not bother me having it driven up. It helped with the running in.

[p3asa]

I think the only issue with the trailer delivery is if you are financing the car, as papers need to be signed.

You can do all that before. They just email you the papers and you print and sign and send them back.
Buying a car from a distance is no problem nowadays.

We live just outside Glasgow and collected the car from JCB Medway. Me and the good lady jumped a train for London about 6 in the morning. The salsmen were great, they picked us up from the local train station. Nothing was too much bother.
It seems like a drag going miles away to collect it but its like a kid on Christmas day just waiting to go downstairs and see if Santa has been.  We stopped half way up the motorway for a nights stay and continued the next day.
The only problem with that (cue Monkeyhanger  ) is to run it in on the motorway isn't the best for it but I was up and down the gears throughout the journey.

I don't think I'd want some stranger driving my car a few hundred of its first miles. Plus like others have said, if there is any kind of structural damage, paint etc that would be the supplying dealer that was responsible not a warranty claim as such. If a guy has just driven 200 miles and the car has a defect it will be another 200 back and 200 to be delivered again.

Trailer maybe.

[Bubba Nutkin]

Always collect. 
Gillingham on it's own will not be a great day out, I can assure you.   But picking up a new car will turn it into a great day, regardless of the glamour free location.

Well yes, I've experienced the joys of Gillingham before; it has a face only a mother could love, shall we say.  But I think you guys have a good point, collection day should be a little bit of a treat.  And as pointed out it gives me a chance to check for any problems before setting off.  Collection it is, then!

Bubba.

[caprigreen]

I collected from JCB Gillingham and drove back to Cornwall. Cost me £80 train fare, was collected from the train station and was on my way home in less than an hour. I could have paid an extra £2k and stayed local. Enjoyed the trip but made me realise how lucky I am to live in Cornwall 🏄🏼

[wag29]

Definitely collect, just to make sure the prep at dealers has not left you with swirls and scratches all over your nice new car, as  on a detailing forum I frequent there has been a lot of issues with bad prep work by the dealers absolutely ruining your new paint job and there will be nothing worse than having a new car delivered to your door looking like its been through an automated car wash a dozen times, especially if its a lapis blue or black. So glad I collected mine as it was covered in swirls and I rejected it!