Going to try something...
 

Taking delivery of a SWP/Pegasus White (37J) 86 in December, and I'm going to see if they'll do something for me. First I want to see if I can persuade them to not install the cruise control. I don't particularly want it anyway.

But the fun part is, I'm going to avoid a dealer detail entirely. No pre-protection detail, no protection, no buff. Not even a handwash if I can persuade them, just an interior clean. You might think I'm crazy, but...

Well, I spotted a WRX STI in 37J, and it was gorgeous. Utterly gorgeous satin white. Satin, not glossy and satin in direct sunlight-- actually satin. And I want that. So I'm going to see what I get off the boat and go from there...

what exactly are you going to try? :iono:

Seeing if I get the same finish I saw on the WRX-- a flat satin, not the glossy metallic pearl I've seen everywhere on local cars.

Uh, so the 'going to try something' bit means getting an STI instead of your 86? Or avoiding all the damage to the paint on your new 86?

Avoiding paint damage, a shiny coat instead of a satin one.

errrr i 'tried' that with my 37J 86. its not hard to tell them not to detail the car lol.

when i picked my up, it still had all the protective plastic on it. I can tell you that it doesn't make it any more 'satin'. After you detail it yourself, you'll get the same 37J as everyone else has.... not sure what ur trying to achieve, unless you purposely leave it dirty all the time...

Hey, no drama, means the first detail can be a particularly good one, anyway. ;)

(If you ask some of my friends? Yes, yes I do. Don't ask me though because I'll say it's not on purpose.

The 86 is a drive by wire car, meaning an electronically controlled throttle. The only mechanical difference in having cruise control is the plastic stalk on the steering wheel, and the wires going back to the ECU. Nothing will change in the engine bay.

I guess you could remove the stick if you wanted to save a gram or two, but you'd save more weight by relieving yourself before every time you drive.

Ah, understood.

Agree with you, we know to the dealer, its just another cars to detail as quickly as possible, using the same bloody sponge and rags with the same soap and chamois as the previous 10 cars before it.

I think whoever you speak to, whether its the salesman or the manager, wont give two hoots when it actually comes to carrying this out though, thier systems and procedures are in place and you might become 'difficult' in their eyes, they just want to knockout the car to you asap without any special requests so that they can move onto the next one.

Suggest a full 'TOUGHSEAL' or "OPTICOAT' job on the car instead after you take delivery?

mmmmmmmm, I don't get it ! Maybe some water n 1000 grit emery paper ? Will that mean you get a big fat discount from the dealer?

Nah. Just don't want the stalk bumping my fingers like it did on the test drive. ;) I'm a wanker, I know.

If I end up detailing it, I'll have it done by a really good bloke I know (who actually advised me to try handwashing it, first). He also gets amazing results.

My 86 arrives early next month and I have already tried to negotiate getting the car with the plastic on it to do my own detail. Basically they wont do it. They want to instect the paint and condition as part as the quality control...... You would think that this would have been done from factory and wouldnt let the car go unless it was spot on from factory.

Anyway I did get them to not buff it all all just hand wash only. I think I will have to keep on top of this and remind them regually so it doesnt get done buy default some how.

I know it might seem a little over the top but if you go and inspect new cars on the lot they all have buff scratches all over them.

I won't accept a brand new car with swirls all over it, it's not acceptable & the dealer should know it too. Inspect it well under lots of fluro light if possible, then knock it back if not OK.

Cars can easily get damaged from factory to dealer so it's best they look after it, you decide if OK when you take delivery B4 you hand them the chq.

Yep. I know exactly what you mean and that's part of the reason I want to have it detailed myself. I want to take it straight to somebody I know the reputation of, with just a hand wash, and get a good look at the paint with no interference first hand.

Alot of cars get damaged during transit, therefore the dealers see it fit to inspect the car first. Imagine your horror if you peeled off the sticker to find a big dent on the bonnet. From that perspective I can understand them.

Being a detailer, most dealerships make my life much harder than it should be.

Some of them prepare cars perfectly, but most of them don't. Most of the time they will use a filling glaze to fill scratches/swirls and buff marks/holograms so you don't see them on pick up, but will appear after a few washes. The best thing you can do is get them to peel off the stickers, inspect the car but not to wash or polish.

OK, then... :happy0180:

I'd still take it off myself, and keep it for resale. Also, I wouldn't trust the dealer with ripping up a new car.

I won't get it taken off at the dealer, but if it's possible to negotiate it not being installed at the wharf (It's not on the Japanese cars, even the GT Limited, and looks suspiciously like Australian Toyota parts)...

It's identical to the stalk on my Lexus, and US and UK models have cruise.

There is nothing mechanical, electrical or anything like it done in Australia. The only bit of Australian content was the boot mat for the full size spare and that's now gone.

Fair enough. Bit of a shame about that, would have been nice to have the rubber. Going to have to hunt one down for track days! Thanks for the info.

Honestly I'll take a bit of swirl if it comes to that rather than wait another 13 months, tyvm. I'm not sure I'd knock back my car if the dock workers keyed it.

I might use it as an opportunity to step down to GT, now that I know what I want. Or to save more money and just buy the next car outright... :D

... still need to figure out how to get the brown-red/black cloth seats.