My 2017 Lariat 3.5 EcoBoost with the new 10 speed transmission is due in this week. Anything in particular I should look for before committing to purchase?

 

Having bought several new vehicles over the years, I've learned that the dealer won't cover anything to do with paint scratches, chips, door dings, etc once you drive off the lot. So I'd suggest you do over every sq inch of the body, wheels, etc to check for any imperfections.

When I took delivery of my '16 F150, I found some over-spray behind the B pillar and on the roof about a week after I took delivery. Luckily the dealer cleaned those up. But on my wife's Explorer they wouldn't fix a ding in the paint after 2 days of delivery.

Take it for a test drive and check all of the elec systems as well.

Congrats on the new truck and good luck !

 

Agree with the body comments. Same issue with any tears in the leather. We found a small cut in a Miata leather seat two days after taking the car. Dealer agreed to sell me the panel at cost. $350 for one small panel.

I used to install many clear bras on new cars and frequently found low quality shipper repairs. Almost always the damage was low, so check the lower 6" all around.

Lastly, I always put in the contract that the dealer will not touch the vehicle with a powered buffer of any sort.

 

Drive it somewhere quiet and take your time looking it over. Once you have signed the paperwork, you've lost your leverage.

 

On the test drive I always make sure the engine is fully warm and then I check the idle quality....if the engine shakes at idle, refuse the truck. Check the body panels for alignment and paint imperfections. Check for air leaks and other noises.