How to Determine if a New Car is a Stock Vehicle?
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Methods to determine if a new car is a stock vehicle: 1. Check the vehicle identification plate. The vehicle identification plate is usually located below the B-pillar on the passenger side. It displays the basic characteristics of the vehicle, including the manufacturer, model, engine power, total weight, load capacity, passenger capacity, production number, production date, and manufacturer name. First, check the manufacturing date. If it is within three months of your purchase date, it is not a stock vehicle. If it exceeds three months, it can generally be considered a stock vehicle. 2. Inspect tire wear and production date. New car tires should show minimal wear, with clearly visible tread hairs on the tire walls. If there are no tread hairs, be cautious. Check the tire production date: there is a series of numbers on the tire sidewall, such as 0717. The last two digits (17) represent the production year, and the first two digits (07) represent the week of production. For example, 0717 means the tire was produced in the 7th week of 2017, which is mid-February 2017. Compare this with the vehicle's production date on the identification plate. If the dates are close, it is not a stock vehicle. If there is a significant gap, be cautious. 3. Examine the inside of the exhaust pipe. Insert a finger into the exhaust pipe. If it comes out clean, it is likely a new car. If it is dirty, be cautious, as a new car's exhaust pipe should not be dirty. The odometer reading should not be the primary reference. 4. Inspect the engine compartment. Open the hood and check the engine compartment. If there is thick dust or oil stains, it indicates the car has been parked for a long time or has high mileage. Also, check for any deformation, discoloration, misalignment, or signs of disassembly in the components. 5. Check for aging or falling rubber parts. Open the doors and trunk lid to inspect the rubber seals. If the door seals are falling off or show signs of aging, it suggests the car has been parked for an extended period. If there are no signs of replacement at the seams, it is likely a new car. 6. Inspect the foot pedals. Open the doors and check the foot pedals. Examine every gap carefully. If there is wear on the pedals or excessive dust in the gaps, it may be a test-drive car or a stock vehicle. If the pedals are clean, it is likely a new car.
