Is a New Car with 50 Kilometers a Test Drive Vehicle?
3 Answers
A new car with 50 kilometers is a test drive vehicle. There are 3 key points to note when inspecting a new car: 1. Check the paint surface: The uniformity and smoothness of the seams are the focus of inspection. It is best to compare with two vehicles of the same model. The gaps between doors, bumpers, and the engine hood should be consistent. If the gaps are too large or differ in width from other vehicles, choose carefully; 2. Check the tires: The sidewalls of new car tires should have no damage, and the front tire sidewalls and tread should have no puncture marks. It is best if the tire hairs on both front and rear tires are intact, at least the rear tire hairs should be visible. If there are no tire hair marks on both front and rear tires, but the odometer shows only a few kilometers, this is abnormal; 3. Check the nameplate: Each vehicle's nameplate corresponds to the unique engine number and chassis number. Verify these numbers with the certification codes to ensure they match. Also, check the manufacturing date on the nameplate; the gap between the delivery date and the manufacturing date should not exceed three months.
I'm new to car buying and a bit unclear about the definition of a new car. A new car with 50 kilometers on the odometer is very likely a test drive vehicle. Factory-new cars usually have some mileage from testing, typically within 5-10 kilometers, but 50 kilometers is excessive and usually indicates the car was used by the dealership for customer test drives. During test drives, multiple people may have driven it, causing potential wear to the engine and tires. If you encounter this when buying a car, don't rush into signing the contract—ask the salesperson for the vehicle's factory records. If it's a test drive car, you can request a discount or switch to a new car with lower mileage. Remember, a standard new car should have under 20 kilometers; 50 kilometers is noticeably high. This could affect future warranty and maintenance, so I recommend being extra cautious and not getting fooled.
As someone familiar with the automotive industry, I know some inside information: a new car with 50 kilometers on the odometer is usually a test drive or display vehicle. New cars do undergo minimal mileage checks before leaving the factory, typically up to 15 kilometers, but 50 kilometers is generally attributed to test drive activities. Test drive vehicles are repeatedly started and driven, which may affect battery life and fluid conditions. When encountering such a situation while purchasing a car, promptly check the vehicle inspection report; if confirmed as a test drive vehicle, you can negotiate a good discount or simply opt for a brand-new car. Don’t overlook the details—small issues like this can accumulate and impact resale value.
