What is an Offline Vehicle?
2 Answers
Generally, it refers to taxis that have been converted from commercial to non-commercial use. The service life of a taxi is 8 years. The so-called 'commercial to non-commercial' conversion, as the name suggests, means changing a commercial vehicle into a non-commercial one. The commonly referred 'commercial to non-commercial' vehicles mainly refer to decommissioned taxis that are converted to local license plates. Since the typical service life of a taxi is 8 years, and the mileage usually exceeds 700,000 kilometers, the high mileage results in a shorter service life. Therefore, the price of such vehicles is very cheap for buyers, but the failure rate is also particularly high. As taxis, they are usually decommissioned after 4 to 5 years of service due to frequent breakdowns. So, if a buyer purchases one, they can still drive it for a few years, but it will have to be scrapped after that. For such offline vehicles, it is advisable not to buy them if you are not very knowledgeable about cars, as the repair costs can be quite high after purchase. If you still want to buy one, it's best to find an expert to help you pick and thoroughly inspect the chassis to avoid spending more money on unnecessary repairs later.
I previously bought a retired taxi, which is typically a decommissioned operational vehicle from a taxi company, often with hundreds of thousands of kilometers on the odometer. The steering wheel and seats were particularly worn out, and the door handles were shiny from heavy use. It felt loose and shaky when driving. Due to prolonged idling while waiting for fares, the engine had significant carbon buildup, and the suspension was nearly worn out. However, the price was indeed cheap—I paid only one-third of the market price for that car. If you're considering buying such a vehicle, pay special attention to engine noise and suspension rattles; it's best to bring a car-savvy friend to inspect it. I spent quite a bit on parts for post-purchase repairs, but it turned out to be a cost-effective option for shuttling my kids to school.
