What issues should be paid attention to when buying a new car?
2 Answers
When buying a new car, you should pay attention to the following issues: 1. Body appearance. Drive the vehicle to a well-lit location for inspection, focusing on the bumper and body gaps, and open the doors to check for any color differences between the interior and exterior paint. If you are unsure whether certain spots on the car are scratches, it's best to use a damp cloth to wipe them rather than picking at them with your fingers. The gaps between the doors, bumper, and hood should be consistent. If the gaps are too large or uneven, it may indicate that the car has been repaired. 2. Car glass. Check the lower right corner of the windows for relevant markings, as only original factory glass will have these marks, preventing the glass from being swapped out later. Additionally, each car's nameplate has a unique engine number and chassis number. Verify that these numbers match the codes on the certificate of conformity. Also, check the manufacturing date on the nameplate. The gap between the delivery date and the manufacturing date should not exceed three months, as prolonged inactivity can cause the engine oil to degrade and some wiring to rust or age. 3. Tire inspection. The tires of a normal new car should have no damage on the sidewalls, especially the front tires, and no puncture marks on the tread. The tire hairs should still be intact. Also, check if the production dates of all four tires are consistent. 4. Other checks. Inspect all lights, including the daytime running lights, low beams, high beams, fog lights, turn signals, brake lights, reverse lights, high-mounted brake lights, dashboard lights, door lights, reading lights, vanity lights, glove compartment lights, and trunk lights.
When I bought my new car, I considered everything comprehensively and didn’t just focus on the good-looking exterior. First was the budget issue—my approach was to set an upper limit, including the down payment, monthly loan payments, and taxes, to avoid being talked into adding configurations and overspending by the salesperson. Then came the on-site inspection: I carefully checked for any scratches on the body, whether the tire pressure was normal, and tested each lighting system one by one. For the test drive, I paid special attention and insisted on driving under different road conditions, such as city traffic congestion and highways, to assess the smoothness of braking and acceleration and avoid hidden issues in a brand-new car. Finally, there was the paperwork—I scrutinized every clause in the contract, ensured the invoice number was correct, and clarified the warranty policy and insurance coverage to avoid disputes later. Safe driving relies on these fundamental safeguards. In my personal experience, I once almost signed an add-on agreement but fortunately caught it in time. Now, after several years of use, my car has had zero issues.
