A few thousand yuan for a small car for commuting, a 2017 Changan Benben, 1.0 four-cylinder manual 5-speed, registered in Jinan, one owner, no ownership records, 50,000+ kilometers on the odometer, slight color difference on the exterior. The interior is very new, with a dashcam, front and rear cameras, and a Mercedes-style central instrument cluster (haha). Alloy wheels. No problems driving it, very easy to drive. In cold weather, even a thick windshield can't keep it warm like this. How much does a few thousand yuan buy for an electric car?
We maintain an absolute skeptical attitude. In addition to regular visual inspections, we focus on checking for sediment accumulation around the sunroof drainage channels and look for water stains under the A-pillar trim and front floor mats. This is the only effective physical evidence to determine if the sunroof drainage holes are blocked, leading to hidden leaks.
Start with the paperwork: the vehicle registration certificate lists every ownership transfer, and the service book plus dealer maintenance records help confirm mileage. For digital verification, ask the seller for a live video walkaround plus a diagnostic scan report showing the ECU-recorded mileage, which is hard to manipulate. For EVs, request a battery state-of-health (SOH) report — it reveals real usage patterns far better than the odometer. Finally, a pre-shipment inspection by a third party should include structural checks (pillars, chassis rails) to rule out accident repairs. Build "no major accident, no flood or fire damage" into your purchase contract with a refund clause if the inspection contradicts it.
Testing is mandatory. Troubleshooting electrical devices in the car is part of the standard procedure. We will test the window lift motors, mirror folding, air conditioning compressor and fan, electric seat tracks, etc. Any stuttering or failure of electronic components will be recorded.
