Clarify what new from stock means in the offer
Ask for the production date, registration status, available custody history and the seller’s exact commercial description. Keep those fields separate. A car can be offered today without having been built recently, and a later registration date does not establish a later factory specification.
Use the year and version guide to identify the original CS55 or relevant PLUS generation. Broad sourcing across years does not mean every earlier version is available new. The enquiry should state the status and production-period requirements your customer actually needs.
Ask for the storage history that is available
Request where and for how long the candidate was stored, any movements and the preparation already performed. Not every detail will be documented; record gaps rather than inventing continuity. Ask whether any damage or repairs occurred while the vehicle was in stock and request supporting information where applicable.
A clean delivery photograph cannot answer all storage questions. At the same time, age alone is not a diagnosis of deterioration. The purpose of the history is to guide an appropriate inspection of the actual car, not to reject every older production date without considering condition.
Agree a vehicle-specific pre-delivery inspection
Ask a competent provider to define the checks appropriate to the vehicle, its documentation and storage history. The scope can include visible condition, relevant systems, battery condition, tyres, fluids and functions according to applicable guidance. Request the dated report and the vehicle identity, not merely a statement that PDI is included.
Do not prescribe a universal replacement list or service interval from another model. A qualified assessment should identify what is required now and explain why. Work completed for preparation should remain visible in the record rather than being hidden because the car is described as new.
Check the equipment before accepting a stock substitute
Stock availability can make an alternative trim attractive, but verify essential functions and the original configuration. A photograph from a promotional car may show equipment missing from the candidate. Ask for direct evidence of the screen, camera, seat and other features that matter to the customer.
The cabin and connectivity guide helps organise these demonstrations. If a different car is proposed, compare the changed equipment and dates explicitly. Do not let a similar colour or model badge carry the original candidate’s confirmed specification into the substitute offer.
Inspect cosmetic condition and delivery completeness
Review paint, glass, trim, wheels and interior condition, together with supplied keys, tools and other agreed items. Distinguish factory specification from dealer-installed accessories. Any touch-up, repair or missing component that affects acceptance should be documented and resolved through a defined preparation agreement.
The condition inspection guide provides a broader structure, but the new-car review should retain its own status questions. A used-car history checklist alone cannot establish registration or storage details. Conversely, the word new should not be used to avoid a meaningful examination of present condition.
Confirm support and warranty dates separately
Ask the relevant provider how the available dates and status affect any support offered. Do not assume that a manufacturer or regional warranty begins when an independent importer receives the car. The overseas warranty checklist explains which questions need written answers for the candidate and destination.
If support is limited or unconfirmed, keep that visible alongside the price. A lower stock price may still be commercially acceptable, but the buyer should understand the complete arrangement. Preparation evidence, warranty eligibility and destination service access are separate lines in the decision.
Evaluate the stock discount against actual preparation
A lower price for an earlier production vehicle can be worth considering if its status, specification and preparation meet the customer’s requirements. Compare the confirmed discount with identified work and any support limitations; do not invent a fixed age-based deduction. Ask for a revised offer once the PDI findings are known. This makes the decision about a particular stock car with a clear record, rather than an assumption that every older new car is either a bargain or unsuitable.
Create an acceptance record before handover
State the required status, accepted production period, essential equipment and PDI evidence in the sourcing request. Identify any outstanding work and ask how completion will be documented. For a batch, obtain a record for each vehicle rather than treating one sample inspection as proof for all units.
The accepted offer should connect vehicle identity, status, preparation and included items. Keep later changes visible and request renewed evidence when needed. This allows a dealer to explain an older-stock new CS55 honestly, without either implying that storage never matters or claiming that every stored vehicle has a problem.
