Fiat Ducato with more than 300,000 km.

Sometimes the stories from the world of used cars are so amazingly unbelievable that they could serve as the subject of a top crime thriller. Thus begins the story of the 2014 Fiat Ducato, which became the star of our recent car inspections before purchase.

Amazing discovery – 300,000 km extra mileage!

It started as a normal workday for our company dealing with used car inspection. The customer presented us with a gorgeous 2014 Fiat Ducato, advertised with a respectable 174,500 km on the clock. However, as it soon became clear, this car was a bit of a “magical one.” Our experienced technician, performing the inspection, could tell that something was wrong.

Upon closer inspection, it was revealed that the odometer was properly “loaded” – the car’s mileage was not 174,500 km, as the advertisement claimed, but somewhere around 550,000 km. In most cases, you would probably be happy to get more for the same price. But this is probably not the case with the mileage when buying a used car.

Who would have expected this? – Wrong VIN number

But that wasn't all. If you thought that was the end of the tachometer fun, get ready for this: The VIN number listed in the ad belonged to another car. It's like ordering food from your favorite restaurant and finding a cookbook with a recipe inside the package instead of the food.

This error is much more serious than just misleading recipes. The advertised VIN number belonged to a vehicle that was in good condition and actually had similar mileage to the one listed in the ad. This means that the buyer could be convinced that they are buying one car, but in reality they will receive a completely different one!

Low mileage confirmation labels

What also surprised the technician during the inspection was the number of various labels confirming the low mileage. In the engine compartment there was a service label with an oil change at 171,137 km, and another unspecified label that carried a similar record of 173,171 km. There were many more of these "confirmers" of mileage throughout the car.

What was the reality?

Part of our pre-purchase inspection is always a check of all its identifiers. During the inspection, we check whether all identifiers are original and have not been changed due to changing or concealing the origin of the car. With this car, it was not that difficult, it was enough to compare the advertised VIN with the VIN number on the body and it was painted. Advertised VIN: ZFA25000002603869 VS real VIN: ZFA25000002603269

What can we learn from this?

The story of the Fiat Ducato reminds us that there can be many gems hidden in the used car market. If you are planning to buy a used car, keep the following tips in mind:

1. Take a look under the hood: A thorough check of the speedometer and technical condition of the vehicle can reveal all the dishonest tricks. Or at least most of them!
2. Check the VIN: Check the vehicle's VIN number and compare it to the vehicle information. Don't underestimate this number, as it is the key to the car's history.
3. Professionals are your friends: If you are not an auto guru, feel free to use the services professional technicianwho can examine the car in detail.
4. Trust your intuition: If something doesn't fit in the ad or when inspecting the vehicle, don't be fooled and do more research.

Whether you're looking for a used car or just enjoy stories about sneaky salespeople, this story is a reminder that the truth can be wilder than you think.

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