Widow seeking date

My next-door neighbour, a widow, wants to buy a new Supemini. She is worried that a car may have been stored for a year or more, possibly in the open. I seem to remember that, in your column, there is some place on new cars where the date of manufacture is inscribed; was it under the ashtray?

Asked on 25 April 2009 by

Answered by Honest John

That's right. The date of the plastic moulding is stamped into the base of the ashtray and other recyclable plastics. But the easiest things to check are the seatbelt tags. Very clear. That said, not many superminis have been stored for long. These are the cars that are still selling very well.

Tags: buying new cars

Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:

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