CHECK 01
Name the two candidates precisely
Start with production period, original designation, source market and powertrain for each offer. The GS3 identity guide explains why GS3 and EMZOOM information needs context. Apply the same discipline to GS4 and MAX descriptions rather than treating every version in either family as mechanically and dimensionally identical.
Keep specifications from each candidate’s own reference and vehicle evidence. Do not construct a comparison by combining the best equipment from several markets into one imaginary configuration. If a feature is essential, ask for confirmation on the actual car and mark unknown items visibly until the supplier can resolve them.
CHECK 02
Begin with passengers and entry access
Write down who normally travels together, their seating needs and any child-seat requirements. Assess entry, seating adjustment and normal passenger comfort on suitable examples of the actual configuration. A model photograph with an empty cabin cannot establish whether the intended users will find their normal arrangement practical.
The GS3 cabin review provides a structured request for that side of the comparison. Keep the other vehicle’s test comparable: use the same passengers or relevant measurements where possible. A generous front-seat demonstration in one car should not be compared with a rear-seat arrangement assessed under very different conditions in the other.
The GS3 luggage-fit test gives both sellers the same packing task. A larger body or a differently configured load-area photograph cannot answer the complete passenger-and-luggage requirement by itself.
CHECK 03
Measure parking and everyday manoeuvring needs
Ask about the usual parking bay, access lane, garage opening and space available to open doors. Confirm vehicle dimensions from appropriate information for the relevant versions. A car that appears attractive in a spacious showroom may be inconvenient in the customer’s ordinary parking environment even if its cabin is appealing.
Check the actual visibility and fitted parking functions through normal demonstrations. Do not assume that a camera image on a brochure proves the offered car has the same system. Keep driver-assistance functions accurately described, and do not use a claimed electronic feature to dismiss a physical access constraint that still needs measurement.
CHECK 04
Compare usable luggage space with seats occupied
Ask for the intended bags, pushchair or work equipment to be demonstrated with required passenger seats available. Folded-seat photographs answer a different question from a full-family journey. Record the relevant opening and load-space constraints rather than ranking the cars solely by catalogue volume figures that may use different measurement conventions.
Consider the full routine, including loading frequency, the people lifting the items and any essential cover or spare-wheel arrangement. A modest difference in nominal space may matter less than whether one awkward item fits. Let the customer’s load define the test instead of looking for whichever photograph makes one candidate seem larger.
CHECK 05
Keep equipment and condition separate from hierarchy
Compare mandatory functions before optional styling or convenience preferences. A higher-positioned model does not guarantee that a particular used example has every feature or that its condition is better. Identify any modified equipment and confirm whether it affects the customer’s requirements or destination support.
For new candidates, compare status and completed preparation. For used cars, compare history, inspection and unresolved work. A clean newer GS3 and an older GS4 needing repairs are not equivalent merely because their asking prices are close. The dealer should explain the actual trade-off rather than describe the model name as an automatic upgrade.
CHECK 06
Put both quotes on the same commercial basis
The dealer quotation guide separates vehicle, preparation and delivery scope. Use equivalent categories for the GS4 alternative. Record currency, included items, exclusions and evidence status so a lower headline amount is not mistaken for a lower completed cost when essential work or services are missing.
Ask about practical service and parts support for each actual application. Do not assume shared manufacturer branding makes every component or workshop requirement interchangeable. If a candidate depends on an unconfirmed support route, keep that uncertainty beside its price rather than hiding it in a broad statement that GAC parts are available. Use the same route and price assumptions with the GS3 fuel-cost worksheet when adding an operating-cost comparison to those acquisition figures.
CHECK 07
Decide which requirements can move
Send Panda the mandatory passenger, parking and luggage needs, then identify preferences such as appearance or optional equipment. Allow suitable alternatives only within those boundaries. If the customer is open to either model, say what evidence is required before a substitution can be accepted.
Record the reason for choosing the final vehicle in practical terms: it accommodates the required load, has verified functions and meets the agreed condition and cost scope. That explanation remains useful at delivery. A blanket claim that GS4 is always better or GS3 is always better value does not serve customers whose priorities differ.
Make the next request specific.
Send the condition, accepted years and version, destination and quantity. Include the items that must be confirmed before you accept a candidate. A sourcing enquiry begins the discussion; availability and purchase terms require an actual offer.
Discuss a suitable GS3 →