Cars - age v. mileage?

[jonewer]

What do people think is more important when buying a used car, age or mileage?

I'm looking to spend £2k-£4k on my long planned new second hand car. Ideally looking for a mid-size car no older than an 05' plate with no more than 40k miles on the clock. There isnt much choice locally for such things.

So I have been looking on autotrader and there are really good prices on cars that a older or have high mileage. Whats more important then, an older car (02 plate) or one with higher milage (80k ish)?

:wha:

 

[nickmcmechan]

Not sure if this helps but I have a company car, 3 1/2 years old and 102k on the clock.

Its a Vuxhall and feels like a 10 year old car, indeed the quality of the drive deterioated quickly after 30k miles.

Other Company Car drivers I know have went for more premium brands such as BMW, Audi etc.

The main difference is that when these cars are high mileage you don't notice the difference so much, if at all. One BMW driver stated to me that his car felt as good as new when ti was up for renewal.

So, my advice would be that high mileage cars are OK if they are a decent brand, but don't touch the less expensive brands.

If I was buying my own car I would rather buy an older, higher mileage premium branded car. Things wont go wrong that often (especially Audis a mechanic told me...'we never see them apart from for a service'...) but when they do it will cost you more in comparison.

 

[Mike1981]

It depends what condition it is or if its got full service history etc. U could get a newish ex company car with a fair few miles on but has full dealer service history, on the other hand u could buy a newish car thats been tret like crap and not been looked after. I personally would look at the service history on it, if full history, mileage wouldnt be an issue. Age is irrelavant. you could buy a brand new car from a dealership with no miles on it and have nothing but trouble, or a '05 car and it be a nice car. Ive worked in dealerships and seen it for myself. :thumb:

 

[Mike1981]

[quote="
So, my advice would be that high mileage cars are OK if they are a decent brand, but don't touch the less expensive brands.

If I was buying my own car I would rather buy an older, higher mileage premium branded car. Things wont go wrong that often (especially Audis a mechanic told me...'we never see them apart from for a service'...) but when they do it will cost you more in comparison.[/quote]

Id agree, ive got an 05 plate with audi A4 with 85k on but runs like a new car

 

[stevander74]

Modern engines are made to much tighter tolerances than they used to be, in order to conform to emissions rules, so most will easily make 200,000 with regular servicing before needing any major work. However it tends to be not the engines thats the problem but suspension wear. Bushes, dampers, springs etc tend to wear with use so these are the parts that need changing.
What are you looking for from the car? sporty performance? cheap economy?
Whatever you go for a good service history is a must for piece of mind if your not mechanically handy. :thumb:
I agree with mln810 premium brands do last longer. Audi/volkswagon are good but for a cheaper option you could consider skoda which being part of the VW group are a lot more reliable than people expect and are a good buy if you can see past the badge and as a bonus older ones tend to have been taken care of better because they get driven by maturer drivers and avoided by boy racers. Honda and Toyota also have good reliability and a similar driver type.
Personally, with your budget id be looking for an '05 Ford Focus 1.6tdci Ghia with around 80k and fsh.

 

[jonewer]

What are you looking for from the car? sporty performance? cheap economy?

Mixture of the two really. I dont want something utterly dull but at the same time I dont derive much pleasure from thrashing about.

I'm quite suprised that VW has a good reputation. I'd always looked down on them somewhat.

May go for a Japanese make.

Thanks for the tips about a service history. Hadnt really crossed my mind before!

 

[jonewer]

Some of these car adds are quite entertaining, this for an N-reg Saab 900......

SAAB 900 2.0I S AUTOMATIC 1 OWNER FSH E/SUNROOF WHITE , 5 Doors, Automatic, Hatchback, Petrol, 1996 , 57,500 miles, White, MOT-03-2012. 1 owner plus SAAB from new with a FULL and COMPLETE SERVICE HISTORY ! ! [ serviced @ 5966m - 7/96 , 13663m - 7/97 , 19448m - 7/98 , 23693m - 7/99 , 27813m - 7/00 , 31138m - 7/01 , 35328m - 7/02 , 38764m - 7/03 , 42419m - 7/04 , 45572m - 7/05 , 48507m - 7/06 , 51994m - 8/07 , 53695m - 5/08 , 55535m - 6/09 , 56724m - 8/10 .... what a brilliant history this is !The 1st 5 @ HAYMILL SAAB and the last 8 @ GRAYSHEEN GARAGE / Gerrards cross - Bosch agent ] . What a brilliant Station / Motorway / School car that is STRONG and SAFE - LOOK AFTER YOUR KIDS [ side impact bars on this model ! ] and that is RELIABLE - THESE CARS ARE BRILLIANT ALLROUNDERS, FACTORY Electric tilt / slide GLASS SUNROOF , no A/C, 4 new original SAAB wheel trims, POWER STEERING, ABS brakes , Good SAAB radio - cassette with electric aerial and CD compatability ! , REAR WASH - WIPE, HRW, ELECTRIC WINDOWS, REMOTE CENTRAL LOCKING / IMMOBILISOR [ 2 KEYS / 2 REMOTES ], SPORTMODE FULLY AUTOMATIC GEARBOX, AMAZING LOAD CAPACITY and also A LOW THRESHOLD, NO PROBLEM LOADING A WHEELCHAIR etc... CLASSIC WHITE with GREY VELOUR TRIM, XXXX FREE HPI CERTIFICATE XXXX , REMEMBER THIS IS A NON TURBO UNCOMPLICATED and easy to insure RELIABLE 'OLD GIRL' . JUST FRESHLY SHAMPOOED [ wet vac throughout, long job ] XXX JUST REDUCED XXX View nr. J8 M25 [ SURREY ], £1,399

 

[Muddydisco]

I just got an 02 plate audi for £4K done 100000 miles being diesel it's still good for another 100k + Seen some for sale on 280k!!
That car is holding it's value well but if you looked for a passat (VW) you can buy alot more car for your money. Audi and passat engines are the same engine with a few mods basically

 

[snail59]

Age and Mileage are irrelevant really. Condition, spec and service history are everything. My last two cars have both been High Mileage (100,000) Diesels. With the modern Diesel 100k is nothing. I would go with a slightly older higher speced high mileage car with a full main dealer service history. Chances are at over 100k the car will have had cam belt, Brake pads and possibly discs or drums plus some other thing like fuel pumps replaced already so could be in better shape mechanically than a car that has only done say 70/80k. Just my opinion :thumb:

 

[doodles]

Neither is more important than the other.

Age of the car will affect things that rust and corrode more etc.

Mileage depends on the type of miles it has done. 100k on the motorway is very different to 100k through countrylanes and down farm tracks etc.

 

[bigred]

I have an 05 citroen C5 with 96k on the clock. It's just had brakepads, track rod ends and sidelights changed. I get 45mpg from a 2.0l diesel with hardly any motorway driving but very little town centre driving either.

 

[happyhoppytaff]

i sold my nissan and bought an older, higher mileage renault. it is an awesome car, the best i have ever had. it has 117k on it and does need work every mot but it is still cheaper than buying a new car on credit.

when i was looking at the renaut i searched online forums for typical faults. checked for these and took a long test drive.

i bought a well put together car. never let me down.

its mot is up in 2 months and i will set aside 500 quid for any major work on brakes and/or suspention

bangernomics=the economics of buying a banger. always a stress at mot time but always cheeper than buying new on credit.

 

[Sean_Mc]

My old zafira owes me nothing, had it since it was two years old and had 30k on the clock and its now 7yeras old with 85k.
I change the oil every year and have the brake pads done and never had any trouble apart from the clutch going.
Nothing fancy inside, its still got the tapedeck, but would like a few more toys.
The C-max in work has about twelve buttons on the steering wheel and has voice recognition, parking sensors, but is a gas guzzler compared to my zafira