How many miles is too many?
Discussion
TooMany2cvs said:
J4CKO said:
Get it looked over properly, if it's ok, make a low bid.
A lot may have been clocked anyway, it's a high mileage, low spec, nine year old car but looks smart enough, so many will avoid it so you may get it cheap, ones with half that throw issues so look what has been done, needs to be 500
Yep, that sounds fair.A lot may have been clocked anyway, it's a high mileage, low spec, nine year old car but looks smart enough, so many will avoid it so you may get it cheap, ones with half that throw issues so look what has been done, needs to be 500
J4CKO said:
plus cheaper.
Oh. Right.
At the time of posting I hadn't looked too in depth at it but was a bit blinkered by the price for a 2007 model and general shineyness. Others around the same price are generally 2004-2005 models.
The main concept for the thread wasn't to focus on this specific car though (which I won't now be even leaving the house for). I ws just intersted to know what the opinion os of others and what they would consider to be a cut off as far as mileage is concerned. For instance, there is another thread on here where a guy is looking at a 220,000 mole RS4, and some people are still saying to go for it.
The main concept for the thread wasn't to focus on this specific car though (which I won't now be even leaving the house for). I ws just intersted to know what the opinion os of others and what they would consider to be a cut off as far as mileage is concerned. For instance, there is another thread on here where a guy is looking at a 220,000 mole RS4, and some people are still saying to go for it.
focusxr5 said:
At the time of posting I hadn't looked too in depth at it but was a bit blinkered by the price for a 2007 model and general shineyness. Others around the same price are generally 2004-2005 models.
<shrug>This isn't the US. "Model years" are pretty much irrelevant. A ~10yo 5-series is a ~10yo 5-series. Is it a doggy, leggy ~10yo 5-series, or a tidy ~10yo 5-series with history?
focusxr5 said:
The main concept for the thread wasn't to focus on this specific car though (which I won't now be even leaving the house for). I ws just intersted to know what the opinion os of others and what they would consider to be a cut off as far as mileage is concerned. For instance, there is another thread on here where a guy is looking at a 220,000 mole RS4, and some people are still saying to go for it.
Getting hung up about mileage, rather than looking at condition and history, is the only reason why cars get clocked.
Willy Nilly said:
For £4000 you want petrol and Japaneseif you want cheap and reliable, not some ropey old diesel 5 series.
It's always amusing looking at LandCruiser prices on Autotrader and sorting them by mileage.They are always one owner too ! For a Landcruiser no miles is too many.
The thing is you know the owner is only selling it only to buy a brand new LandCruiser !
Far better than German expensive junk.
I keep buying more garage toys because my 2007 Audi A3 170 TDI s-line with 118K on it just keeps driving perfectly. Every time I look to change and think I like the xenons, leather sport seats, 52 mpg, 170hp to play with, it still looks good, it will cost me £10K to change, I'd rather buy another true PH car that I will use if it lets me down.
In the past I changed my ST24 because it reached 75K, always bought low millage cars, but there is one important thing to consider. I put all the miles on my A3, its always serviced, I have always looked after it. If you can get one that you know the history, can see it's been looked after it wouldn't put me off. If not, I would pay the additional cash for peace of mind.
If you want German but cheaper buy a seat or a Skoda
There's a reason why a lot of taxi drivers drive skoda's
This looks a better buy than the ropey BMW
It's a B7 A4 with a seat badge on
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
There's a reason why a lot of taxi drivers drive skoda's
This looks a better buy than the ropey BMW
It's a B7 A4 with a seat badge on
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Edited by wack on Thursday 11th February 21:36
Gandahar said:
Willy Nilly said:
For £4000 you want petrol and Japaneseif you want cheap and reliable, not some ropey old diesel 5 series.
It's always amusing looking at LandCruiser prices on Autotrader and sorting them by mileage.They are always one owner too ! For a Landcruiser no miles is too many.
The thing is you know the owner is only selling it only to buy a brand new LandCruiser !
Far better than German expensive junk.
Id say anything up to about 150k is worth looking at. (but only if you have done your research on the model and make sure you know problem places to look and listen before buying it. I just bought an 03 109k Honda CRV with full service history and it was a steal. Really tight, fresh car for year and mileage.
I'm not sure there's such a thing as 'too many' miles in some respects, if a car has been maintained well and cared for it should last a hell of a long time. Modern cars that is.
But as mentioned, engines will run for a many miles but other components don't so if you buy a car with 100k+ on the clock, you can't expect not to do any maintenance repairs on it.
I bought a car with 135k on it for just over a grand, I think I chose fairly wisely in terms of build quality (Saab 9-3) but I'm under no illusion that it will need things replaced.
You have to weigh up the love for the car vs the cost to repair. IF you love a car, it's in good condition etc then you're probably likely to pay for things on it.
But as mentioned, engines will run for a many miles but other components don't so if you buy a car with 100k+ on the clock, you can't expect not to do any maintenance repairs on it.
I bought a car with 135k on it for just over a grand, I think I chose fairly wisely in terms of build quality (Saab 9-3) but I'm under no illusion that it will need things replaced.
You have to weigh up the love for the car vs the cost to repair. IF you love a car, it's in good condition etc then you're probably likely to pay for things on it.
vrod said:
I keep buying more garage toys because my 2007 Audi A3 170 TDI s-line with 118K on it just keeps driving perfectly. Every time I look to change and think I like the xenons, leather sport seats, 52 mpg, 170hp to play with, it still looks good, it will cost me £10K to change, I'd rather buy another true PH car that I will use if it lets me down.
In the past I changed my ST24 because it reached 75K, always bought low millage cars, but there is one important thing to consider. I put all the miles on my A3, its always serviced, I have always looked after it. If you can get one that you know the history, can see it's been looked after it wouldn't put me off. If not, I would pay the additional cash for peace of mind.
Have you got the sport back edition? If so how is space? Handling? I do like them as a second family car. In the past I changed my ST24 because it reached 75K, always bought low millage cars, but there is one important thing to consider. I put all the miles on my A3, its always serviced, I have always looked after it. If you can get one that you know the history, can see it's been looked after it wouldn't put me off. If not, I would pay the additional cash for peace of mind.
LGriffiths88 said:
vrod said:
I keep buying more garage toys because my 2007 Audi A3 170 TDI s-line with 118K on it just keeps driving perfectly. Every time I look to change and think I like the xenons, leather sport seats, 52 mpg, 170hp to play with, it still looks good, it will cost me £10K to change, I'd rather buy another true PH car that I will use if it lets me down.
In the past I changed my ST24 because it reached 75K, always bought low millage cars, but there is one important thing to consider. I put all the miles on my A3, its always serviced, I have always looked after it. If you can get one that you know the history, can see it's been looked after it wouldn't put me off. If not, I would pay the additional cash for peace of mind.
Have you got the sport back edition? If so how is space? Handling? I do like them as a second family car. In the past I changed my ST24 because it reached 75K, always bought low millage cars, but there is one important thing to consider. I put all the miles on my A3, its always serviced, I have always looked after it. If you can get one that you know the history, can see it's been looked after it wouldn't put me off. If not, I would pay the additional cash for peace of mind.
Handling is excellent, however on 235/40/18 tires with sport suspension some find it harsh. I have always had 'sport' models so I find it fine.
This was my second A3, my previous 2.0 TDI 140 bhp sport was great until written off, very economical at 55 mpg and quick enough but would give the typical black smoke when booted. My current 2.0 TDI 170 bhp almost gives too much power for front wheel drive, as the bigger turbo gives it in such a punch the wheels will spin if damp. It has the DPF system meaning no black smoke, but needs regular journeys to burn off the carbon. Average MPG is 52. As per my initial post, with the space, handling and economy just don't want or need to change it because its done a few miles, it drives great. You could do a lot worse, and the black editions do look great. Hope this helps. Nick.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff