Would you buy a car with high miles?

[tercelgold]

Something like a 3 year old Mondeo with 130K miles is ok if the condition is not of a taxi. A Ford focus on 80K miles
used for 7 years is probably going to be in much worse shape.

[jimbobsimmonds]

Acheron said:

Only done it once, bought a 318 touring on a 2002 plate which had 138k. No real problems but it was too slow and sold it for the st220 after a couple of months.

Now the fuel bill is killing me, i want another bmw, and want an e90 3 series. Im considering a 320d (or even a 318d at a push). I know it wont satisfy the speed element the mondeo has, but alas, if i can get a nice msport with nav, i'd be happy.

However, the only ones i can see in my price range have high miles. Some of the real nice ones have got in excess of 120k on the clock, a few others have got around the 80/90k mark for cars only 3/4 years old.

Would you steer well away? My mondeo in comparison has 65k on the clock and is 7 years old.

Obviously i wont be buying a shed, but if it looks and drives ok, i might be tempted. The budget is 10k max, and i dont want an e46.

Yes is the short answer...

My car now has 120k on it and runs tickety boo... I might spend £100 a month on average on maintenance, but is that more than finance on the equivalent; short answer no...

All I did was read up on the known problems, looked round a few, found one with good service history in my price range and took the plunge. A year down the line still glad I did it...

[Teebs]

As said, buy on condition.

My 2009 Insignia has 84,000 on.

[Dav3yboy]

140k on my golf, it is 28years old though, Runs sweet, just keep it maintained. Make sure it has a good history.

[tinman0]

Teebs said:

As said, buy on condition.

My 2009 Insignia has 84,000 on.

How much did it cost, if you don't mind me asking?

[gareth.e]

Yes, along as I think the engine will last and suspension is fresh..

Bought mine on 120 odd miles..

[gareth.e]

Teebs said:

As said, buy on condition.

My 2009 Insignia has 84,000 on.

Nice, cars such as this are likely to have minimal wear imo as most of their life must have been spent up and down the motorway

[calibrax]

As you're switching from petrol to diesel, you have to remember that at 100k a diesel is only just run-in. I'd have no problems buying a diesel up to about 250k, whereas with a petrol I'd probably draw the line at 150k.

[WeirdNeville]

I love all the comments of "I only buy high mile cars, why my last repmobile had over 80K on it!"
I'm running a 328i young which will pass 170K on my way home tonight. It's great, drives perfectly and is still fun and capable. When I do sell it I know someone will be getting a bargain: a fast (ish) practical, reliable Estate which gets 30 Mpg and wafts along serenely. I'd be surprised if it gets £500. What a bargain.

tinman0 said:

VPower said:

Bought my A8 with 130,000 on clock for £3k, sold it 3 years later to a Young lad who wanted it just for the summer barge tour round Europe for £1k with 175,000 on clock.

That is one hell of a car for £1k! What size engine?

My mate spent 3 months trying to sell his 4.2 quattro which had been fettled towards S8 spec. Eventually it went for £700 and export to Poland. It was double glazed and had a cigar humidor FFS! Utter bargain, so long as you hold stock in BP.

[Lets Torque]

I would buy on condition rather than mileage, just make if you do buy a high-miler, make sure that the service history tally's up with the mileage and that it's been serviced on time.

[tinman0]

WeirdNeville said:

My mate spent 3 months trying to sell his 4.2 quattro which had been fettled towards S8 spec. Eventually it went for £700 and export to Poland. It was double glazed and had a cigar humidor FFS! Utter bargain, so long as you hold stock in BP.

Prices of some of these cars in the UK is quite ridiculous. If I didn't have my own V8 (and a couple of other things), i'd be up for buying something like that.

I have to admit though, the Mustang is the last new car I'm buying for many years now. From here on in it's s/h mile monsters.

And I have been looking at Crown Vic P71s for maybe later this year when I get to the US. $3k gets you ex cop car, mileage that makes a space shuttle look forecourt brand new, plus you get to scare people, especially if you pull over on an interstate.

[matthewg]

I have 130k on my s2000, starting to wonder when it will die

Clutch is new, regular servicing....wondering when the engine will give up it's goal....

[tonys]

What's high mileage. One of the airport shuttle buses I was picked up in in Portugal a few weeks ago had 880,000km on the clock. Seats were a bit frayed around the edges of the armrest, but that was all.

[Teebs]

gareth.e said:

Nice, cars such as this are likely to have minimal wear imo as most of their life must have been spent up and down the motorway

I only do around 5,000 a year on motorways. 30,000 a year on rural and urban roads. My profile info breaks down the costs over the past 2 and a bit years.

[TonyRPH]

I've just sold my B5 A4 Quattro Turbo.

That had 149k on the clock.

It also came with an extensive folder of history - no rattles or knocks, oil consumption normal.

Original engine as far as I know.

But having said that - about two years ago I had a '98 B5 2.8 Quattro, 1 lady owner, full service history etc. 94k miles on it (genuine).

But it wasn't a good car.

Heater matrix was leaking, gearbox / haldex was noisy, knocks and rattles everywhere.

In my experience (and I've owned 29 cars in the past 12 years) service history counts for nothing, unless you have a comprehensive list of bills to back it up.

Anyone can take their car for a service and get the book stamped, but that doesn't mean that they have had any recommended (or even required) work carried out...

ETA: about 6 years ago I bought an E34 520i with 168k on the clock - it was a sound car until it starting overheating.....

[entwisi]

Honda accord diesel, bought at 4.5 yo with 130 k on, not yet 6 yo and is approaching 165 k. still on original clutch, suspension etc,

Took a v70 from 135 to 240 k and an alfa and saab for over 75 k each and all stated at over 100 k

[Globs]

Acheron said:

However, the only ones i can see in my price range have high miles.

High mileage cars are great - far less likely to have been clocked: Better value.

[Engineer1]

Now the bigger question si would you buy a high mileage Prius? Most I've seen up for sale are over 100K miles.

[Jem0911]

Never bothered me.
The Volvo I have at the moment had 149000 on it when I bought it.
I am adding around 700 a week currently.
Going well.

[DLovett]

Just bought a mint 155K 205 GTi 1.6 in Cherry Red. Best example I've seen in Denmark.