How can I check a cars true mileage ??
Discussion
http://motinfo.direct.gov.uk/internet/jsp/ECHID-In...
Possibly an HPI check would do the same but I am sure someone will correct me.
Possibly an HPI check would do the same but I am sure someone will correct me.
The *only* way to know for sure is to buy from new, and even then a few years ago a certain manufacturer's employees were caught taking new cars straight from the factory using them for long trips then returning them to the factory to get a new speedo fitted.
Old MOTs only record the mileage as showing on the odometer, an unscrupulous owner could have disconnected the speedo to reduce the amount of recorded miles. Same applies to service stamps and HPIs etc.
Buy on condition.
Old MOTs only record the mileage as showing on the odometer, an unscrupulous owner could have disconnected the speedo to reduce the amount of recorded miles. Same applies to service stamps and HPIs etc.
Buy on condition.
Condition is always the benchmark I use. Look at things like the seats, the condition of the wheels, the engine etc. A heavy mileage car will have worn seats, dark alloys (where brake dust/dirt has built up over the miles) and the engine *can* feel slightly looser. I reckon my old MG was clocked, it was 4 years old when I bought it and had done 16,000 miles. Shortly after I bought it the gearbox went pop - while it's possibly just a case of "lol MG", both the recovery man and the fella in the repair shop commented that it's uncommon for a gearbox to explode so early, and the car may have seen more miles than it had on it. Certainly, the individual I bought it from wasn't the sort of man you could trust with your house keys while on holiday.
redtwin said:
The *only* way to know for sure is to buy from new, and even then a few years ago a certain manufacturer's employees were caught taking new cars straight from the factory using them for long trips then returning them to the factory to get a new speedo fitted.
Old MOTs only record the mileage as showing on the odometer, an unscrupulous owner could have disconnected the speedo to reduce the amount of recorded miles. Same applies to service stamps and HPIs etc.
Buy on condition.
In the past this was somewhat easier as cars really did show their age, nowadays they hide it well (hence being ripe for clocking!).Old MOTs only record the mileage as showing on the odometer, an unscrupulous owner could have disconnected the speedo to reduce the amount of recorded miles. Same applies to service stamps and HPIs etc.
Buy on condition.
I had an Audi A6 that had done 60k, inside the car looked new (the outside only looked like it had done half the mileage). The Omega I have now has done 67k and although tidy (certainly doesn't look anything like 10 years old), still shows some small signs of wear that the Audi wouldn't entertain at all.
I would pay more attention to checking German car (the more upmarket ones anyway) over as the design/engineering of the visible stuff is very good and can hide the age very well. A 200k bmw 7series can easily pass for a 100k one, however a 200k Vauxhall/Ford/Frenchie will struggle to hide the miles.
You simply have to check as much as you can INCLUDING getting a proper HPI with NMR data, old MOTs etc. The combination of all these things should help you make as best an informed decision as possible.
Don't skip the HPI because it "looks" mint, innit. And don't skip checking the car over as the HPI says it's clear.
Edited by Dracoro on Thursday 18th November 22:26
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