Older car with no milage or newer car and average mileage?

[mrnorm]

Hi there,

My partner is currently looking at getting a Vauxhall Tigra to potter around in during the summer. Her father has recommended a number of slightly older model (2008) which only has 15k on the clock, where my partner has been looking at newer models with an average mileage on them of about 10k a year. One she has her eye on is 2009 with 50k on the clock.

The idea her father has is 'less is better' but my partner and I seem to think that regular use might not be a bad thing.

Gassers, what are your thoughts?

Thanks,
Oli

[Toaster Pilot]

Condition is paramount but my limited experience with absurdly low mileage cars (7 year old car on 30k and a 3 year old car on 11k) has been pretty bad.

[thebigmacmoomin]

Just because its low mileage, doesnt mean its a better car.

[kiethton]

Mileage isn't everything...condition is paramount, however this statement is exacerbated with age.

I bought my brothers first car for him, Fiesta 1.25 Style on a '55' plate which was then a month over 3 years old with only 3,200 miles on the clock and full Ford SH (motorbility).

There was not a straight pannel on the thing (as it was his first car I wasn't fussed) but I paid only £3,800. Needless to say it was later written off at 5.5 years old and 35k miles (no issues in that time) owing to the age of the car and I negotiated £3,700 as a write-off settlement....

They make sense but only when bought for the right price!