Am I doing the car buying thing wrong!!!
Discussion
Here goes. For years I have bought cars that have been 6 or 7 years old, low miles, 1 owner etc etc...all the usual stuff you get drummed into you as being the 'general consensus'...but is there another way? Recently I have been reviewing what I actually want from my next car...currently I am pootling about in a Peugeot 108, brand new through work and ideal for my wife who has just passed her test. We have it until next June at which point the lease period expires and I have to give it back. I am somewhat loathe to go down the lease route again, so my budget for next years purchase will be circa £2000. The requirements were as follows : petrol only, full history, low-ish miles, no more than 3 owners, between 30 and 40 mpg. A quick glance through autotrader leads me to believe that I can get a ten year old Focus, Astra, higher mileage Golf or a size up and I am into Mondeo, Vectra and Passat territory. These all seem to fit the bill and I'd be happy with most of them tbh.
However, I am beginning to think that mileage is not as relevant as I thought it to be, and that a higher mileage (140k plus) but newer car, with full service history and one that has been highly maintained could prove to be a shrewd buy. If I were to go down this route, would I be better focusing on Japanese stuff over Mondeos/Vectras etc? I have heard amazing things about Accords that run to almost 300k!!! If I narrow it down to Honda, Toyota, Mazda and Nissan, what would be their Mondeo equivalents and which would represent good value for my money in the petrol engined ranges?
However, I am beginning to think that mileage is not as relevant as I thought it to be, and that a higher mileage (140k plus) but newer car, with full service history and one that has been highly maintained could prove to be a shrewd buy. If I were to go down this route, would I be better focusing on Japanese stuff over Mondeos/Vectras etc? I have heard amazing things about Accords that run to almost 300k!!! If I narrow it down to Honda, Toyota, Mazda and Nissan, what would be their Mondeo equivalents and which would represent good value for my money in the petrol engined ranges?
Think more along the lines of receipts rather than worrying about the service history don't get me wrong it matters to a degree but actual receipts of work carried out are worth more again it's the same with the number of owners all that matters is the car you're looking to buy shows signs of being looked after, mileage is more of an issue because if you're buying a high miler & there are no receipts for new bushes/belts/clutches etc then the bigger the likelihood that you've got some bills coming.
the only reason why mileage is relevant is that some components have a lifetime after which they may break / deteriorate... hence a car which is badly maintained at 120,000 miles will be more likely to have issues than one at 20,000 miles...
however - if you buy on condition and how it has been looked after, then there should be no issue... but you will still have some components come to end of life, however you just need to start with the thinking that the running cost is in replacing components, not in depreciation and with every new bit you put on the car you are actually making it better...
it is why my newest car is 14 years old and I have very few issues with them - the RRC wouldn't start this afternoon, but it was simply a wire having fallen off the starter motor - once plugged back in it worked perfectly!
however - if you buy on condition and how it has been looked after, then there should be no issue... but you will still have some components come to end of life, however you just need to start with the thinking that the running cost is in replacing components, not in depreciation and with every new bit you put on the car you are actually making it better...
it is why my newest car is 14 years old and I have very few issues with them - the RRC wouldn't start this afternoon, but it was simply a wire having fallen off the starter motor - once plugged back in it worked perfectly!
Buy a 10 year old car with good history which cost the last owner a lot to get through the last service. My 10 year old lexus had new disks caliperps and pads all round for the last service. Plus a new Campbelt as part of the 100k service. Probably cost almost as much as I paid for car at lexus prices. I guess the previous owner thought it was going to cost him this much every year from then on as it was old. Been trouble free for me just oil and a filter. I always try to do this.
ARHarh said:
Buy a 10 year old car with good history which cost the last owner a lot to get through the last service. My 10 year old lexus had new disks caliperps and pads all round for the last service. Plus a new Campbelt as part of the 100k service. Probably cost almost as much as I paid for car at lexus prices. I guess the previous owner thought it was going to cost him this much every year from then on as it was old. Been trouble free for me just oil and a filter. I always try to do this.
oooh a "campbelt" suits you sir!Cheer for the replies. I once owned a BMW e36 1997 R reg. Was the best car I ever owned, but I sold it 6 years ago. The only thing that stopped me buying another one was that I perceived them to be too old. However, after reading some of the replies on here, if I could find one now and the history, condition and to some extent mileage were ok then I wouldn't hesitate. I am competent enough to change the oil, filters and plugs on one and could maintain it between services. Maybe I should look for one of them now...I am sorely tempted now!!!
Plate spinner said:
Also ignore number of owners, it's a pretty pointless bit of info really.
I think it's highly relevant.Low number of owners tends to indicate a car that has been well looked.
Flip side is I would always avoid a car that has been owned by someone for a year or less, whatever their supposed reason for sale.
Hammer67 said:
cuprabob said:
Mileage is just a number, buy on condition and history.
Can't really agree with that. Mileage = use = wear and tear.Buy on Mileage/History/Condition. IMO it`s age that is just a number.
I always buy older, low mileage stuff, hasn't failed me yet.
Obviously, your choices work for you
Many thanks for the replies people, you have all been very helpful. Here's what I gather I should be looking for, in no particular order.
Service history.
Receipts for work done.
Overall condition.
Had work done for M.O.T.
Not being sold after a short period of ownership.
Having spoken to my wife, she isn't too keen on Mondeo sized cars (and flat out refused to drive an E36) but would be fine driving something a little smaller, so having done a little research we both decided that either a mk1 facelifted 1.8 Ford Focus or a Toyota Corolla could be ideal. I'm sure that we can find a top example of either within our budget.
Service history.
Receipts for work done.
Overall condition.
Had work done for M.O.T.
Not being sold after a short period of ownership.
Having spoken to my wife, she isn't too keen on Mondeo sized cars (and flat out refused to drive an E36) but would be fine driving something a little smaller, so having done a little research we both decided that either a mk1 facelifted 1.8 Ford Focus or a Toyota Corolla could be ideal. I'm sure that we can find a top example of either within our budget.
I'd add to that marque history or problems.
There are many cars that in certain models and/or age ranges catastrophic failures of expensive bits can occur. Or even a big service cost at a certain age/mileage you want to avoid, same with taxation class, petrols (especially auto's) can creep up the tax bands which are all worth considering in your budget range.
There are many cars that in certain models and/or age ranges catastrophic failures of expensive bits can occur. Or even a big service cost at a certain age/mileage you want to avoid, same with taxation class, petrols (especially auto's) can creep up the tax bands which are all worth considering in your budget range.
85Carrera said:
Plate spinner said:
Also ignore number of owners, it's a pretty pointless bit of info really.
I think it's highly relevant.Low number of owners tends to indicate a car that has been well looked.
Flip side is I would always avoid a car that has been owned by someone for a year or less, whatever their supposed reason for sale.
I go by these general rules:
- Mileage: 8,000 - 15,000 per year average, higher or lower and it sets alarm bells ringing.
- Owners: average 1 every 2 to 3 years and current owner should have the car at least a year preferably 2
- Condition - if the car looks looked after then chances are it has, if the oil is a thick black goopy mess and the boot looks like its been used to transport livestock, walk away.
- Age: not really relevant, sometimes I will buy older to get the 'same' car for less money but it depends on condition really.
- Seller: Depends on the car, but an elderly well of gentleman with a nice house is far more likely to have spent time and money on the car and not driven the hell out of it. A late teens early 20's guy with a backwards baseball cap is less likely to have been as careful.
Common sense stuff really, very few hard and fast rules.
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