Younger car, higher mileage or older with lower mileage?

[Corsacrazy]

We're considering two used cars one is a 2015 with 92k and the other is 2012 with 55k which is about £1500 cheaper. Both cars have the same spec but which would be a better option?

[Mr Tidy]

It all depends on what the car is!

I always buy based on condition and history.

I wouldn't be too bothered about 92K on a 4+ cylinder turbo-diesel or a petrol/diesel 6 cylinder, but would avoid cars with small engines at those mileages.

[heebeegeetee]

Hmm, neither of those cars is young so I think I would choose the lower mileage, but like others have said, I'd be more interested in condition and history.

[georgeyboy12345]

All other things equal, I’d pick the younger car with more miles on it.

[SlowV6]

georgeyboy12345 said:

All other things equal, I’d pick the younger car with more miles on it.

I would too.

OP what are the 2 cars in question?

[NAAHD]

Not sure I'm qualified to answer on this one after my recent cock up.....

However I have a 2012 diesel with 55k and it runs pretty nicely. Never had any bother in the year I've owned it or the couple of years my relative did.

Depends what the car is, I definitely wouldn't want a fiat Punto with 90k on the clock haha. That said, service history being king imo. Just don't be me and make sure you check everything on the car you choose to buy.

Good luck

[Pica-Pica]

So much depends on
a) relative specifications. You say they are the same , but the newer car may have more up to date infotainment.
b) service history. The higher mileage car may be coming up for e.g. auto trans refurb. (Or may well have just had it done)

There is also the issue of state of the tyres (and wheels) and brake discs/pads. How new are they, and what condition are they.

[Corsacrazy]

Thanks everyone, the car is a seat alhambra 2.0l manual. The newer one has had the timing belt/water pump done.

[SlowV6]

I'd go for the later one. 4yrs into the model cycle it is likely to have numerous little improvements made and you have stated it has had the timing belt and water pump changed.

You aren't really offering up much information for any more detailed advice, but assuming both have service history (with invoices), broadly similar number of owners, decent MOT history (have you checked on the DVLA site?) and come back clean on an HPI check then I would pick the newer one.

Have you checked everything works on both cars? Aircon, all electrics, both remotes etc etc. Any warning lights on the dash? Have you checked the tyres have some life left in them? Discs look decent? Do both examples drive comparably?

[Corsacrazy]

I don't know a lot about the older one just yet as the dealer is awaiting it coming into stock in the next day or two. The newer one has had 2 owners, mot history seems OK, just highlighted disc brakes scored, new brake pads advised and that the rear bumpstops had perished. It has since been motd here in NI. We have still to potentially view it. Both cars are over an hour away so that's why we were trying to decipher which one to prioritise viewing.

[georgeyboy12345]

The newer one is sounding even better if it's had the timing belt and water pump done, and SlowV6 makes a very good point that later models will more likely had improvements, niggles ironed out of them, etc. That's probably the reason the newer one costs more - it's probably the better car.

I assume it's a 2.0 TDI?

An old diesel with not many miles could cause you issues with the DPF, EGR, etc.

I guess the proof will be when you go to see them. One issue with MPVs like this is that the interiors are often in bad condition due to kids spilling food and vomiting/defacating in them, etc.

[ninjag]

I'd go for the younger car with higher miles, so long as it's been maintained and usually the tech is better. An older low mileage car could have been clocked - although not sure this type of car would be subject to this but you never know - lots of people I know do it for all sorts of cars, it's terrible.

[Dave80s]

The Alhambra was facelifted in 2015. Easiest way to check is the newer model has horizontal front grille slats, the older ones were vertical.

The facelift included more powerful engines and an upgraded stereo with bigger screen. Worth going for the newer one if it's a facelift.

I owned an Alhambra for about 2 years, I would have another.

[Corsacrazy]

Looks like the 2015 one has vertical slats in the grill so it's the older version.

[Boringvolvodriver]

As others have said, look at the condition, service history and generally how it has been looked after. Number of owners would also be important to me - one owner from new who has been meticulous with servicing is far better than 4 or 5 owners.

If it is the diesel then the higher mileage may be better as an older diesel with low miles may have issues down the road with DPF (if it has one?) and injectors.

Without knowing all the answers or seeing the cars, my instinct is for the newer car with higher miles

[PH.sausages]

Given the belt change, I'd personally go for the newer car with higher mileage.

[Corsacrazy]

Just found out the newer one has been sold and the older one doesn't have the same spec (no pan roof, reversing camera etc). So not sure what to do now.

Might wait for another to come up, been searching for 7 months now, dealers lying and selling cars even when we've made appointments and travelled for hours with the kids to view.

Very hard to get anyone honest in this game. Shafted with another car too and had to get trading standards and a solicitor to get some money back. Think we'll consider a bike and trailer from now on.

[Corsacrazy]

We went to view the car with less miles, it seemed fine. I asked them twice how many previous owners but when I first asked over the phone, they hadn't received the car or paperwork yet to check they said. When we viewed the car I asked again but the salesman said the v5 was sent to dvla as the car had a private plate and it would be going back to its original. We test drove it and it seemed fine, so we put a deposit down. I've just done a vcheck on it and it's coming up it's had 6 previous owners in 11 years. Some for a period of a month and the most recent for 3 months. I'll be phoning in the morning regarding this and probably pulling out of the sale. Anyone's thoughts as to why so many owners?

[Back2theFuji]

Blimey, that doesn't sound good! Perhaps it's been sold a few times and returned under sale of goods act because of issues?

If I were being optimistic, I'd guess it had been passed around a family a bit (hence private plate). But the former sounds more likely

[QJumper]

There may be good reasons for that many short term owners, but there are plenty of bad ones too, so personally I wouldn't risk it. That's just me though.