Buying a car with 160k on the clock

[JimM169]

I'm after a small\mid estate preferably ULEZ compliant and budget is only £7k tops.
On the way in to work this morning I drove past a guy who always has a few cars for sale on the drive and one of those was a 15 Plate Skoda Octavia 2.0 SE up for £4,895. Only had a quick look at the car but it looked very tidy, apparently has a full service history and MOT history looks good but it does have 160k miles on the clock. I'm of an age where if a car had done 100k it was considered to be past it so 160k is a bit off putting but should I really be worried? I appreciate modern diesels can do starship mileages so would you still consider something like this or am I better off walking away?

[Belle427]

Difficult to say, engine may be fine but if it's still on its original clutch and turbo they may be past their best.

[J1990]

At that mileage you're buying based on visible condition and hopefully a box full of receipts so that you can see how well it's been taken care of and the last time (if ever) certain components were refreshed (gearbox/clutch, turbo, suspension etc) - Personally, I wouldn't be too worried about the mileage on the engine if it's got a healthy history. Not sure if it's an auto you're looking at but if so I'd be a little more cautious about ensuring the DSG servicing has been done meticulously as I understand that these can be a real pig to sort, especially when you're looking at this end of the market.

A quick look on AT suggests this is comfortably below market value, potentially a bargain or maybe cheap for a reason.

PS - Maybe take a quick look at the MOT history, it can give a little indication as to how switched on previous owners were i.e. Did it always seem to have fails for bald tyres, leaking/corrosion that shows up year after year rather than being dealt with etc.

[georgeyboy12345]

There’s a VW Tiguan that uses the same EA288 diesel engine as this for sale on AT that has nearly 240,000 on the clock, so as long as it has been looked after (oil changes every 8-10k), it should be ok. Cambelt should have been done at 133,000 miles, if not it can be done at an indy for around £400. I’d walk away if there are gaps in the SH.

[scot_aln]

These get regularly used as cabs so some will have done massive mileages. Personally I've always been happier younger with more miles than older with less. Plus high miles should be real miles, low miles you never quite know.

[Roger Irrelevant]

That seems like a good deal to me. As a vague reference point my 2014 Volvo XC70 with a bit over 115k miles on it would retail for £11-12k. Which seems a bit mad but that's the world we're in - £5k really doesn't get you a lot so a decent sized 2015 estate at that price could be a bargain. If it's done 160k and still looks right, sounds right and drives right then I'd be comfortable enough that it's unlikely to explode before 200k.

[sunnyb13]

yeah absolutely fine.

[CrippsCorner]

I just watched this earlier...

https://youtu.be/QMyiSOfZ9h8

Seems like a good motor and the same sort of price. Slightly less miles, but then slightly older.

Miles don't personally bother me as I've had low mile cars that have been ste, and high miles ones that have been great.

[Jamescrs]

Probably good for 250000 miles without too much issue if its been well looked after

[Pistom]

I'm always amazed at our UK obsession about mileage. It's justification for driving the price down when buying.

Plenty of sob stories with cars that have done a quarter of that mileage, lots of cars that have done 100K more and are still good cars.

At that price, I would do my best to check everything works and go for it.

What could go wrong?

[JimM169]

Cheers for the feedback, going to get a bit more detail from the seller. The clutch and timing belts have been done, just need to confirm when, didn't think about the turbo so will ask about that as well. As I said car looked really tidy, no wear to seats etc, couple of light scratches on bodywork, only slight issue was a 40mm repair to the windscreen, the repair looked a bit rough but it was noted as an advisory on last MOT in Oct so presumably solid enough. Will give it a test drive and probably take it if that goes OK

[ZX10R NIN]

For me this would get the (if it's close) nod:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303115...

Although I'd spend a bit more & take a look at these.

Insignia SRI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303155...

Elite:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303165...

Kia Optima 3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303195...

[Niguy]

I've a 2008 tiguan with 208k on the clock and still going strong.

That said, it's had a complete engine rebuild, I've just put a new clutch and flywheel in her, the sunroof is jammed open on one side causing the footwells to get constantly soaked when it rains and the rear window wiper has just stopped working. Gets you from a to b though.

[Venisonpie]

It might be worth verifying the mileage is 160k and not 260k. An easy adjustment to make and not one that raises suspicion given 160k is considered high already.

Only reason I mention it is if it's a popular model for private hire use it may have done more work than is being declared.

[JimM169]

Venisonpie said:

It might be worth verifying the mileage is 160k and not 260k. An easy adjustment to make and not one that raises suspicion given 160k is considered high already.

Only reason I mention it is if it's a popular model for private hire use it may have done more work than is being declared.

Going by the MOT history the mileage checks out, but as it happens there's not much to back up the FSH claim. Log book has some entries written in but with no stamp and not much in the way of receipts. Cambelt was changed at 120k but no idea on clutch, turbo etc Think I'll pass and look for something else.

Do like the look and practicality of a Peugeot 308SW but it's Peugeot!

[alscar]

My first “ classic “ Defender had done 172k miles when we bought it.
I make no comment about the comfort or otherwise of actually driving it but nothing went wrong on it in the 4 years we owned it.

[ZX10R NIN]

JimM169 said:

Going by the MOT history the mileage checks out, but as it happens there's not much to back up the FSH claim. Log book has some entries written in but with no stamp and not much in the way of receipts. Cambelt was changed at 120k but no idea on clutch, turbo etc Think I'll pass and look for something else.

Do like the look and practicality of a Peugeot 308SW but it's Peugeot!

Peugeots are no less reliable than anything else, the French car stereotype is long gone.

[anonymous-user]

ZX10R NIN said:

Peugeots are no less reliable than anything else, the French car stereotype is long gone.

Agreed, I have just bought an 11 year old Renault Megane and it is rock solid, I cannot find a single issue . I don't mind the "unreliable" image they still seem to have as it drives the second hand prices down, but all they have to do is suffer from something silly like a window regulator and they are branded "unreliable"

German cars on the other hand seem to suffer never ending oil usage, injector issues, timing chain issues etc. yet still people imagine they are this paragon on German build quality and Teutonic reliability.

I don't get it.