Very low milage, bad idea?

[TheBMWDriver]

I am going to look at a friends V8V roadster tomorrow. its a 4.7 09 car with only 8k on it. He has owned it from new and only used it for a few road trips in Europe.

My worry is that it has had so little use that non of the small issues that come up when the car is new has been found and I will have to keep spending money fixing it.

So any thoughts?

Also how much would be a fair price?

[MollyGTi]

Not like it's done that mileage pottering 10 miles a day so why worry?

+ Better the devil you know & all that

[Jockman]

TheBMWDriver said:

....how much would be a fair price?

For the car...or for your friendship?

[J12MOC]

MollyGTi said:

Not like it's done that mileage pottering 10 miles a day so why worry?

+ Better the devil you know & all that

Molly's such a sensible girl.

[bentley01]

My car had only 5000 miles on it when I got it and it has had its fourth service and everything is fine with no issues

[J12MOC]

MollyGTi said:

Not like it's done that mileage pottering 10 miles a day so why worry?

+ Better the devil you know & all that

Molly's such a sensible girl.

[V8 Animal]

What are the small issues that's worrying you?
I have a 08 with 11k and any issues would have been sorted out at service time.

[TheBMWDriver]

I forgot to say its a roadster and I drive a C2S PDK 2010

[sukh_m]

I seriously think you have nothing to worry, I bought with 6k on the clock and had no issues.

[TheBMWDriver]

Thanks, I will take a look over it tomorrow.

So how much to offer?

[sukh_m]

TheBMWDriver said:

Thanks, I will take a look over it tomorrow.

So how much to offer?

Go in a lower than you want to pay, then you can work your way up.

Nothing to lose really? Only to gain

[Bravo73]

sukh_m said:

Nothing to lose really?

Only a friendship! With such a large sum of cash involved, I'd personally be very wary of buying a car off a mate.

[Jon39]

Low mileage is the norm for these cars. Do not worry too much.

I expect you have looked at the pre-owned list. It is now showing seventeen V8V Roadsters, and the highest mileage shown is a 2009 car, with 6,900 miles.

With my own car, I feel that a minimum journey of 20 miles, should be enough to warm all the mechanical components, and also expel all moisture from the exhaust system. A few gentle applications of the footbrake, followed by a heavier application from a higher speed helps to avoid brake squealing troubles. I sometimes also apply the handbrake lightly whilst on the move, to remove any roughness. A run at least once a fortnight seems to be sufficient, to keep everything working and happy.

In theory therefore, (25 x 20) 500 miles a year should keep the car in proper order, but that would be much lower than is usual.

Regarding price. That 2009 dealer car has an asking price of £60,000, so it might be sold at equivalent £58,000. That will include the imfamous 140 point check, a warranty and dealer profit margin, so your friend ought to make the appropriate downward adjustments from that.

Good luck. They are wonderful cars to own.

Edited by Jon39 on Saturday 18th January 21:49

[PiloteAM]

I bought a low mileage car, and so had all the classic faults/problems happen to me:

Water in sills
Trouble with tracker
Noisy pulley
Stuck filler cap door
Stuck brake lights
...other things I've probably forgotten

However, the dealer fixed them all under warranty, collecting the car from my house in the morning, and dropping it back before I got home from work, so it wasn't really a big deal.

Great cars, but not exactly zero hassle