High Mileage Dilemma

[Mater]

Hi, first post here so please forgive any inadvertent gaffs but I really wanted to hear what folk who know their stuff think about high mileage cars.

My dilemma...

Seen a fully loaded 2009 Mini Cooper with 132k miles going privately. Only had 1 owner from new and has full Mini SH with last service only 1 month ago and 6 months' MOT. High mileage is from daily commute on motorway, so car hasn't had lots of cold starts or short runs in stop-start traffic. Clutch was replaced at 117k miles, which I understand isn't bad as in the Mini they can go anytime from 80k miles plus. The car drives like one with half the mileage and the interior is virtually spotless.

The car is being offered at a great price due to the mileage. So...the dilemma, Would you:

a) run 132k miles away - this car is asking for trouble
b) haggle like hell and pick up a bargin - what's the big deal, at 132k miles it's just been run in
c) take the offer of a 12 month/15k mile warranty for an extra couple of hundred quid - if it goes pop, no worry

I'm inclined to go for c) the warranty option - still a bargain, but now with peace of mind.

Am I mad...?

[r129sl]

That kind of mileage wouldn't put me off for a moment but it is likely to benefit from a suspension refresh. I'd go for option b and spend the savings on new shocks and some bushes.

[exelero]

C for peace of mind, but would be a bargain even if you chose B

[ajb85]

I'd echo the same. In this day and age mileage isn't an issue on a car like this, an Austin Maestro it ain't! So you should find no squeaks or rattles, but listen out for suspension knocks.

The only thing you need to be mindful of is its future value. It's been a busy car in its 8 years and it's unusual to find a small hatchback that's leggy like this one. This won't hamper your enjoyment but it's anyone's guess what it'll be worth when you've had enough. That said, if it's such bargain today then I guess tomorrow doesn't really matter!

[Cheapstraitsix]

I wouldn't consider that high mileage really.

Also I think a 1 owner car is a safe bet, if they had the disposable income to purchase new, you would hope they had the funds to maintain it correctly.

Personally I would rather have a 1 owner 130k car with good history then a 5 owner 60k car.

[BlueHave]

Go for condition and service history over mileage.

Although for a Mini that sort of mileage would probably put me off.

[DanielSan]

If it helps I've just bought a Civic Type R on 131k miles, CV joint was dead so I've replaced that and had to have 2 new rear calipers as they were beyond refurb. Aside from that there's no knocks, creaks or anything from the suspension, runs and drives perfectly. I'd say do it if the cars cheap enough.

[Sir_Dave]

An N14 Mini with 132k miles?

Wouldnt touch it with a ten foot barge pole personally, unless it was very cheap, like £2.5k.

Then WHEN it blows up from coking/piston failure/timing chain rattle etc etc etc, you can rebuild it with forged parts.

[GreatGranny]

Is this it OP?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Gearbox can go on these.

My B in L's went last year on his higher mileage Cooper but it hadn't been looked after that well and was an 03.

Looks like a nice example. Haggle hard and get the warranty but make sure it covers the gearbox.

[Maty]

GreatGranny said:

Is this it OP?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Gearbox can go on these.

My B in L's went last year on his higher mileage Cooper but it hadn't been looked after that well and was an 03.

Looks like a nice example. Haggle hard and get the warranty but make sure it covers the gearbox.

Different/stronger gearbox from 2004/05 facelift version. Also the 09 is a totally different car to the gen 1's. But the gen 2's can suffer catastrophic engine failures at any point I believe so I'd be wary of this one.

I've just bought an 05 Cooper S (for the noise). Zero history, cat D and some issues but its being turned into a track car so I'm not fussed

[mrfunex]

What kind of warranty would you be getting on an 8 year old Mini which has been over half way to the moon? Practically everything that might crop up will be "wear and tear".

Haggle furiously if you really want it, choose something else if you don't.

[AyBee]

How much is a replacement engine and could you fit it yourself?

[TwistingMyMelon]

Warranty for £200 , yeah that aint gonna pay out for anything

Even if you have a slush fund for bills , if it breaks down or needs repairing then you still have to sort it which takes time and effort

I like high milage cars, not a fan of minis though, too many work colleagues have had them with various issues and bills

[Mater]

Hi thanks for all the posts. Seems opinion's divided but on balance the view is go for it at the right price - tend to agree with Sir_Dave that £2.5k would make it a good buy...mmmhh...

[MarkSwan]

I have a BMW Mini One Seven with 135000 on the clock. The ONLY issue I have had is with the EGR being offset in the manifold and causing the valves on cylinder 4 to crack. It cost me £1k to put right but it drives like new again. I would not hesitate to go for the Cooper S with options b and c if you can afford.
You will have much fun and enjoyment.

[Markbarry1977]

I wouldn't trust a 3rd party warranty as far as I could throw it. In 20 years of motoring I have had numerous claims rejected over the years with only one successful one for a tiny amount.

[steve-5snwi]

It wouldn't put me off, as for the warranty don't bother the older and the more miles the less it covers. Our warranty company has bandings fo age and mileage so for something over 80k they would only cover 50% of the bill and you would still have an excess to pay.

[GrantD5]

That £200 warranty won't be worth the paper it is written on.

[SebringMan]

r129sl said:

That kind of mileage wouldn't put me off for a moment but it is likely to benefit from a suspension refresh. I'd go for option b and spend the savings on new shocks and some bushes.

Depends entirely on the drivers and the mileage. Some drivers drive their cars over speed bumps like they don't exist, espeically if they are on lease ; after all, it's not their problem after a few years and that's what a warranty is for.

Some people do go a little OTT.

Put it this way, we have two Mondeo 2.5Ts in the household. Both on original suspension. 10k separates them. Even when the higher miler had less miles one always drove nicer ; i.e if both were on 140k the estate always felt more planted. That said the engine of the lower miler has never felt all that compared to the higher miler ; it's fine but the higher miler seems to pull better and have better response.

FWIW one is a Ghia Saloon on 163k and the other on 152k ; the lower miler was oddly an ex-SOCA car as well which is surprising!

IMHO go and take a look but check it out thorougly.

[SebringMan]

GrantD5 said:

That £200 warranty won't be worth the paper it is written on.

The warranties are a con as said.