How many of you have bought a high mileage car??

[andym1603]

Bought a 4yr old Vauxhall Senator with 155k on the clock back in 1996. Used it for 5yrs and scrapped it
when the timing chain snapped at 188k. One of the best cars I have owned.

[petrolsniffer]

At 68k my puma is the lowest milage car ive owned

My saxo had around 108k
My first 205 was on about 115k
My 205 gti was on 142k

So high milage has never put me off

[MrC986]

I'm on my 3rd high mileage daily driver, the current and previous ones being a T4 V40 (bought with 113k and sold with 138k) and now a V70 2.4T (bought with 133k and now on 178k). Both cars had full history and more 'elderly' owners before I got my hands on them....they are carefully warmed up/cooled down after spirited driving and the oil/filters regularly changed. The only downside has been the odd bit of wear and tear repair i.e. brake caliper replacement and on the big Volvo a drive shaft and alternator replacement. If the V70 remains in good health, I would like to see if it will do 250k!

I wasnt a Volvo driver until the V40 and wanted a reasonably fast little estate, but I am now sadly a convert of high mileage Volvos and tempted by a C70 T5 or a former V70 BIB car - they must be good if they can do upto 200k miles in 3-4 years!

[Baz Tench]

Bought my 2003 M3 on 126k six months ago. It's now on 129k. It's purely a leisure vehicle, and it's been faultless.

It has a full BMW main dealer history, but I will be using a trusty independent throughout my ownership.

I purposely went for a higher mileage example as I believed it would be a more honest car. Lots of similar aged M3's for sale out there with suspiciously low mileages.

[TwoHats]

Currently got a 96 Saab 900, 137K on the clock, runs like the day it was built and went straight through MOT two weeks ago without so much as an advisory.

Highest mileage car I've owned was a 176K Saab 9000, but in fairness i DID kill that in a waterless 2am upper lepton thrash down the M5.

Sold a 205 GTi at 132K because I thought it was getting a bit leggy for a french hot hatch, that was 12 years ago and still see it knocking about regularly and its still immaculate.

I'd rather buy a car with 80K than 40K. At least you know all the little niggles will have reared their head and been dealt with by then. History counts for a lot though.

[vit4]

Mr-B said:

My first purchase of a high mileage car was in 1988, a 3 year old Vauxhall Astra with about 75,000 on the clock. That may not sound much but back in the day most offerings from the likes of Vauxhall, Ford and BL were ready for the knackers yard by 50k.

It turned out the be one of the best cars I've owned. It had a very good history being an ex-company car for an insurance rep and most of the miles appeared to be m'way miles. It looked in great condition and felt nice and sound and it was cheap due to the high miles.

I ran it for about 4 years and spent nothing on it. I did the servicing myself and changed the oil/filter every 12 months and that was it, no wiper blades, no tyres, no bulbs/fuses, didn't burn oil, started first time every time. Put about 50,000 miles on it, awesome car. The tyres were lets say fully used and wouldn't pass a MOT and the exhaust was blowing when I part-exd it but it was still running perfectly.

I still class it as one of the best cars I have owned.

Probably jinxing it now, but I run a same-shape 1.4 Astra. Bar a clutch, a CV boot and repairs from a knock I've not had anything other than service items on it, althoughy the suspension could do with a refresh. It's been in the family from new and has never left anyone stranded. Just back from doing 1150 miles in 48 hours, with three 6' blokes and a fully loaded boot. Didn't miss a beat and was actually bloody comfortable, none of us had any back ache etc. Very impressed. The only let-down is the bodywork which rusts like buggery. Now on 110k and I have every faith that as long as it stayed serviced it would easily do double that.

[Condi]

Got a 306 with 158,000m on the clock. Had it 12 months and its needed a new brake pipe to get through the MOT and the starter motor gave up at the weekend. Brake calliper piston needs some grease on it some time, and it will be looking for some new boots in the next 2-3000 miles.

For a car which cost less than £500 its done a good 10,000 miles for me.

[davethebunny]

Bought an ebay unseen v70 2 years ago at 117k.

Now over 150k.

Issues:
Anti roll bar drop links
Thermostat
Air con regas
Brake pads.
Set of tyres (part worns at £50 a pair)

Gone through 2 mots with no advisories.

People at work laugh at it, but my car allowance has bought the equivalent of 12 of them now.

Still going to be worth a third of its value as scrap when the time comes, although it's sweet at the moment

[fridgedoctor]

I bought an old (98) Subaru Forester two years ago when the snow was really bad. It had 126 k with loads of receipts and dog hairs.
I stuck a cam belt on it, changed the oil, and ran about in it. It now has 138k, and hasn't cost a penny. It drinks fuel though.
I love having it, you can leave it anywhere.