Low Mileage car
Discussion
I have a chance to buy a very low mileage car. It is 10 years old but only covered 12,000 miles. There is no known service history, the reason it is for sale is due to the passing away of the previous owner so any service knowledge departed with him.
Would this be a good buy or not? Any tips on what to look for?
Price wanted by the estate is above average for this performance model and year, they say it is due to the low mileage.
Would this be a good buy or not? Any tips on what to look for?
Price wanted by the estate is above average for this performance model and year, they say it is due to the low mileage.
Just because itcs low mileage doesn't mean it's had a sympathetic life! My grandfather's car was similar. I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole! Lol. Clutch was wrecked, he used to rev the nuts off of it to get going anywhere.
I do think some people regard mileage as the be all and end all.
If it's genuinely a good car that I wanted, I'd pay a bit over the odds but at the end of the day it's 10 years old. Cars deteriorate in ways that don't require driving. Infact, sometimes a lack of use is sometimes an issue in itself!
I do think some people regard mileage as the be all and end all.
If it's genuinely a good car that I wanted, I'd pay a bit over the odds but at the end of the day it's 10 years old. Cars deteriorate in ways that don't require driving. Infact, sometimes a lack of use is sometimes an issue in itself!
Depends what draws you to the fact that it's low mileage?
If you think it will be worth more when you sell it, the fact there is no history will substantially offset the low mileage as there isn't any history of it's maintenance/mileage (other than MOT's maybe).
If it's the fact that you are going to keep it for a long time and put a lot of miles on it then I would say that it's a bit of a punt as there is no history so it's very possible you will need to spend money doing all of the things that are required after 12,000 miles or 10 years whichever comes first as you have no record of them being done other than mechanical inspection.
If you think it will be worth more when you sell it, the fact there is no history will substantially offset the low mileage as there isn't any history of it's maintenance/mileage (other than MOT's maybe).
If it's the fact that you are going to keep it for a long time and put a lot of miles on it then I would say that it's a bit of a punt as there is no history so it's very possible you will need to spend money doing all of the things that are required after 12,000 miles or 10 years whichever comes first as you have no record of them being done other than mechanical inspection.
Jos Notstoppen said:
I intend keeping the car for some time and so not overly concerned about resale values.
The car is is fantastic condition (no dents, scratches etc. that often come with normal 10 years old cars). Plus it is quite high spec, most of the extra boxes were ticked.
Go for it then and take it for a service and check-over and hopefully nothing nasty pops up. By the way you haven't mentioned the cost of the car so if it's what you would consider a largish sum then maybe get a mechanical inspection before buying.The car is is fantastic condition (no dents, scratches etc. that often come with normal 10 years old cars). Plus it is quite high spec, most of the extra boxes were ticked.
My mother has one 07 plate corsa .. Approx 10k miles on it. She does however have it serviced every year by the main dealer and a full service at that approx every 800 miles or so
It is garaged and still smells like a new car
Would I buy it .. Well I'm going to inherit I reckon .. Probably not worth much but at least I know it has been looked after
Like anything I suppose find out how it's been used/serviced etc and drive it
It is garaged and still smells like a new car
Would I buy it .. Well I'm going to inherit I reckon .. Probably not worth much but at least I know it has been looked after
Like anything I suppose find out how it's been used/serviced etc and drive it
Unless I personally know the car I tend to avoid very low mileage examples. Firstly I put lots of miles on my car, so it defeats the point, secondly I know waaaaay too many people who think servicing should be done only as and when their car tells them. Fine if they do the miles, but I know too many cars that have gone five years without a service because "I don't put the miles on it to justify it"....
3 potential routes of investigation:
1. Find out who has MOT'd it over the years, they may well have serviced it too, and have history for the car;
2. Phone around the local franchised dealers for the marque to see if they have serviced it at any point.
3. If still no joy, and you are feeling particularly keen, then you could then try local independents.
Only drawback is that some may hide behind data protection regs and withhold any info.
1. Find out who has MOT'd it over the years, they may well have serviced it too, and have history for the car;
2. Phone around the local franchised dealers for the marque to see if they have serviced it at any point.
3. If still no joy, and you are feeling particularly keen, then you could then try local independents.
Only drawback is that some may hide behind data protection regs and withhold any info.
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