Mileage fascination - what is it with us Brits???
Discussion
So… You work the cut and if you are lucky enough at some point manage to step in to your dream car (or at least one of them) and begin to enjoy those sunny Sunday blasts…
Then shock – horror you realise you’re beginning to pile on the miles, which of course for us lucky Brits is the first metric for ‘dropping the value’ and no one likes loosing cash! So you try veeeery hard to reduce the mileage – but it’s no good, the suns out – boom!
What is it with our unique fixation on mileage, pop over to Europe (seen this first hand having lived in Switzerland and frequented Germany often) and you’ll see them enjoying their cars – kilometres after kilometres with their cars value being judged on condition / history / service / spec…
I bought a 997 GT3 about 5 weeks ago and already have covered about 3K miles in it, just cant keep my hands off the thing (and that won’t change – it’s to be driven). I know from perusing the ad’s that already it’s dipped about 3K in line with others of similar mileage. But why? Condition is still A1, everything is still very much in working order and she still gives me wood on a Sunday morning!
Just don’t get it…
Then shock – horror you realise you’re beginning to pile on the miles, which of course for us lucky Brits is the first metric for ‘dropping the value’ and no one likes loosing cash! So you try veeeery hard to reduce the mileage – but it’s no good, the suns out – boom!
What is it with our unique fixation on mileage, pop over to Europe (seen this first hand having lived in Switzerland and frequented Germany often) and you’ll see them enjoying their cars – kilometres after kilometres with their cars value being judged on condition / history / service / spec…
I bought a 997 GT3 about 5 weeks ago and already have covered about 3K miles in it, just cant keep my hands off the thing (and that won’t change – it’s to be driven). I know from perusing the ad’s that already it’s dipped about 3K in line with others of similar mileage. But why? Condition is still A1, everything is still very much in working order and she still gives me wood on a Sunday morning!
Just don’t get it…
lol... Agree I also drive and ignor the miles. i once owned a Ferrari 348 and was in the owners club. Went to the yearly meeting and entered my car in some of the show classes and low and behold won best in class...
Best in class for car that had covered over 10K between MOT's. It was the ONLY car in show that had done more than 10K between MOT's
Best in class for car that had covered over 10K between MOT's. It was the ONLY car in show that had done more than 10K between MOT's
It's a decimal attitude.
Paradoxically 100k miles is 160k km though. Maybe we should get funny at 62k miles then? But then it's also 10 years. Imagine if there were 'imperial years'...
While I try to play it to my advantage when buying a hight mileage car, I wouldn't want to do 30k miles a year in a GT3 simply due to the costs.
Paradoxically 100k miles is 160k km though. Maybe we should get funny at 62k miles then? But then it's also 10 years. Imagine if there were 'imperial years'...
While I try to play it to my advantage when buying a hight mileage car, I wouldn't want to do 30k miles a year in a GT3 simply due to the costs.
Slickhillsy said:
So… You work the cut and if you are lucky enough at some point manage to step in to your dream car (or at least one of them) and begin to enjoy those sunny Sunday blasts…
Then shock – horror you realise you’re beginning to pile on the miles, which of course for us lucky Brits is the first metric for ‘dropping the value’ and no one likes loosing cash! So you try veeeery hard to reduce the mileage – but it’s no good, the suns out – boom!
What is it with our unique fixation on mileage, pop over to Europe (seen this first hand having lived in Switzerland and frequented Germany often) and you’ll see them enjoying their cars – kilometres after kilometres with their cars value being judged on condition / history / service / spec…
I bought a 997 GT3 about 5 weeks ago and already have covered about 3K miles in it, just cant keep my hands off the thing (and that won’t change – it’s to be driven). I know from perusing the ad’s that already it’s dipped about 3K in line with others of similar mileage. But why? Condition is still A1, everything is still very much in working order and she still gives me wood on a Sunday morning!
Just don’t get it…
You've done 3K, well that's high mileage then, worthless now Then shock – horror you realise you’re beginning to pile on the miles, which of course for us lucky Brits is the first metric for ‘dropping the value’ and no one likes loosing cash! So you try veeeery hard to reduce the mileage – but it’s no good, the suns out – boom!
What is it with our unique fixation on mileage, pop over to Europe (seen this first hand having lived in Switzerland and frequented Germany often) and you’ll see them enjoying their cars – kilometres after kilometres with their cars value being judged on condition / history / service / spec…
I bought a 997 GT3 about 5 weeks ago and already have covered about 3K miles in it, just cant keep my hands off the thing (and that won’t change – it’s to be driven). I know from perusing the ad’s that already it’s dipped about 3K in line with others of similar mileage. But why? Condition is still A1, everything is still very much in working order and she still gives me wood on a Sunday morning!
Just don’t get it…
This afternoon I have seen a 3.2 with 25K on the clock, that someone wants 30K for
It hasn't turned a wheel in ages and has been home to mice who have dined on the wiring, the interior is mouldy and it needs paint in places. See mileage is meaningless.I don't understand it, there was a debate on here the other month about an RS or GT3 at 3 years old and was considered leggy at 11K. I do that on limited classic insurance. A firm dose of reality is needed.
All mechanical parts on a car has a time based replacement or milage based replacement.
The engine itself has a finite life maybe its 20,000 hours at revs who knows but there is a point.
Every mile you do will wear out the springs dampers engine mounts bushes drop links seats etc etc. so lets say that based on milage that c100k means that most of these parts are past their prime and would in general be in worse condition than say a 50k car all else being equal same driver same servicing routine.
I'd say also that as miles are added the cylinders do suffer wear and gradually lose compression so at some point you will have to re bore the engine
Or say deals in the master cylinder start to wear or let's say oil ways get slightly clogged.
To some people you'd not notice the difference having never driven a new one or one with half the miles back to back you just accept that's how it is.
It does represent good value for used buyers though.
This coming from an owner of two cars both over 100k one on c170k miles.
The engine itself has a finite life maybe its 20,000 hours at revs who knows but there is a point.
Every mile you do will wear out the springs dampers engine mounts bushes drop links seats etc etc. so lets say that based on milage that c100k means that most of these parts are past their prime and would in general be in worse condition than say a 50k car all else being equal same driver same servicing routine.
I'd say also that as miles are added the cylinders do suffer wear and gradually lose compression so at some point you will have to re bore the engine
Or say deals in the master cylinder start to wear or let's say oil ways get slightly clogged.
To some people you'd not notice the difference having never driven a new one or one with half the miles back to back you just accept that's how it is.
It does represent good value for used buyers though.
This coming from an owner of two cars both over 100k one on c170k miles.
My USA vehicle (spend part of my time overseas) has just clicked past 157000 miles - 9 years old. The only things that have been replaced (beyond normal servicing) are components which contain elements of rubber or similar materials. These seem to deteriorate over time whether used or not. Friends here with cars of half the mileage have needed to replace similar components at similar age due to natural deterioration. Mileage doesn't appear to be a controlling factor.
Environmental factors are more relevant - salty roads lead to corrosion, sun and high temperatures to rubber/plastic failure and neglect to most mechanical failures.
If you drive harder than average (whatever that is) then you need to service your car more often; if you do then age, exposure to elements etc and not mileage, is more relevant.
Environmental factors are more relevant - salty roads lead to corrosion, sun and high temperatures to rubber/plastic failure and neglect to most mechanical failures.
If you drive harder than average (whatever that is) then you need to service your car more often; if you do then age, exposure to elements etc and not mileage, is more relevant.
All the 2s:
I did another 9k in this before I sold it
I refused to test drive it when I was looking even though it was the closest 944 to me and the only Turbo in my price range, it was only driving an S2 with 100k less that my mate convinced me to stop off on the way home and look at this one with a mere 194k on the clock..I had nothing to lose after all the low-mileage dross we had driven.
However, I bought a low-mileage 968 Sport afterwards and immediately had to spend £2k to get it sorted after its garage-queen life (old tyres, old cam belt, rusted disks and complaining wheel bearings)so have seen both sides.
I did another 9k in this before I sold it
I refused to test drive it when I was looking even though it was the closest 944 to me and the only Turbo in my price range, it was only driving an S2 with 100k less that my mate convinced me to stop off on the way home and look at this one with a mere 194k on the clock..I had nothing to lose after all the low-mileage dross we had driven.
However, I bought a low-mileage 968 Sport afterwards and immediately had to spend £2k to get it sorted after its garage-queen life (old tyres, old cam belt, rusted disks and complaining wheel bearings)so have seen both sides.
My 911 has done nearly 130k, Its drives like new.
The president of local porsche club drove it a few weeks back and could not believe how well it went. Stated it was the best aircooled he had driven. Not bad for a 27 year old car. Mind you I drive ALOT before I bought this one and was best by far................ and I bought it without driving it (ebay bargain)
The president of local porsche club drove it a few weeks back and could not believe how well it went. Stated it was the best aircooled he had driven. Not bad for a 27 year old car. Mind you I drive ALOT before I bought this one and was best by far................ and I bought it without driving it (ebay bargain)
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