Mileage or age?
Discussion
I'm about to buy a new car (I need an estate for a while, long story). Budget of about 5K. I've settled on which vehicle I want (I'm not going to go into which make and model because we'll be here all week with people suggesting other ones if previous threads are anything to go by).
So the question is, in the absence of any other information what would you go for out of these two?
63 plate (Feb 2014) - 152K - £4,800
61 plate (Dec 2011) - 103K - £4,500
Both of them have FSH from dealers, both have 12 months MOT, the MOT histories both look fine, they are pretty much identical in every other way (the 63 plate one is a slightly higher spec and has more toys, but nothing I'm particularly bothered about having).
So the question is, in the absence of any other information what would you go for out of these two?
63 plate (Feb 2014) - 152K - £4,800
61 plate (Dec 2011) - 103K - £4,500
Both of them have FSH from dealers, both have 12 months MOT, the MOT histories both look fine, they are pretty much identical in every other way (the 63 plate one is a slightly higher spec and has more toys, but nothing I'm particularly bothered about having).
Vote for the older one. If you keep it a few years the age difference will be diluted, whereas the mileage is what it is, and you will get a better resale. Also, 2 years difference in age is of less consequence than 50k miles of wear - potentially 5 years motoring for some people. And mentioning what it is may help with someone letting you know how well they do or don't take the miles...
I’d buy the one in the best condition, after viewing and/or test drive. It’s the used car market... it’s a lottery to say the least.
After seeing them, I’m sure they’ll be something between them that would swing it for you. One will either be more tatty, or one will make some strange noises that warrant further investigation.
Admittedly, how far away they are from you will be a factor. I’d view the closest one first.
After seeing them, I’m sure they’ll be something between them that would swing it for you. One will either be more tatty, or one will make some strange noises that warrant further investigation.
Admittedly, how far away they are from you will be a factor. I’d view the closest one first.
Blanco92 said:
I’d buy the one in the best condition, after viewing and/or test drive. It’s the used car market... it’s a lottery to say the least.
After seeing them, I’m sure they’ll be something between them that would swing it for you. One will either be more tatty, or one will make some strange noises that warrant further investigation.
Admittedly, how far away they are from you will be a factor. I’d view the closest one first.
I've seen and driven them both - they're both within 20 miles of me (the advantages of living in the Midlands with cities dotted everywhere). They were both exactly as expected to drive as well. Hence the dilemma (and this thread)!After seeing them, I’m sure they’ll be something between them that would swing it for you. One will either be more tatty, or one will make some strange noises that warrant further investigation.
Admittedly, how far away they are from you will be a factor. I’d view the closest one first.
sim72 said:
I've seen and driven them both - they're both within 20 miles of me (the advantages of living in the Midlands with cities dotted everywhere). They were both exactly as expected to drive as well. Hence the dilemma (and this thread)!
So you still can’t make your mind up after seeing and driving both. Fair enough, I never seem to get that lucky when I’m looking at used cars!Based on what you’ve said, I don’t think the newer one has enough pluses over the older one to swing it... so I’d buy the 2011 car, pocket the £300 saving and put that towards a proper service and/or cambelt if needed.
If everything is equal in terms of condition I’d take the older, lower mileage car. 50k miles is a fair bit of wear and tear regardless of duty cycle. You will never know if the 150k wasn’t doing loads of town and B road driving and the 100k one wasn’t sat in top gear on the motorway all the time, or vice versa. 50k miles is a lot of engine running hours and although 250k is certainly feasible, some stuff is highly likely to go pop along the way.
I think that there are a few other questions to be answered?
How long will you keep the car?
How many miles do you do? City, motorway, rural?
Are they diesel?
Are they automatic?
What are they? ...There are very few truly bad cars nowadays, but some cars really are on their last legs at 150,000 miles, some are likely to be fine for another 150,000. For me, a car with 150,000 on the clock would have to be bangernomic money.
Good luck
How long will you keep the car?
How many miles do you do? City, motorway, rural?
Are they diesel?
Are they automatic?
What are they? ...There are very few truly bad cars nowadays, but some cars really are on their last legs at 150,000 miles, some are likely to be fine for another 150,000. For me, a car with 150,000 on the clock would have to be bangernomic money.
Good luck
That's not a huge difference in age but it's a third more mileage.
I would be going for the older one assuming service history and condition were similar.
As others have said you will definitely struggle selling the high miler, dealers won't want it, and private buyers are getting thin on the ground.
I would be going for the older one assuming service history and condition were similar.
As others have said you will definitely struggle selling the high miler, dealers won't want it, and private buyers are getting thin on the ground.
sim72 said:
Thanks for all the feedback. I bought the lower mileage one today.
They were Passats, by the way. The one I bought is a 140ps manual, the more leggy one was an auto, I wasn't bothered about the box either way though.
In that case you made the right choice irrespective of age/mileage. A DSG-equipped car on 150k+ would be a ticking time bomb before it threw up a ridiculous bill!They were Passats, by the way. The one I bought is a 140ps manual, the more leggy one was an auto, I wasn't bothered about the box either way though.
Hope you enjoy the car!
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