What puts you off big mileage?
Discussion
As these used prices creep up but the budget remains the same, the reality is I've got to look at older or higher mileage vehicles
I was looking around 3-4 years old, up to 50k but I find myself looking at 6-7 year old stuff now and im up around 75-80k miles. That's still fairly average mileage for that age of vehicle.
Some of the stuff I've been looking for has either been a motorway motor or used as a taxi/executive hire as they can be over 200k miles but despite being a lot cheaper, I'm put off with anything over 100k. My personal motor is up to 135k now but it is almost 11 years old too.
Do you set personal limits on mileage? What is your limit and why? Would you rather buy an older lower mileage vehicle over a younger high mileage or vice versa?
I was looking around 3-4 years old, up to 50k but I find myself looking at 6-7 year old stuff now and im up around 75-80k miles. That's still fairly average mileage for that age of vehicle.
Some of the stuff I've been looking for has either been a motorway motor or used as a taxi/executive hire as they can be over 200k miles but despite being a lot cheaper, I'm put off with anything over 100k. My personal motor is up to 135k now but it is almost 11 years old too.
Do you set personal limits on mileage? What is your limit and why? Would you rather buy an older lower mileage vehicle over a younger high mileage or vice versa?
I used to only look for cars less than 3 years old. Then I sold a 2006 Skoda after owning it for a few years and bought a 2006 BMW and was instantly sold on the buying older/"better" cars rather than something newer/lower mileage.
That said, I've since taken the view on just buying what I want and placing very little emphasis on the age of a car. Newer cars in general just don't do much for me so buying older stuff that hold a little more interest to me suits me down to the ground... I just do the usual stuff like making sure history is decent (or if it isn't that its priced accordingly).
That said, I've since taken the view on just buying what I want and placing very little emphasis on the age of a car. Newer cars in general just don't do much for me so buying older stuff that hold a little more interest to me suits me down to the ground... I just do the usual stuff like making sure history is decent (or if it isn't that its priced accordingly).
Nope, never have and never had a breakdown or major failure on any car I've owned. Could be some luck involved in that, but I think its because I buy well, without wanting to sound like a dick.
I prioritise history and general condition over anything else. If a car has full history without gaps in it, preferably backed up by receipts and/or bills and is in good condition showing that it has been looked after then I'm happy.
Stuff like brakes, bushes, dust covers etc all go in the end, I don't find that age or mileage have a bigger impact on any of these things.
I'd take a car that has 150K on it with excellent history that may be a little tired but has clearly been cared for physically over something that is 2 or 3 years newer on 60K for the equivalent price which has a scratch on the door and the bumpers have been 'used' if you know what I mean.
Many low mileage cars have gaps in their history too because they are seldom used so oil changes may go 2 or 3 years based on the mileage requirement and the "or every 1 year" is ignored.
I prioritise history and general condition over anything else. If a car has full history without gaps in it, preferably backed up by receipts and/or bills and is in good condition showing that it has been looked after then I'm happy.
Stuff like brakes, bushes, dust covers etc all go in the end, I don't find that age or mileage have a bigger impact on any of these things.
I'd take a car that has 150K on it with excellent history that may be a little tired but has clearly been cared for physically over something that is 2 or 3 years newer on 60K for the equivalent price which has a scratch on the door and the bumpers have been 'used' if you know what I mean.
Many low mileage cars have gaps in their history too because they are seldom used so oil changes may go 2 or 3 years based on the mileage requirement and the "or every 1 year" is ignored.
I've only ever bought two long termers with my own money and they both had 100k+ on the clock. I am not put off by mileage. I haven't incurred a big repair bill on either of these cars. No engine, gearbox repairs or clutch replacements. I haven't had any MOT failures on tricky things like fuel or brake lines or corrosion.
Awareness & preventative maintenance.
Awareness & preventative maintenance.
Craig W said:
Nope, never have and never had a breakdown or major failure on any car I've owned. Could be some luck involved in that, but I think its because I buy well, without wanting to sound like a dick.
I prioritise history and general condition over anything else. If a car has full history without gaps in it, preferably backed up by receipts and/or bills and is in good condition showing that it has been looked after then I'm happy.
Stuff like brakes, bushes, dust covers etc all go in the end, I don't find that age or mileage have a bigger impact on any of these things.
I'd take a car that has 150K on it with excellent history that may be a little tired but has clearly been cared for physically over something that is 2 or 3 years newer on 60K for the equivalent price which has a scratch on the door and the bumpers have been 'used' if you know what I mean.
Many low mileage cars have gaps in their history too because they are seldom used so oil changes may go 2 or 3 years based on the mileage requirement and the "or every 1 year" is ignored.
I cant fault that.I prioritise history and general condition over anything else. If a car has full history without gaps in it, preferably backed up by receipts and/or bills and is in good condition showing that it has been looked after then I'm happy.
Stuff like brakes, bushes, dust covers etc all go in the end, I don't find that age or mileage have a bigger impact on any of these things.
I'd take a car that has 150K on it with excellent history that may be a little tired but has clearly been cared for physically over something that is 2 or 3 years newer on 60K for the equivalent price which has a scratch on the door and the bumpers have been 'used' if you know what I mean.
Many low mileage cars have gaps in their history too because they are seldom used so oil changes may go 2 or 3 years based on the mileage requirement and the "or every 1 year" is ignored.
For me the main thing to avoid is cars that have had missed services, or on an older car cars very little use in the last few years, because you also dont want to be playing catch up up age-related failures if you suddenly start using a car that's been sat/
But equally, horrific abuse and specific model issues aside, mechanically the major parts are so well designed now its as important what the upholstery and bodywork look like in my eyes.
My daily is a 2001 x-reg 330ci which has just rolled over to 175k, which I bought 6 years ago.
Daniel
Chicken Chaser said:
As these used prices creep up but the budget remains the same, the reality is I've got to look at older or higher mileage vehicles
I was looking around 3-4 years old, up to 50k but I find myself looking at 6-7 year old stuff now and im up around 75-80k miles. That's still fairly average mileage for that age of vehicle.
Some of the stuff I've been looking for has either been a motorway motor or used as a taxi/executive hire as they can be over 200k miles but despite being a lot cheaper, I'm put off with anything over 100k. My personal motor is up to 135k now but it is almost 11 years old too.
Do you set personal limits on mileage? What is your limit and why? Would you rather buy an older lower mileage vehicle over a younger high mileage or vice versa?
There's not a mileage limit as such because it depends on your useage, if you're doing 20k a year buying a high mileage (130k etc) car doesn't make the best financial sense.I was looking around 3-4 years old, up to 50k but I find myself looking at 6-7 year old stuff now and im up around 75-80k miles. That's still fairly average mileage for that age of vehicle.
Some of the stuff I've been looking for has either been a motorway motor or used as a taxi/executive hire as they can be over 200k miles but despite being a lot cheaper, I'm put off with anything over 100k. My personal motor is up to 135k now but it is almost 11 years old too.
Do you set personal limits on mileage? What is your limit and why? Would you rather buy an older lower mileage vehicle over a younger high mileage or vice versa?
Buying a high mileage car will mean you have to see it in the flesh because photo's can hide a world of sins, you also want to see receipts showing the car has been maintained well (serviced every 10k preferably) because suspension components are not cheap, if it's an auto gearbox services should have been carried out or will be due.
Turbos could be getting near the end of their life as could clutches, the way I buy cars is on condition/mileage/receipts & of course spec all of these inform & help me decide what I'm prepared to pay.
So in answer to your question, the answer is it all depends on the car & what your usage will be.
So OP what are you looking to spend? What type of car are you looking at? How many miles do you do per year & what's your usage?
Answer those & you can get a more specific answer.
I supplied two of these to a team in 2018 (in 170 MWB Auto form) & they're very happy with them, you see a lot in the Road Race Paddock, so they may be worth a look:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...
What are you're must haves?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...
What are you're must haves?
I used to think low mileage was important a long time ago but since then bought 2 Range Rovers with 155k and 175k and when my 58k to 75k Boxster went to the grave bought another with 105k. You pay accordingly of course but not regretted those purchases as such despite being able to spend more at each time.
Like everyone in the UK I used to get really hung up on mileage, but then I grew up with 60s/70s/80s cars where 100K miles was pretty much end of life!
Then in 1995 I bought a 1992 ex-company Cavalier SRi from my employer that had full history and had mostly lived on Motorways. I took it for its' first MOT on 97K miles! It was a great car.
So post 2000s I have focussed much more on history and condition. My current 55 plate NMW 330i has done 115K and drives just fine.
Then in 1995 I bought a 1992 ex-company Cavalier SRi from my employer that had full history and had mostly lived on Motorways. I took it for its' first MOT on 97K miles! It was a great car.
So post 2000s I have focussed much more on history and condition. My current 55 plate NMW 330i has done 115K and drives just fine.
Nothing at all as long as they have been maintained. Mileage is just a number. I do like the attitude over here that anything over 100k will blow up. Means that you end up with a great car for little outlay. Remember, in the land down under 300k isn’t really regarded as high mileage.
For newer stuff, even if it has over 100k on the clock you know that the mileage is genuine. Seems to be a lot of clocking going on these days.
For newer stuff, even if it has over 100k on the clock you know that the mileage is genuine. Seems to be a lot of clocking going on these days.
In 2016, I bought a 2001 3.2 omega with 163K on the clock. For £525
Sold it in 2021 with 238k on the clock. For £550
To do those miles, I probably spent £2k on repairs and servicing over that time.
Wife persuaded me to buy a low mileage car and I went for one with an identical layout to hers. I bought a more powerful 3 door version of her 5 door version.
40k on the clock. 2015 car.
I'm predicting that it will not be capable of 200k and think that at 150k is will be a liability.
That should take me 4 or 5 years to get to that. I'll be changing the oil more frequently than the manufacturers recommendation..
So rather than averaging £500 a year on repairs, it's going to cost £1500 In depreciation I estimate saving £500 a year in fuel costs.
Sold it in 2021 with 238k on the clock. For £550
To do those miles, I probably spent £2k on repairs and servicing over that time.
Wife persuaded me to buy a low mileage car and I went for one with an identical layout to hers. I bought a more powerful 3 door version of her 5 door version.
40k on the clock. 2015 car.
I'm predicting that it will not be capable of 200k and think that at 150k is will be a liability.
That should take me 4 or 5 years to get to that. I'll be changing the oil more frequently than the manufacturers recommendation..
So rather than averaging £500 a year on repairs, it's going to cost £1500 In depreciation I estimate saving £500 a year in fuel costs.
Pit Pony said:
In 2016, I bought a 2001 3.2 omega with 163K on the clock. For £525
Sold it in 2021 with 238k on the clock. For £550
Cool story, but have you not noticed the price of second hand cars generally? And the hundreds of pages of threads devoted to how they have gone insane? Sold it in 2021 with 238k on the clock. For £550
Pleased for you as an individual but I don’t think you can cite this as the ‘rule’…
Mr Tidy said:
Like everyone in the UK I used to get really hung up on mileage, but then I grew up with 60s/70s/80s cars where 100K miles was pretty much end of life!
Yeah, I was born in 87, so missed these cars. But presumable a combination of less durable engines, engineering on the rest off the car, and corrosion it was just all that worn that the engine was shot and all the ball joints, wheel bearings, and everything else just became time/millage expired?These days wheel bearings a sealed for life and will do 200k miles, often failing on age not miles.
I have done a propshaft bearing on the E46 (20yo 175k) but it was the bonded rubber part that had failed (age) not the rolling element part (millage) and spread out enough from other costs its just not an issue.
I have also done a hub and wheel bearing, but only because the abs ring has swelled and hit the sensor, and it comes as one unit.
Daniel
I have always bought older higher mileage cars since I started driving in 1981. The mileage has increased over the years as cars now last considerably longer than they did 40 years ago. Most of my cars have been 9 or 10 years old when I buy them, and they are chosen well and I have had very little trouble with them. They do need repairs but then most cars do even new ones. The highest mileage car I have had was an X type diesel jag, bought at 145k miles with full jag history. Sold that at 235k miles and apart from service and consumables I changed a window switch. Right now I have a Lexus RX400h, bought at 10 years old with 101k miles on it. 5 years later it has now cover 152k miles, it has needed a parking brake rebuild, and 2 steering knuckles. It has also had the reversing cam replaced (with a £5 ebay job) and a repair to the exhaust (cut the bit with a hole out and replaced with a stright bit of pipe). I work on my cars myself and fix for very little compared to paying someone else to fix them.
Mileage doesn't worry me at all.
Mileage doesn't worry me at all.
Need to factor in specifics.
High mileage BMW with the N62 engine? Probably not worth the hassle unless the thing's already had an insane amount of additional work done and the purchase price is sod all. Too many age related 'when not if' issues that each cost a decent chunk of cash.
Spent a fortune on the engine in my 7 series on many of the well known issues and the gearbox still shat itself within 6 months of the new owner freeing me of it.
High mileage BMW with the N62 engine? Probably not worth the hassle unless the thing's already had an insane amount of additional work done and the purchase price is sod all. Too many age related 'when not if' issues that each cost a decent chunk of cash.
Spent a fortune on the engine in my 7 series on many of the well known issues and the gearbox still shat itself within 6 months of the new owner freeing me of it.
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