High mileage used cars
Discussion
What are people's thoughts on high mileage cars - 100k and above? Preferably 1 owner with FSH and say 5 years old.
I've been leasing since 2015 but due to the lack of deals currently available I'm looking to buy a used car instead. I've been leaning towards high mileage 1 owner vehicles as that allows me to get into a more "premium" car.
When using WBAC as a rough guide for resale value, it seems in general once a car goes over 100k the value doesn't drop that much. So for example a car with 100k and another with 130k will only have about £500-750 difference in their valuation. But a car with say 60-70k and another with 90k will have £2-3k difference in valuation. If I were to buy a high mileage option I would probably move it on after a year or 2.
I've been leasing since 2015 but due to the lack of deals currently available I'm looking to buy a used car instead. I've been leaning towards high mileage 1 owner vehicles as that allows me to get into a more "premium" car.
When using WBAC as a rough guide for resale value, it seems in general once a car goes over 100k the value doesn't drop that much. So for example a car with 100k and another with 130k will only have about £500-750 difference in their valuation. But a car with say 60-70k and another with 90k will have £2-3k difference in valuation. If I were to buy a high mileage option I would probably move it on after a year or 2.
My thoughts exactly but wasn't sure if I was talking myself into it so I could get a "better" car.
Another thing which I like about high mileage low owner cars is the mitigated risk of them being clocked back. I know it's not good to be suspicious but can't help but think that when I see some examples with higher mileage (still under 100k though) but then 5-6 owners. Also I know some people move a car on just before an expensive service and then maybe the next owner skips that service as well.
So its the above and the fact they seem to depreciate much slower after 100k that has me leaning towards that as an option.
Is it recommended to get an AA inspection or something similar or are they not really worth the money?
Another thing which I like about high mileage low owner cars is the mitigated risk of them being clocked back. I know it's not good to be suspicious but can't help but think that when I see some examples with higher mileage (still under 100k though) but then 5-6 owners. Also I know some people move a car on just before an expensive service and then maybe the next owner skips that service as well.
So its the above and the fact they seem to depreciate much slower after 100k that has me leaning towards that as an option.
Is it recommended to get an AA inspection or something similar or are they not really worth the money?
High mileage? AA inspection??
I have been browsing the V12 Sports & Classics website as they regularly have a few high milers and I assume that the bill of these will be from the first company owner (although not obvious that you can check this from their website).
P.s. I have no connection with these guys or first hand experience of dealing with them.
Search for the model you are interested in and start with the lowest priced first and they usually throw up a few interesting late/high miler candidates!
https://www.v12sportsandclassics.co.uk/used-cars/?...
I have been browsing the V12 Sports & Classics website as they regularly have a few high milers and I assume that the bill of these will be from the first company owner (although not obvious that you can check this from their website).
P.s. I have no connection with these guys or first hand experience of dealing with them.
Search for the model you are interested in and start with the lowest priced first and they usually throw up a few interesting late/high miler candidates!
https://www.v12sportsandclassics.co.uk/used-cars/?...
A lot of people automatically think "100k" is a fixed indicator of high mileage.
I don't.
I look at what mileages the engine is capable of with reasonable care (on average, loosely) and judge high mileage based on how much life I think the engine has left in it.
As Volvo's are what I know best... I'd consider a PSA 16v "1.6D" model Volvo high mileage at a much lower number than I would any 5-pot D5 - put simply, when one rarely reaches 200k miles and the other often exceeds 250k, a 1.6D at 100k is fairly high miles to me where a D5 at 100k isn't.
I don't.
I look at what mileages the engine is capable of with reasonable care (on average, loosely) and judge high mileage based on how much life I think the engine has left in it.
As Volvo's are what I know best... I'd consider a PSA 16v "1.6D" model Volvo high mileage at a much lower number than I would any 5-pot D5 - put simply, when one rarely reaches 200k miles and the other often exceeds 250k, a 1.6D at 100k is fairly high miles to me where a D5 at 100k isn't.
Mogul said:
High mileage? AA inspection??
I have been browsing the V12 Sports & Classics website as they regularly have a few high milers and I assume that the bill of these will be from the first company owner (although not obvious that you can check this from their website).
P.s. I have no connection with these guys or first hand experience of dealing with them.
Search for the model you are interested in and start with the lowest priced first and they usually throw up a few interesting late/high miler candidates!
https://www.v12sportsandclassics.co.uk/used-cars/?...
I have some experience of them, all I will say (as I don't want to get in trouble) is that I didn't end up buying anything from them. I have been browsing the V12 Sports & Classics website as they regularly have a few high milers and I assume that the bill of these will be from the first company owner (although not obvious that you can check this from their website).
P.s. I have no connection with these guys or first hand experience of dealing with them.
Search for the model you are interested in and start with the lowest priced first and they usually throw up a few interesting late/high miler candidates!
https://www.v12sportsandclassics.co.uk/used-cars/?...
Depends on your price range I think.
As much as the car is probably ok a car with >100K miles on it is going to appeal to a niche market in the U.K so I’d always buy being cautious of future value and potential resell if you aren’t running it into the ground.
100K miles is still significant miles in a country where the average person does 7K a year.
As much as the car is probably ok a car with >100K miles on it is going to appeal to a niche market in the U.K so I’d always buy being cautious of future value and potential resell if you aren’t running it into the ground.
100K miles is still significant miles in a country where the average person does 7K a year.
In the post lockdown period, I was intrigued to see some of the late/high milers appearing on the market - some folk were clearly still piling on the miles.
100k represents circa 250 x 8hr days @ 50mph avg. and most likely operating at under 2,000rpm for 95% of the time, possibly with just one-up (just don’t pick an ex mini-cab!)
You would like to think that oil will have been changed at least at the recommended intervals, but do these heavy fleet users penny-pinch or change more frequently, based on their projected use?
Budget for a ‘full’ suspension refresh? This may not be justified, but could restore that new car feeling…
100k represents circa 250 x 8hr days @ 50mph avg. and most likely operating at under 2,000rpm for 95% of the time, possibly with just one-up (just don’t pick an ex mini-cab!)
You would like to think that oil will have been changed at least at the recommended intervals, but do these heavy fleet users penny-pinch or change more frequently, based on their projected use?
Budget for a ‘full’ suspension refresh? This may not be justified, but could restore that new car feeling…
I agree with checking for known issues with the drivetrain of the specific car you're interested in, but generally I agree that 5 years and 100k miles, low owner with genuine FSH, I'd think would be fine. It'll likely be largely motorway miles to rack them up that quickly. Obviously check the outwards condition of the car in person too.
I got my Merc on 99k miles (albeit a lot older than you're looking), I'd tend to associate most of the issues I've had with age rather than mileage. But the M113 is known as a durable motor, like most Merc V8s. So choose something with a rep for durability and should be fine to go high mileage I reckon.
NSS89 said:
... Another thing which I like about high mileage low owner cars is the mitigated risk of them being clocked back. ...
Not always. 
Admittedly it's a different kettle of fish, but I once bought a mk4 VW Golf GTTDI (don't ask ... ex wanted one, prior to becoming the ex). It had a declared 190k miles on it. A closer inspection of it's MOT history showed it'd lost nearly 40k miles between its first and second MOT back in the mid 2000s. It was rougher than wiping your backside with 40 grit sandpaper!
Nothing to stop a clocked car then running up a big mileage. But yes, the risk is probably mitigated when comparing to similar cars with less miles.
Another way to look at high mileage cars is that they need to have been looked after to get to that mileage and still appear presentable.
I am at 106k on my 2015 Fiesta ST and the engine feels as strong as ever, oil and filter done every 10K, still original clutch and doesn't appear to be in need of replacement any time soon. Might need some suspension bushes soon but its had nothing until now so I think that is pretty good.
I am at 106k on my 2015 Fiesta ST and the engine feels as strong as ever, oil and filter done every 10K, still original clutch and doesn't appear to be in need of replacement any time soon. Might need some suspension bushes soon but its had nothing until now so I think that is pretty good.
Watched manufacturer videos from VW that said they develop parts with a lifetime in mind, about 8 to 10 years at average miles.
Personally, I would look at manufacturer extended warranty schemes to understand durability. They would know best. Mileages and ages they won’t warranty, you know there will be an uptick in component failures.
Also its a fraction of 1% of cars that make it to 200k miles. Have read several articles saying 150k miles is the overall life design target.
Given this, I reckon you will be replacing a fair few parts along the way from 100k miles to 150k miles.
Personally, I would look at manufacturer extended warranty schemes to understand durability. They would know best. Mileages and ages they won’t warranty, you know there will be an uptick in component failures.
Also its a fraction of 1% of cars that make it to 200k miles. Have read several articles saying 150k miles is the overall life design target.
Given this, I reckon you will be replacing a fair few parts along the way from 100k miles to 150k miles.
Edited by wyson on Thursday 12th January 07:09
wyson said:
Also its a fraction of 1% that make it to 200k miles. Have read several articles saying 150k miles is the design target.
Given this, I reckon you will be replacing a fair few parts along the way from 100k miles to 150k miles.
I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that an awful lot of drivers do very few miles annually... Given this, I reckon you will be replacing a fair few parts along the way from 100k miles to 150k miles.
This results in plenty of cars getting to 15-20 years old at sub-150k and then getting scrapped because they're not economically viable to repair - not because they're not repairable and often there's a good few miles potential in them, but the repairs cost too much like the value of the car for the owner to go for it, so they get scrapped.
Silly things like £500 for a cambelt due at 150k on a car that's only worth £750-1000 will often have the owners deciding they'd rather trade it in (and the garage would rather scrap than fix and sell).
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