Old car low miles or newer car higher miles?

[Cakey_]

As per the title really, I'm in abit of a predicament over buying a new car.

I've got about 7k budget to buy a new family car.
I'm pretty much decided on either a passat or an octavia, possibly a touran.

Looking at both of the above I can get around a 2011 plate with 60-70k miles or a 2013-2014 round about 100k miles

I'd be getting a loan for 3 years so need the car to last atleast that long really and do about 10-12k a year.

Most of the lower mileage examples are the VAG 1.6tdi engine, a few of the higher mileage ones are the 2.0tdi which I'd imagine being a much better drive in a car that size.

So what would you buy? Lower mileage and older or newer with more miles?

Either would have to have a full service history so history is irrelevant really.

[Car Obsessed]

I’ve been in the same predicament recently and have just bought a 2009 Touran with 105k miles for £3800.

It’s got FSH and honestly drives like new. There’s a lot of rubbish out there though, so you need to look carefully - but worth considering something cheaper also.

[ZX10R NIN]

MPV wise if you cwn live with a 1.6d rhen I'd say the Mazda5 is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302134...


Hatchback/saloon wise I;d at least test drive the Insignia it has lower nvh than the Octavia & is just as well built/reliable as the VAG cars, you'll also get a 2014 onwards for your budget.

Elite Nav 160:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303155...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303044...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304276...

Also take a look at rhe DS5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304226...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304156...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303245...

508:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209039...


All the above are good family cars with less than 80k on the clock & 2014 onwards, I'd be buying the best car for my budget which imo is the Insignia.

The VAG options offer nothing more apart from having a cooler badge, you'll have an older/probably lower spec/higher mileage car for your money.

[TheDrownedApe]

every used car i have bought has always been high miles. never, never, had an issue.

Last one was in 2018 and a 13 plate fiesta tdci titanium. Had 110k on the clock and looked great inside, steering wheel/gear knob wasn't rubbed etc. New it needed timing belt changed and me and the dealer went half. 5 years later, 70k more miles and nothing gone except brakes and front off side suspension something.

i would always go high miler, just do your due diligence

[Shabaza]

Newer and higher mileage.

Was in a similar boat. Got a 2017 Octavia for £7800 last August.
Had 110k mileage.
Compare to the alternative lower mileage cars I was considering, it felt newer, looked newer and had up to date tech (apple car play etc)

[Bobupndown]

High miles wouldn't put me off a VAG diesel. We have a 10 year old Tiguan with 167000 miles on it. All 4 coil springs replaced and 2 sets of lower control arm bushes are about all that's failed. I can see us keeping it until 200000 (but then I'd want to take it to moon mileage club).
I'd buy Passat or Octavia over Insignia every time.

[Cakey_]

Thanks for the replies I'll look at some with a few more miles on them then.

I've always had VAG cars and use a very good VAG specialist garage which does an excellent job of keeping them running for me.
Everytime I've ventured away from VAG cars I've always gotten burnt 1 way or another with annoying awkward problems that seem a nightmare to find/diagnose.

Went to see a 3rd option today a higher mileage older car... an a4 avant, I do love an audi and think I'd feel happier throwing money at something older that I really like than something more modern and sensible that i don't like

[CrippsCorner]

High miles literally means nothing to me. I've actually had two of the same car before, one low miles, one higher, and the high miler was by far the better car.

I like the DS5 as mentioned above.

[ChattingWham]

I’d probably lean towards higher miles, but only alongside a good service history and evidence of all the usual tradiola being taken care of on schedule.

My last car was a ‘low mileage’ diesel, and it’s had a few issues. I subsequently discovered it was a bit of a school-run queen before I had it. It’s not been a total disaster, and it’s a nice car, but I wouldn’t buy a low-miles diesel again for sure.

[Super Sonic]

ChattingWham said:

...tradiola...

Just googled this and the search came back w loads of Kenneth Williams stuff lol

[Ryyy]

On the 1.6tdi front, they're known for their shtty injectors. I had 2 go in 3 years and was forever waiting for one to go when doing a long journey would go for the 2.0 over the 1.6 any day.

Also for mileage, I bought it at 7 years old(63 plate) and put it 60k miles on it, it drove exactly as it did at 120k as it did 60k. Past tense as it got worse off earlier in the year

Edited by Ryyy on Friday 28th April 23:44