Age or mileage?
Discussion
I was once faced with this dilemma and in the end "bought on condition". The car I eventually bought was the older one, mainly because it drove like a brand new car. Never regretted it!
Always buy on overall condition - and a good service history is always helpful in assessing those things you can't see on inspection.
Always buy on overall condition - and a good service history is always helpful in assessing those things you can't see on inspection.
I'd say condition and history, too. Neither age nor mileage are particularly important to me.
All other things being equal, though, I guess I'd take the older, lower mileage, car, unless it's so low that it implies that it's been run cold all the time.
All other things being equal, though, I guess I'd take the older, lower mileage, car, unless it's so low that it implies that it's been run cold all the time.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 24th November 11:18
Condition and how it's been used.
Also depends on the make!
I'd rather own a motorway cruiser than a mum wagon that's never left town. I'd take a lower mileage French car over a higher mileage one, as they do tend to fall to bits. I'd happily take on something Jap or older German with a higher mileage if it was a non town car though.
Just my little prejudices!
Also depends on the make!
I'd rather own a motorway cruiser than a mum wagon that's never left town. I'd take a lower mileage French car over a higher mileage one, as they do tend to fall to bits. I'd happily take on something Jap or older German with a higher mileage if it was a non town car though.
Just my little prejudices!
I disagree. History means nothing to me.
for resale, then yes I can see it helping. but to make sure you are buying a good car, then it means nothing.
Chances are, an older car with great service history... has been fudged. and even if it is right, I trust main dealer garages less than I trust indies, and i trust indies less than back streets, and I trust these less than the owner having a go at it, no matter how mechanically inept they are.
no service history at all, probably tells you the owner has done whatever work themselves, so have been a bit more mechanically minded when driving it.
The more paperwork there is, then the more work its had done on it, then probably the poorer it has been driven.
mileage does matter, but only if one is double the other.
age matters most for me when buying 10-15 year old cars, due to rust, wires stripping etc. but if its newer, then doesn't matter a jot unless there are model variants coming into play.
The ONLY thing that should matter is what it sounds and feels like, and sometimes how the underneath looks.
for resale, then yes I can see it helping. but to make sure you are buying a good car, then it means nothing.
Chances are, an older car with great service history... has been fudged. and even if it is right, I trust main dealer garages less than I trust indies, and i trust indies less than back streets, and I trust these less than the owner having a go at it, no matter how mechanically inept they are.
no service history at all, probably tells you the owner has done whatever work themselves, so have been a bit more mechanically minded when driving it.
The more paperwork there is, then the more work its had done on it, then probably the poorer it has been driven.
mileage does matter, but only if one is double the other.
age matters most for me when buying 10-15 year old cars, due to rust, wires stripping etc. but if its newer, then doesn't matter a jot unless there are model variants coming into play.
The ONLY thing that should matter is what it sounds and feels like, and sometimes how the underneath looks.
Efbe said:
I disagree. History means nothing to me.
for resale, then yes I can see it helping. but to make sure you are buying a good car, then it means nothing.
Chances are, an older car with great service history... has been fudged. and even if it is right, I trust main dealer garages less than I trust indies, and i trust indies less than back streets, and I trust these less than the owner having a go at it, no matter how mechanically inept they are.
no service history at all, probably tells you the owner has done whatever work themselves, so have been a bit more mechanically minded when driving it.
The more paperwork there is, then the more work its had done on it, then probably the poorer it has been driven.
It always amuses me when sellers state that they huge bills for thousands of pounds and think that its a positive but if a car had needed that amount spent in the previous few months/years then its likely to need the same again spent.
This poses another conundrum. Do you buy a car that has little money spent on it or one where there are bills for thousands. I suppose you could argue either way but conition has to be the most important
mileage does matter, but only if one is double the other.
age matters most for me when buying 10-15 year old cars, due to rust, wires stripping etc. but if its newer, then doesn't matter a jot unless there are model variants coming into play.
The ONLY thing that should matter is what it sounds and feels like, and sometimes how the underneath looks.
for resale, then yes I can see it helping. but to make sure you are buying a good car, then it means nothing.
Chances are, an older car with great service history... has been fudged. and even if it is right, I trust main dealer garages less than I trust indies, and i trust indies less than back streets, and I trust these less than the owner having a go at it, no matter how mechanically inept they are.
no service history at all, probably tells you the owner has done whatever work themselves, so have been a bit more mechanically minded when driving it.
The more paperwork there is, then the more work its had done on it, then probably the poorer it has been driven.
It always amuses me when sellers state that they huge bills for thousands of pounds and think that its a positive but if a car had needed that amount spent in the previous few months/years then its likely to need the same again spent.
This poses another conundrum. Do you buy a car that has little money spent on it or one where there are bills for thousands. I suppose you could argue either way but conition has to be the most important
mileage does matter, but only if one is double the other.
age matters most for me when buying 10-15 year old cars, due to rust, wires stripping etc. but if its newer, then doesn't matter a jot unless there are model variants coming into play.
The ONLY thing that should matter is what it sounds and feels like, and sometimes how the underneath looks.
Efbe said:
no service history at all, probably tells you the owner has done whatever work themselves, so have been a bit more mechanically minded when driving it.
The more paperwork there is, then the more work its had done on it, then probably the poorer it has been driven.
I've owned cars worth under a grand, and cars worth nearly £10k.The more paperwork there is, then the more work its had done on it, then probably the poorer it has been driven.
The cheap cars have come with no service history, and I haven't got any service on them either, as I just ran them into the ground. I've never changed a cambelt either. I've sold these cars on but the buyer knew exactly what they were getting... they were falling apart and continued to do so!
The expensive cars have always had full service and I've continued that on, of course it's a must for selling on for that kind of money. The paper work on these was showing premium tyres, cambelt change, new clutch etc. very positive things to know that have been done.
kayzee said:
Efbe said:
no service history at all, probably tells you the owner has done whatever work themselves, so have been a bit more mechanically minded when driving it.
The more paperwork there is, then the more work its had done on it, then probably the poorer it has been driven.
I've owned cars worth under a grand, and cars worth nearly £10k.The more paperwork there is, then the more work its had done on it, then probably the poorer it has been driven.
The cheap cars have come with no service history, and I haven't got any service on them either, as I just ran them into the ground. I've never changed a cambelt either. I've sold these cars on but the buyer knew exactly what they were getting... they were falling apart and continued to do so!
The expensive cars have always had full service and I've continued that on, of course it's a must for selling on for that kind of money. The paper work on these was showing premium tyres, cambelt change, new clutch etc. very positive things to know that have been done.
garage receipts, with wishbone replaced etc are not a good thing. but receipts for oil changes, belts and stuff like this are good.
both of my vehicles at the moment do have full service history, and unfortunately I dont have the money to keep that going. I will however be doing my own servicing, and I KNOW that my service on them will be ten times better than a garage would give them. for one, I trust that I will do something, and not just give it a once over and charge for work not done!
Efbe said:
I disagree. History means nothing to me.
for resale, then yes I can see it helping. but to make sure you are buying a good car, then it means nothing.
Chances are, an older car with great service history... has been fudged. and even if it is right, I trust main dealer garages less than I trust indies, and i trust indies less than back streets, and I trust these less than the owner having a go at it, no matter how mechanically inept they are.
no service history at all, probably tells you the owner has done whatever work themselves, so have been a bit more mechanically minded when driving it.
The more paperwork there is, then the more work its had done on it, then probably the poorer it has been driven.
mileage does matter, but only if one is double the other.
age matters most for me when buying 10-15 year old cars, due to rust, wires stripping etc. but if its newer, then doesn't matter a jot unless there are model variants coming into play.
The ONLY thing that should matter is what it sounds and feels like, and sometimes how the underneath looks.
so you're saying that if i showed you a binder full of receipts/stamps from a main dealer that would put you off, compared to me saying "yeah did the cambelt on my drive"?for resale, then yes I can see it helping. but to make sure you are buying a good car, then it means nothing.
Chances are, an older car with great service history... has been fudged. and even if it is right, I trust main dealer garages less than I trust indies, and i trust indies less than back streets, and I trust these less than the owner having a go at it, no matter how mechanically inept they are.
no service history at all, probably tells you the owner has done whatever work themselves, so have been a bit more mechanically minded when driving it.
The more paperwork there is, then the more work its had done on it, then probably the poorer it has been driven.
mileage does matter, but only if one is double the other.
age matters most for me when buying 10-15 year old cars, due to rust, wires stripping etc. but if its newer, then doesn't matter a jot unless there are model variants coming into play.
The ONLY thing that should matter is what it sounds and feels like, and sometimes how the underneath looks.
Evangelion said:
Picture the scene:
You're after buying a car, and you're looking at two similar examples. Same make, same model, prices within ten per cent. But while one is a year or two newer, the other has say 20-30k less miles.
Which do you go for?
Discuss.
...the one in the best condition....a no brainer.You're after buying a car, and you're looking at two similar examples. Same make, same model, prices within ten per cent. But while one is a year or two newer, the other has say 20-30k less miles.
Which do you go for?
Discuss.
jdw100 said:
The Crack Fox said:
Nothing to choose between 'em, I'd go with the best maintained example, unless either were modern Peugeots, then I'd just burn the money and catch the bus.
My Peugeot has been more reliable than the Jags and BMW I had before.....
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