When buying a used car which is more important - mileage or age of the car

[Blackie27]

I would go for the older car as I would be more inclined to carry out the servicing and repairs myself. I think new modern cars are overcomplicated. But that might be just down to me being a bit older.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Depends on which one had you on the logbook as the previous owner Not saying how that would affect my decision though! On a more serious note I personally look more at mileage than age

Me too, but overall condition and service history are also VIP. Generally I have done better this way than the higher milage cars. When you try and sell a high miler, its a high miler if the older car is still below average miles and thus in great condition it may be a better bet. ALL cars are money pits. NO exceptions. The sensible way, which blokes dont do, is buy the best you can afford, bear in mind repairs and maintenance costs in the future. NEVER EVER modify unless you really cant stop yourself. You might as well burn money spent on mods. Think on the cost v's cost of the next change. ALWAYS look after cars and keep them as long as you can it is BY FAR the most econimic way. The cheaper you buy the less you loose. If you go old and cheap depreciation isnt really a factor, otherwise its king of the costs and should be the key consideration. Its why the VW range generally are a good bet for private customers.

 

[Greasytrucker]

Me too, but overall condition and service history are also VIP. Generally I have done better this way than the higher milage cars. When you try and sell a high miler, its a high miler if the older car is still belwo average miles and thus in great condition it may be a better bet. ALL casr are money pits. NO exceptions. The sensible way, which blokes dont do, is buy the best you can afford, bear in mind repairs and maintenance costs in the future. NEVER EVER modify unless you really cant stop yourself. You might as well burn money spent on mods. Think on hte cost v's cost of the next change. ALWAYS look after cars and keep them as long as you can it is BY FAR the most econimic way. The cheaper you buy the less you loose. If you go old and cheap depreciation isnt really a factor, otherwise its king of hte costs and shouldbe the key consideration. Its why the VW range generally are a good bet ofr private customers.

Indeed you are correct, bangernomics is the way I work, it’s just knowing when to drawer the line. Normally with me it’s when I’m welding patches on top of patches And as for selling them…..normally when I’m finished with anything it’s only fit for the crusher!

 

[FiatMatt94]

Indeed you are correct, bangernomics is the way I work, it’s just knowing when to drawer the line. Normally with me it’s when I’m welding patches on top of patches And as for selling them…..normally when I’m finished with anything it’s only fit for the crusher!

That's exactly how I am as well & I'd agree bangernomics is definitely the way to go providing you do your homework & pick up something decent, the only car I've ever sold on was the Panda after having countless issues with it, the rest either get written off or get to the point of no return major rust is usually the thing with me as well, I don't mind throwing money at a car mechanically as I save on labour by doing the stuff myself but the car has to be structurally sound & solid for me to justify it, like my Seicento which is 25 years old which I knew that when I bought it she needed a few bits but I saw that under all the muck there was a really good solid car that just needed some mechanical & cosmetic TLC as it had been sat in a barn & previously owned by an elderly lady who did very minimal annual mileage, I think now though I'm all on top of all the mechanical stuff & she's been used daily in the 8 months I've had it & has just had a load of mechanical stuff done including full clutch kit, new lower arms, both gearbox mounts & engine mount renewed, new ignition coils with new leads, the list goes on it cost me around £400 in parts but I know the car is all structurally good so I didn't mind doing it & the car now only has 26k on it so providing I keep on top of the bodywork there's still plenty of life in the old girl.

 

[Greasytrucker]

That's exactly how I am as well & I'd agree bangernomics is definitely the way to go providing you do your homework & pick up something decent, the only car I've ever sold on was the Panda after having countless issues with it, the rest either get written off or get to the point of no return major rust is usually the thing with me as well, I don't mind throwing money at a car mechanically as I save on labour by doing the stuff myself but the car has to be structurally sound & solid for me to justify it, like my Seicento which is 25 years old which I knew that when I bought it she needed a few bits but I saw that under all the muck there was a really good solid car that just needed some mechanical & cosmetic TLC as it had been sat in a barn & previously owned by an elderly lady who did very minimal annual mileage, I think now though I'm all on top of all the mechanical stuff & she's been used daily in the 8 months I've had it & has just had a load of mechanical stuff done including full clutch kit, new lower arms, both gearbox mounts & engine mount renewed, new ignition coils with new leads, the list goes on it cost me around £400 in parts but I know the car is all structurally good so I didn't mind doing it & the car now only has 26k on it so providing I keep on top of the bodywork there's still plenty of life in the old girl.

Yes, definitely sounds like you’ve got a keeper there

 

[FiatMatt94]

Yes, definitely sounds like you’ve got a keeper there

I definitely have I've certainly caught the Cento bug

 

[The Panda Nut]

Indeed you are correct, bangernomics is the way I work, it’s just knowing when to drawer the line. Normally with me it’s when I’m welding patches on top of patches And as for selling them…..normally when I’m finished with anything it’s only fit for the crusher!

I have tried to buy new for quite a few years. 'B' expensive, but I like the fact I know where its been and I nurse the cars to stupid level they are all in as near perfect mechanical condition as I can keep them and the rule of thumb is they must at all times be capable and ready to drive to the tip of Italy without so much as topping up the washer bottle. I bought a Citroen GSA years back, it was a year old and had a hydraulic problem that I fixed for £5. I ran it several years and made a profit on it. Ive had a 7 seat Renault Savannah that I bought new and made a profit on it when I sold it on. (No new 7 seaters available and mine was immaculate) My 2017 Panda TA 4x4 stayed a year and cost almost nothing (around 200). The current Panda TA Ive had nearly 6 years and I think would break even on it with luck especially if I were prepared to wait a bit. We ran an old Skoda Estelle for 5 years and it cost nothing. Bought it cheap with poor brakes. A hole on the very long vacuum pipe to the servo was repaired with a bit of tape never a problem again. My Golf TDI dsg was a disater in terms of reliability and rattled and creaked badly. It was a really nice tool to drive and economical on fuel. In spite of having no laquer left on the paint when sold (and I mean it had lost 30% of it) was a low cost (to me) car when sold. Most of the others cost a lot of dosh but Citroens apart from the GSA were diabolically expensive w.r.t. depreciation.

Our Allegro was a good car apart from the sinking suspension but went for recycling after about 6 years due to terminal rust. The Smart convertible held its price well, but the Mercedes people were so stuck up their own a***s and out right rude, I would sooner buy a bike than deal with their better than thou attitude ever again. Of the 90 odd cars I have owned nothing else stands out much.

If you use a bit of savvy and buy things that are not 'popular' you can be mobile cheaply and have reliable wheels. Really really canny people of course drive Pandas and never change them for something inferior... (all other cars) LOL