Advice on buying a new (used) car

digitalphase

I am looking into buying a newer car.

I am wondering what is a more important factor to consider - its age or its mileage? Of course both are important, but if I found a newer car with a higher mileage would that be the same as an older car with a low mileage?

Any advice/ideas?

ArsenalFC

What is important as most will tell you here is the condition of the car, whether it has been serviced regularly and looked after. A high mileage car is usually fine as long it has been service regularly, although most of the time bigger engine car last longer than small ones if everything being equal, both maintained well etc.

jaydeeuk1

I'd rather buy a low aged car with higher mileage than an older one which has done 3 or 4 k a year. Short cold start/stop trips really bad for the engine.

I'd say the make of car is more important. Would rather buy a 5 year old toyota than a 5yr old frenchie car or VW.

digitalphase

I'm looking for a VW Golf MK5, only like German cars and the Golfs tend to be better value for money.

So, the higher mileage but newer car is a good option, as long as regularly serviced? I will have my OH with me who is good with cars and checking over the bodywork to see if anything dodgy has been going on

irisandalex

Definitely mileage is more important than age.

I agree with jaydeeuk1 that lots of cold short trips are bad for wear, so if it is old and high mileage try to figure out if that is the way it's led it's life.

But if you can find an older car, with low mileage and where all those miles were done on occasional motorway journeys, then that could be your perfect car!

Also agree with jaydeeuk1 on the make of car - engineering quality is key. Safe bets are Mercs, BMWs, Japanese, Swedes.....

In the old days you had to worry about rust on older cars, but these days that is no longer an issue.

Of course with older cars the safety levels might be lower (if it means an older model).

AresenalFC makes a great point about the importance of a good service record: essential!

LandyAndy

digitalphase wrote: »

I'm looking for a VW Golf MK5, only like German cars and the Golfs tend to be better value for money.

Than what?

VWs aren't quite as good as some people would have you believe.;)

irisandalex

digitalphase wrote: »

So, the higher mileage but newer car is a good option, as long as regularly serviced?

I wouldn't say so. Mechanical components are generally designed to last a certain mileage. If an engine is parked in a garage unused for a month, it isn't wearing out.

digitalphase

Sorry, need to make it a bit clearer I think I am only looking at VW Golf MK5's, so they started in 2004, so I wouldn't be looking at very old cars anyway.

What I'm wondering is whether a 2006 car with 115,000 miles on the clock is better or worse than a 2004 car with 80,000 miles on the clock?

digitalphase

LandyAndy wrote: »

Than what?

VWs aren't quite as good as some people would have you believe.;)

In comparison to other German makes. What I mean is I'd get more for my money with a Golf than I would for an A3. I only like the new shape A3, and they are more expensive than the Golfs.

Also VW's are fantastic - this would be my 5th Golf and my OH has also had about 3 Golfs, no problems - fantastic cars.

LandyAndy

digitalphase wrote: »

Sorry, need to make it a bit clearer I think I am only looking at VW Golf MK5's, so they started in 2004, so I wouldn't be looking at very old cars anyway.

What I'm wondering is whether a 2006 car with 115,000 miles on the clock is better or worse than a 2004 car with 80,000 miles on the clock?

How long are you planning on keeping it?

How many miles are you going to do?

Are you looking at petrol or diesel?

digitalphase

About 2 years.

Around 18,000 a year approx. - currently doing 1500 miles a month, but may be reducing.

Definitely diesel.