A 2000 V reg with high mileage, steer clear or good deal?

Tinuel

Hi,
I am looking for a cheap runner, just for the usual shopping, take little one to school and run arounds. The problem is that for work reasons I am leaving the UK in August, so don't want to get anything expensive as I will only use it for 5 months ish.

I found this 2000, V reg, Fiesta 1.25 Zetec for £795 at a dealer, but it has high mileage. 130 000 according to the dealer (13 thousand miles per year on a small hatchback.). Is it worth it or should I steer clear? My budget is 800 quid max

Link below:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201011354646876/sort/locasc/usedcars/price-to/1000/price-from/500/postcode/se62nd/page/4/radius/10?logcode=p

Many thanks all.

Hintza

Who knows, could go another &0k miles or die within a week of you buying it. My question would be has it got an MOT to cover you until at least August and hopefully for the full 12 months so you might get a couple of hundred back when you sell it.

Just check the engine for any obvious problems. For a 10 year old car 130k miles sounds average to me.

Scrappage will also have limited your choices so you probably can't afford to be too picky.

aqueoushumour01

if it's in good nick then buy it. check the work that's been carried out on it in recent times i.e. receipt and service history. the only time i wouldn't go near a car with high mileage is if there was no evidence of recent services and replacement work having been carried out.

anewman

As I would always say, a high mileage car that has been maintained well is a better option than a poorly maintained low mileage example. Some service history and good apparent condition would make this a no-brainer purchase. The reverse side to this is don't be blinkered into thinking a low mileage car is great, this is why con-men clock them.

On a ford fiesta I'd be having a good look for any signs of rust around suspension struts, sills, and seatbelt mountings etc (no need to worry about bubbling on doors or whatever).

Inactive

The dealer hasn't listed any service history, he has on other cars, so I assume it has none.

Avoid like the plague if it has no service history.