New used car tips pls

jonewer

I'm looking to spend £1.5k-£5k on my long planned new second hand car. Ideally looking for a mid-size car no older than an 05' plate with no more than 40k miles on the clock.

There isnt much choice locally for such things.

So I have been looking on autotrader and there are really good prices on cars that a older or have high mileage. Whats more important then, an older car (02ish plate) or one with higher milage (60k-80k ish)?

Probably the most promising car I have seen online is a Mitsi Lancer 1.6auto, 05 plate with 30k miles for £4k ask.

Thoughts?

:think:

Hammyman

I would walk, no RUN away from a 5 year old car with low mileage. Most of that mileage will have been around town which is far more wearing on a car than one that sits on A roads and motorways. I've seen cars at 50k miles on with the bottoms dropping out of the engines. I own one which had 90k on at 3 years old and at 152k is still going strong with no signs of trouble.

motorguy

Hammyman wrote: »

I would walk, no RUN away from a 5 year old car with low mileage. Most of that mileage will have been around town which is far more wearing on a car than one that sits on A roads and motorways. I've seen cars at 50k miles on with the bottoms dropping out of the engines. I own one which had 90k on at 3 years old and at 152k is still going strong with no signs of trouble.

^^^^^

And therein lies the problem when asking for general tips on a car forum on car buying.

There will be people say avoid low miles cars, others avoid high miles cars, and a thousand other contradictory avoids....

jonewer

Hammyman wrote: »

I would walk, no RUN away from a 5 year old car with low mileage. Most of that mileage will have been around town which is far more wearing on a car than one that sits on A roads and motorways. I've seen cars at 50k miles on with the bottoms dropping out of the engines. I own one which had 90k on at 3 years old and at 152k is still going strong with no signs of trouble.

But could it not be that a 90k car has also done 30k in town, whereas a 30k car cannot possibly have done more than 30k in town?

Anyway, does anyone have opinions on a Lancer?

Kilty_2

£1500 to £5000 is quite a strange price range

Does it need to be automatic?

Nissan Almera/Primera are bound to be a good buy (and well within your price range), run out 56 plates will be well within your price range.

My 1.5 Almera was a good car, and I liked a 1.8 Primera I test drove (but bought a 2.0 petrol Laguna II instead - which is another contender if you can live with 30-34 MPG - 07 plates can be had for < £4500 with low miles)

My Laguna went in P/X for £3100 with 23k on the clock - you'd pick one up for £4k retail I reckon.

jonewer

Tis quite a price range but its value I'm after rather than a specific model.

No need for an auto.

Had been looking at a couple of Almeras. Seem like good value, prices depressed due to badge snobbery maybe? Dont mind cashing in on that.

Kilty_2

jonewer wrote: »

Had been looking at a couple of Almeras. Seem like good value, prices depressed due to badge snobbery maybe? Dont mind cashing in on that.

Weren't popular when new so the prices are low now. The last of the bunch were sold off VERY cheap brand new too.

Good cars. Too many base models out there though (try to get a higher spec if you can but they're rare)

bengalknights

For that amount you could get a Honda or Toyota both which are very reliable when both used on motorways or town driving.Mitsubishis use to have a engine rust problem but other than that there isnt much to go wrong with them.

jonewer

bengalknights wrote: »

For that amount you could get a Honda or Toyota.....

Check. Found an Accord for £3k. 2 litre 51 reg 50k miles FSH SE exec trim. Might have shufti at this one.

LandyAndy

Look at Mazda6 as well. At your price range look at petrols not diesels.

Lirin

At that price range, you'll find plenty. I've never paid above 2k for a car, and most of mine have lasted well beyond 200,000 miles.... A car that's only low mileage can show it's only urban miles, meaning it isn't properly broken in. My current car drives much better at 80,000 than it did at 20,000. On the other side, a car with high mileage is more likely (depending on owner) to have more wear and tear.
It's finding the balance- I'd rather have a car with 100,000 that's been maintained, than a car at 20,000 that's been run ragged and not looked after.
Mitsi are good, rarely had engine trouble with them (All my Protons use Mitsi engines), but there are plenty out there.... It's personal preference too.