Buying a car with high mileage!

freezebox

Hi guys,

Saved up enough now and am hoping to get a new car - I've been looking at Audi A6 2.7 TDi Le Mans in Oyster Grey in manual transmittion for quite some time now and am hoping to pop down to the auction in about a weeks time and buy it. It has 125,000 miles on it but has been serviced at 6 seperate intervals. Its also in really really good condition externally and internally. I was wondering what you guys think? Should I go for this (how much do you think it will go for - I'm thinking for under 9.5k) or I can go to a local garage and pick up a similar le mans edition, but however it is in black (magnet for dirt) and is in a bit worse condition externally (scratches etc) however the mileage on that is only 111k for 11,000

Cheers.

P.S - they are both ex fleet cars done motorway miles and are on 08 Plates

s_b

its not high mileage but it is a gamble
suggest you take someone with you to assess car prior to sale as it could turn out to be a money pit

freezebox

The cars cannot be accessed internally until the auctioneers driver comes up ready to move it to the hall - can just be seen externally such as bodywork and the interior through the window. So I can get him to rev it etc. maybe if he's nice on that day get him to quickly pop the hood of the car so i can take a look inside.

shortchanged_2

If those cars have been/continue to be well maintained I should think they are well capable of doing over 200,000 miles.
I suppose it depends really on how long you want to keep it for.

s_b

you can learn as much about a car from the outside as you can under the hood so view it very carefully looking for giveaways of things that dont substantiate its mileage ,look for quality tyres,knocks and dents,little things to show if its been loved or abused,personally if all you get for 9.5k spending power is a quick kick of the tyres and a sniff of the engine i wouldnt be sticking my hand up on a car of this type of ilk as theres too much to lose

freezebox

Gonna keep it until it dies really. Planning on running it into the ground. Also externally it is perfect. Not a single dent on it. One very light scratch on the back. No worn tires, perfect alloys nothing externally wrong. Seems like an almost new car outside (i wouldnt guess it had done 125k) so im thinking whoever had this car looked after it well as I have seen cars of the same model with 104k and even 35k that are in worse condition (Gouged alloys, dents, deep scratches etc)

Barneysmom

As long as everything's been done on the service it should be a good car.
Mine's got 170,000 and it runs like a dream. It's been serviced every 10-12,000 miles. It should run forever.

freezebox

Ah, have you got the 2.7 tdi engine? any common faults or things to look out for when looking to buy? The listing on the car simply says Service History - 6 Stamps, so its been serviced 6 times over the 125k miles and seeing as though its a company car they'd have paid for the full works and whatever was suggested by audi at the services right?

Outpost

s_b wrote: »

... if all you get for 9.5k spending power is a quick kick of the tyres and a sniff of the engine i wouldn't be sticking my hand up on a car of this type of ilk as there's too much to lose

Agreed.

harveybobbles

freezebox wrote: »

One very light scratch on the back. No worn tires, perfect alloys nothing externally wrong. Seems like an almost new car outside (i wouldnt guess it had done 125k) so im thinking whoever had this car looked after it

This is a good reason why I like new, high mileage cars - they just sit on the motorway and don't get time to pick up parking dents, or scuffs on wheels etc.

Cant rememebr if I sent you the condition report for tht one or not? Lost track lol!

Kilty_2

freezebox wrote: »

seeing as though its a company car they'd have paid for the full works and whatever was suggested by audi at the services right?

Maybe - depending on the lease company involved and whether it's actually ever seen an Audi dealer (doubtful)