Buying a used car: Newer/Higher Mileage V Older/Lower Mileage

birkiefeet

Hi there
I'm looking to buy a used car. I've seen two but I can't decide so I'd like an idea of what other people might do. Would you buy the newer car with higher mileage or the older car with lower mileage?
Car 1 - 2007 (57) Reg, 34,000 miles, £4300
Car 2 - 2006 (06) Reg, 11,000 miles, £5500
Thanks for your opinions

jaydeeuk1

Without seeing in the flesh, and assuming both kitted out the same, the 57 car every time. The 2006 one will have had lots of short cold journeys. 34k is barely run in!

Next!

mkirkby

birkiefeet wrote: »

Hi there
I'm looking to buy a used car. I've seen two but I can't decide so I'd like an idea of what other people might do. Would you buy the newer car with higher mileage or the older car with lower mileage?
Car 1 - 2007 (57) Reg, 34,000 miles, £4300
Car 2 - 2006 (06) Reg, 11,000 miles, £5500
Thanks for your opinions

Assuming a full service history, get the cheapest. That kind of mileage is totally irrelevant if the SH is good.

jase1

TBH even the 34000 is a tad on the low side for the age of the car. 11000 is a potential liability.

forgotmyname

Buy on condition..... Works for me.

I never buy low mileage cars. They have usually been on tons of short journeys, Or parked up for long periods.

Bearings and seals suffer from that.

Hope your not paying extra for the low mileage.

rxbren

get the one with the best spec
there both low mileage its not a massive problem if used for short journeys or if they have been stood as there only 5/6 years old

jaydeeuk1

rxbren wrote: »

get the one with the best spec
there both low mileage its not a massive problem if used for short journeys or if they have been stood as there only 5/6 years old

Sorry, but that is wrong. Better to have a car that is used daily getting up to temp, esp on motorways than one that is left rotting or oil emulsifying from short journeys.

sunflower_2

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Better to have a car that is used daily getting up to temp, esp on motorways than one that is left rotting or oil emulsifying from short journeys.

very handy info - thank you very much jaydee

i will soon need to replace my old faithfull "shed" and cannot afford to buy new so this info will def come in handy

i always thought the lower the miles, the better, regardless

Notmyrealname

sunflower wrote: »

i always thought the lower the miles, the better, regardless

If it spends a long time standing, stuff seizes up.

If it spends all its time driving around town, the brakes, suspension, steering and clutch get used far more in 10 miles worth of town driving than a car that has done 500 motorway miles.

rxbren

54 plate bmw 320 does maybe 1000 miles a year if that the battery dies from not being driven other than that it never skips a beat!
spends most of its time sat on the driveway looking pretty

SailorSam

These days mileage isn't something you have to worry about, The bodywork is always the most important factor.