Economical cars - is a 12year old car worth 3 k ?

andygb

We paid £3K for our then six year old Skoda diesel with 90K on the clock, and it drives like a new car. I wouldn't think a 13 year old car drives like a new car.

TradePro

andygb wrote: »

We paid £3K for our then six year old Skoda diesel with 90K on the clock, and it drives like a new car

I read this kind of thing quite a lot, and tend to think 'have you ever driven a new car?'.

Not trying to be argumentative, (perhaps a little pedantic) but statements like that are totally untrue.

forgotmyname

If a cars looked after it will be like new after 100,000+ miles and be in a better condition than a 30,000 mile one.

I nearly bought a car with 78,000 miles, But felt uneasy as the dealer started haggling for me and offered me more for my old car than anyone else. And the offered to tax it in the price also..
I took the keys and had another look. This time when i blipped the throttle it smoked. Blue smoke from the exhaust.

The car i was trading in with 150,000 miles was in better condition than that.

securityguy

OddballJamie wrote: »

Have you considered a Skoda? The old 1.9 engine is suppose to be very good.

My brother and I both have Octavias with the 1.9 diesel engine. His is a manual 2004, mine a DSG 2005. Both have done in excess of 100K miles with little more than routine service items. Mine had a turbo back when it was still a fleet car, which I think is the only major item. Previously I had a Passat with the same engine, which I put 120K on in less than five years without any drama at all, and prior to that I put 60K on a Golf 1.9D. That engine is virtually indestructible: about 400K miles between four cars, with a grand total of one turbo.

andygb

TradePro wrote: »

I read this kind of thing quite a lot, and tend to think 'have you ever driven a new car?'.

Not trying to be argumentative, (perhaps a little pedantic) but statements like that are totally untrue.

Yes, I have driven plenty of new cars.
The expression cannot be taken literally, but is meant to relate to things like nice, tight steering, no knocks or creaks from anywhere, a pristine interior (obviously that is down to me), an engine which uses less than 500ml of oil per 15K miles, is quiet and pulls well, and will average exactly the same as when it was new.
Look after a car and it will reward you.

paris321

thank you all for your reply's , certainly given me food for thought.

As i use my car for work i need one that is in relatively good condition on the outside so i don't look scabby!

I live in the deepest darkest depths of cornwall and while i'm willing to go upto 150 odd miles for the right car id rather find one closer to home if possible, as i'd hate to drive all that way and it not be any good, there aren't many of the car i'm looking for down here.

I have considered a few others including an audi A6, but nothing can match the mpg that the 1.4HDI does while giving me enough space within the car.

For me i want something that looks nice, does 55-65 mpg and is in the £30 a year tax band the only car i can find that fits this is the pug. In an ideal world around 2k but can go up towards the 3k for something that's really nice.

In an ideal world i'd prefer to buy from a dealer for the 3 month warrenty and full 12month mot.

forgotmyname

So it can be an unreliable wreck as long as its shiny and got the right badge?

You travel for the right car. The trick is ask the right questions 1st.

I almost travelled from the Midlands to Truro/Redruth? For what sounded like the right car. Over 300 miles.

Just before i was due to go i found one a mere 60 miles away.

I had already seen 6 other cars in one day, Crewe/Manchester/Oldham all in one day. None of them as advertised.

No good buying a car thats cheap to tax if the other running costs are more.

£2000 - £3000 you need to know what your buying. You may get something that will last years and years. Or you maybe buying something someone sold because its got a list of niggles or expensive bills looming.

Norman_Castle

Low mileage doesn't always mean short runs. For a while I only used my car twice a week. A friend who is a hgv driver who was driving in europe for a few years drove to work on Monday and home on Friday with his car unused over the weekend as he liked a drink. My aunt spends months out of the country every year, so her car has low annual mileage.

Depending on your annual milage a petrol 206sw might be cheaper to buy.

forgotmyname

Bearings dont like being unused for long periods.

One of the car mags bought a very low mileage, Owner passed away. Noise started on the drive home from buying it. Gearbox bearing failed.

Diagnosed as part of the bearing sat slightly above the oil line and with the car standing for long periods a spec of rust took hold.
As soon as the car got a long run on the way home that but of rust became a weak spot and the bearing failed.

steve-L

TradePro wrote: »

I read this kind of thing quite a lot, and tend to think 'have you ever driven a new car?'.

Not trying to be argumentative, (perhaps a little pedantic) but statements like that are totally untrue.

I've had 1 new car (delivery miles Toyota, company car)
I've driven a lot of hire cars with <10k on the clock....
and have to agree with andyGB

AndyGB wrote:

The expression cannot be taken literally, but is meant to relate to things like nice, tight steering, no knocks or creaks from anywhere, a pristine interior (obviously that is down to me), an engine which uses less than 500ml of oil per 15K miles, is quiet and pulls well, and will average exactly the same as when it was new.

The new car was really no different to my present 125k car in those terms.