Buying a relatively cheap reliable used car, advice?

delmonta

forgotmyname said:

Unless your a low mileage user dont buy a diesel with over 300,000 miles... A well serviced diesel will do this without major work to the engine.
I start my searches at 130,000 miles and look for cars with excellent service histories. Got stamps in a book, next please. Got receipts and
a record of all the work? On my way.

Sold a previous diesel with 174k on the clock, buyer did 60k in the following 2 years serviced once if it was lucky.

Thanks, yeah I keep coming across decent looking diesels in the 170 to 190k miles range. it just feels a bit high, maybe best avoided. I'm also trying to avoid Vauxhall and all the French cars, mostly because I've owned so many and had varied luck, but everyone keeps telling me get something German or Japanese!

I'm also waiting for a decent private sale, and trying to avoid dealers on peoples advice

tahnks

shane2k

it is a gamble best looking for something with some service history and check last mot check

you can get a bargain or a !!!!!! heap but for petrol i wouldnt touch anything higher then 100k and if no service dont touch it also check clutch height and see if its had cambelt change if its a timing chain listen for a ticking noise or rattle then walk away

forgotmyname

Same with petrol though. In 2009 I traded in my Petrol engined car for a Diesel one.  It had approx 150,000 miles on the
clock and still sounded sweet and used no oil, sold because i wanted a diesel and an estate.  In 2018 it was MOT'd with
something like 230,000 or 240,000 miles on the clock.

The only advisory since my ownership and the new owner was a nail in the tyre in 2012.

No MOT in 2019 though.  Regular oil changes and an italian tuneup.

Priority, service history 1st and 2nd and 3rd and 4th and maybe even 5th.  Receipts?  
Drives nice?  Right spec? Right colour?

fred246

I have owned my car for the last 16 years. VW1.9TDI 130PS engine. Now over 160000 miles. Just keeps going year after year. Only repair has been a clutch and dual mass flywheel £700. According to we buy any car it's been worth £500 for the last 3-4 years. Engine feels the same as when new. Doesn't burn any oil. Definitely recommend VW1.9TDI engine even at high miles.

delmonta

I got a car
There wasn't much available due to the coronavirus, and I wanted to avoid traders. I found a Hyundai i30 1.6 diesel estate. The milage is relatively high at 150k, but its in amazing condition, been serviced every 8k miles, new clutch fitted recently, and most of all the guy was totally genuine and he clearly cared about the car and was struggling to part with it!  I've driven about 100 miles in it already and it feels great, very solid. I've spent some time on the i30 forums and there are many stories of owners doing well over 200k with no issues, some over 400k! Which is ridiculous

I paid £1700 which I think was a fair price. The guy had recently spent £400 on 2 new keys which is quite a substantial portion of the price

Thanks for the help