High mileage car vs full service history

Tinuel

Hi all,
I have viewed a nice spec Peugeot 308, Diesel 2016 reg that has all the dealership service history, seems well looked after, never failed an MOT and has had 2 registered keepers.
I have purchased the HPI report and no issues, all clear. The last keeper has had the car for about 4 years.

Problem for me is the mileage, it has about 145k miles on a clock, which for a 2016 reg is high and well above average.

The current keeper said that he does a lot of motorway miles up and down the country hence the high miles. During lockdown he only did about 7k miles.

Considering the above, would you steer clear of high mileage used vehicles? Is it one to avoid?

Grumpy_chap

Motorway mileage is quite forgiving.

Is the price attractive given the mileage?

Tinuel

Grumpy_chap said:

Motorway mileage is quite forgiving.

Is the price attractive given the mileage?

Hi, yes price is below average to reflect the high mileage.

oh_really

I have a golf Gtd, year older with similar miles. Still sweet as a nut and without major headaches.

Again, mostly m/way use profile.

Herzlos

29k/year is almost certainly a lot of motorway miles if it wasn't a taxi. What kind of condition are the seats in?

If it has mostly been used on the motorway and it's got a full service history then it'll be fine.

Ebe_Scrooge

If it really has spent its life cruising up and down a motorway then it could be a bargain.  Motorway miles are good miles - especially for a diesel.  Compared to town driving, there's sod-all wear 'n' tear on brakes, clutch, gearbox, steering, suspension etc.  Obviously, do the usual due diligence, check it over thoroughly for faults, but on the face of it I personally wouldn't be at all put off by the mileage.

Actonmonkeys

I wouldn't touch a car with such high miles, chances are the timing/fan belt will snap, the head gasket will blow or you will have an electrical meltdown at some stage, plus there will be suspension costs.

Ebe_Scrooge

Actonmonkeys said:

I wouldn't touch a car with such high miles, chances are the timing/fan belt will snap, the head gasket will blow or you will have an electrical meltdown at some stage, plus there will be suspension costs.

No reason a timing belt should snap as long as it's been changed when it should.  No reason a head gasket should blow unless it's been allowed to overheat.  Any car will break if it's not maintained.  In saying this car is probably "a decent bet", that assumes that routine servicing and maintenance has been carried out.

jimjames

One of the best cars I've bought had very high motorway miles, 110k at 3 years old but was 30% of new price. First 10k service had been done within 3 months of purchase! Immaculate condition, looked like only the driver was ever in the car. Kept it 10 years and no real issues other than standard maintenance.

Based on the title I thought it was high miles car OR one with service history. If it has both then I'd certainly go for it.

Stubod

..I bought our reps 3 year old Peugeot when it had 100k on the clock, a few years later with 150k on the clock I sold it to my brother in law. It finally gave up the ghost a good few years later with 250k on the clock....

tr7phil

jimjames said:

One of the best cars I've bought had very high motorway miles, 110k at 3 years old but was 30% of new price. First 10k service had been done within 3 months of purchase! Immaculate condition, looked like only the driver was ever in the car. Kept it 10 years and no real issues other than standard maintenance.

Based on the title I thought it was high miles car OR one with service history. If it has both then I'd certainly go for it.

I bought a nine month old Cavalier in 1991 with 36,000 miles on the clock, one of the best cars I ever had.  I took it round to 78,000 miles over 5 years and the only things that were replaced (apart from tyres, oil, filters and plugs) were the brake light switch and the exhaust back box.  No brake pads, let alone discs!