Car Purchases for High Mileage Drivers

Skintdognotmillionaire

Hey all! 

I drive approx 25,000 - 27,000 miles per year as a combination of commuting to work and back (Approx 24 miles), leisure/days out, and mainly picking up/dropping off my son most weekends (Approx. 470 miles at least 40 times a year)

This means I get through cars quickly, need a lot of maintenance, fuel etc.

My priority is for the lowest overall motoring costs along with reliability possible although I have the added difficulty that my wife can only drive automatics and we only have 1 family car so I'm somewhat limited.

Fuel economy is obviously another hugely important issue as it's common for me to need £100+ a week in the tank (current car does about 62 Mpg combined)

~~
Our current car is aging and becoming very unreliable and I am fast approaching a £700 servicing/cambelt bill which I'm not sure I want to pay.

What's the best option for me for purchasing a car?  (I have no savings and part-ex value of my current car is probably only about £1800 due to the condition) ~ Does anyone have advice:

• I have looked at both Leasing and PCP deals but these become VERY expensive when upping the miles to 25,000+. There doesn't seem to be any specific 'high mileage' lease deals on the market I guess because it's not good for making them money!

• Fully maintained leasing looks nice for peace of mind but I'm not sure in reality if it would ever 'Pay' for itself.

• I'm concerned about the final 'Baloon' payment of PCP and being left with no deposit to take out another PCP afterward. 

• HP is an option but the monthly repayments seem very high and  I'm concerned about the reliability of an older car and additional servicing costs (along with lower fuel economy, higher tax etc of older vehicles).

Has anyone been in a similar situation? 

Herzlos

Is the 470 mile a single return trip or 2x 235 mile round trips? If the latter, then you may be able to get away with an electric vehicle if you can stop and charge somewhere.

You're going to be paying a fortune in depreciation anyway, and that's wrapped into the lease or PCP.

What I'd be doing is either:

If you can get away with an EV, then I'd get an MG5 EV long range, which should be good for about 200 miles and knock your fuel costs down by about 75%.

Otherwise, I'd be looking to just buy something about the size of a Skoda Octavia that's diesel and cheap, and run it into the ground. Ideally something that's maybe 3 years old and lower than average mileage but even then you're going to be on high mileage pretty quickly anyway. Basically anything you can get on a deal - old dealer stock, replaced models, etc.

Grumpy_chap

Skintdognotmillionaire said:

Hey all! 

I drive approx 25,000 - 27,000 miles per year as a combination of commuting to work and back (Approx 24 miles), leisure/days out, and mainly picking up/dropping off my son most weekends (Approx. 470 miles at least 40 times a year)

This means I get through cars quickly, need a lot of maintenance, fuel etc.

My priority is for the lowest overall motoring costs along with reliability possible although I have the added difficulty that my wife can only drive automatics and we only have 1 family car so I'm somewhat limited.

Fuel economy is obviously another hugely important issue as it's common for me to need £100+ a week in the tank (current car does about 62 Mpg combined)

~~
Our current car is aging and becoming very unreliable and I am fast approaching a £700 servicing/cambelt bill which I'm not sure I want to pay.

What's the best option for me for purchasing a car?  (I have no savings and part-ex value of my current car is probably only about £1800 due to the condition) ~ Does anyone have advice:

• I have looked at both Leasing and PCP deals but these become VERY expensive when upping the miles to 25,000+. There doesn't seem to be any specific 'high mileage' lease deals on the market I guess because it's not good for making them money!

• Fully maintained leasing looks nice for peace of mind but I'm not sure in reality if it would ever 'Pay' for itself.

• I'm concerned about the final 'Baloon' payment of PCP and being left with no deposit to take out another PCP afterward. 

• HP is an option but the monthly repayments seem very high and  I'm concerned about the reliability of an older car and additional servicing costs (along with lower fuel economy, higher tax etc of older vehicles).

Has anyone been in a similar situation? 

Go for a non-premium brand but desirable and comfortable car, a few years old, 1 owner with reasonable mileage.  Buy outright if possible - choose carefully and you'll get another 150k miles from the car.

Here is one example I found, but you can pick your own choices:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206237070238

That example happens to be diesel but, depending on the manner of the 470 miles weekend trips, petrol might still be worth consideration.

caprikid1

What's your current car in terms of size ?

Personally I would be looking for 4-5 year old oil burners such as Skoda Oktavias, Passats etc Run them from c 70K - 200K.

Skintdognotmillionaire

caprikid1 said:

What's your current car in terms of size ?

Personally I would be looking for 4-5 year old oil burners such as Skoda Oktavias, Passats etc Run them from c 70K - 200K.

Currently have a Skoda Rapid Spaceback so medium size.

Lost a lot of faith in Skoda though ... owned it since 25k, Serviced and well maintained by me. ~130k on the clock now and more problems than you can count. I don't have any faith in it reaching 140k!

iwb100

If absolute reliability is very important, understanding that this is just stats and any car by any brand can individually have problems, but I’d go Toyota. Still an incredibly reliable brand. The cars won’t be as nice as the Skodas especially inside but they are reliable on average.

timbotambo

For that level of mileage, I'd get an ex-lease one owner Volvo of some sort with around 100k on the clock. Last Volvo V70 I had I ran to 145k (2012) and you'd think it had done 100k less by the look and feel of it. Cost very little to maintain too - just routine servicing. Supreme comfort too. Currently car is a 2015 BMW 520d and, touchwood, also never missed a beat despite being on 120k at the mo.......

Skintdognotmillionaire

timbotambo said:

For that level of mileage, I'd get an ex-lease one owner Volvo of some sort with around 100k on the clock. Last Volvo V70 I had I ran to 145k (2012) and you'd think it had done 100k less by the look and feel of it. Cost very little to maintain too - just routine servicing. Supreme comfort too. Currently car is a 2015 BMW 520d and, touchwood, also never missed a beat despite being on 120k at the mo.......

I do quite like the V40 and I know they have a good reputation. 

What would you say is more important? Miles or Age?

Ex-leases are going to be about 2017-2018 plate I guess? 4 year lease? Looking at 10 - 12 for one with between 70-95k on the clock.

Alternatively, you can pick up a 2014/2015 plate for similar money with 30k on the clock.

L9XSS

timbotambo said:

For that level of mileage, I'd get an ex-lease one owner Volvo of some sort with around 100k on the clock. Last Volvo V70 I had I ran to 145k (2012) and you'd think it had done 100k less by the look and feel of it. Cost very little to maintain too - just routine servicing. Supreme comfort too. Currently car is a 2015 BMW 520d and, touchwood, also never missed a beat despite being on 120k at the mo.......

Second that I’m running two older cars, the V70 D5 bought 4 years ago at 112k now on 146k only regular servicing and tyres/cambelt. Pretty fuel efficient for a big car and depreciation wise.........paid £2750 will run it till it expires. I’m expecting another 5 years out of it at least.....

Herzlos

I'd go for a car with above average mileage rather than one with below average, because it's likely to have been warm for longer and doing motorway journeys. 

A 8 year old car with 30k on it is only 3750 miles a year, or about 10 miles a day. 

Average mileage is about 8000/year.

timbotambo

Skintdognotmillionaire said:

timbotambo said:

For that level of mileage, I'd get an ex-lease one owner Volvo of some sort with around 100k on the clock. Last Volvo V70 I had I ran to 145k (2012) and you'd think it had done 100k less by the look and feel of it. Cost very little to maintain too - just routine servicing. Supreme comfort too. Currently car is a 2015 BMW 520d and, touchwood, also never missed a beat despite being on 120k at the mo.......

I do quite like the V40 and I know they have a good reputation. 

What would you say is more important? Miles or Age?

Ex-leases are going to be about 2017-2018 plate I guess? 4 year lease? Looking at 10 - 12 for one with between 70-95k on the clock.

Alternatively, you can pick up a 2014/2015 plate for similar money with 30k on the clock.

Best bet is to research the models and engines used on the Volvo owners club forum. Earlier models have the Ford derived engine - albeit still very reliable. I'd always go for the one owner ex-lease. Main dealer history is a must.