High spec, high mileage - am I stupid to buy?

LarryR

Hi
I'm looking to buy my soon-to-be 17-year old his first car. Over the years I put some money aside and now have 10k to spend on the car (upsettlingly the insurance has gone through the roof, but fingers crossd this comes down (or at least doesn't go up further) in 6months when he's past his test?!). We quite like to look of the Clios (although the Peugeot 208 came a close second).

Looking around, 10k seems to get a reasonable car from big motoring world - its a 21-plate, it's a reasonably high spec (reversing camera, digital dashboard, keyless drive, etc.), if I'm honest, it's a bit better than I was expecting for the price.

The only downside is the mileage is high - 45k. So, I think the sensible/smart thing to do is also buy an extended warranty. From Big Motoring, this would be £1695 for 2-years, but shopping around, it looks like ALA or WarrantyWise can do it for about £450+, for the 'platinum' all singing, all dancing cover. 

Looking elsewhere - Cinch, HeyCar, Cazzoo, etc. for the same £10k, you get a 2020 car, with a lower spec, but admittedly, (slightly) lower mileage, maybe 35k-40k. So it seems like for the money (£10k+) you get quite a good car at big motoring, or am I not thinking about this smartly?

I wouldn't mind dropping the spec, but the difference in price is actually only a few hundred pounds, not, like a £1000 or more. So for the extra for hundred, I think you may as well get the better spec? 

Yes, the car has 45,000 miles (which I imagine was from some sort of salesman doing motorway driving (it has just 1 previous owner)? with full servicing and history?), but you get quite a lot of car and my son will only by adding about 4k-5k miles a year to the total? Plus with the reversing camera, etc., maybe it's safer for him to drive? And with the warranty and possibly roadside assistance, will we be covered for if when things go wrong? 

Am I thinking about this the right way? Any advice/thoughts?

TIA

Brie

I'd suggest looking at a boring car for about 5k so you have the other 5k for insurance. Get something a few years old with no bells or whistles in a dull colour 

born_again

Don't waste money on 3rd party warranty @ £1,695, without 1st checking all the exclusion's.
Same with the all singing, all dancing cover, which will have more holes than a pair of fishnet stockings.😶‍🌫️ 

MSE way, save the money just in case. 

At that mileage it's sub 300 miles a week. Would guess @ ex lease car.

Just make sure it's been fully services as per manufacture.

BoGoF

What makes you think insurance will come down once they pass test? Likely the opposite.

Nobbie1967

45k is nothing to modern cars and will probably be more reliable than something with a low mileage. I wouldn’t bother with a warranty on a car that young as long as it’s got a full service history, but check that there aren’t any major issues with that particular model. My only concern would be if your child will also do high mileage and may want to change it in 2-3 years when the mileage will put many off. If they’re doing low mileage then it will be close to average by the time it’s sold.

Mildly_Miffed

45,000 miles is not high mileage by any stretch of the imagination.

The difference between 35-40k and 45k is irrelevant.

Barkin

Mildly_Miffed said:

45,000 miles is not high mileage by any stretch of the imagination.

The difference between 35-40k and 45k is irrelevant.

Agreed 100% 

(my car’s just ticked over 160k. When it was last in for its MOT, I had a loaner for the day with 280k on it...)

17 year olds driving £10k cars...!?!?

BlueHarbourBouy

Beware of Big Motoring World, heavy upselling on GAP , paint protection , finance etc. warranty deemed useless by many that have tried to claim. Look at Trustpilot under one or two stars. One cannot view cars unescorted

Mr.Generous

The initial insurance is the first worry. The year 2 increase after his first bump is the real concern.

macman

Extended warranties are a complete waste of money, as everything likely to fail is excluded. 45k miles is nothing: the car is still in it's 3 year manufacturer's warranty?
EW's are just marketing puff, and a lovely source of extra profit for the hefty commission they earn the dealer.

400ixl

Get an insurance quote for provisional and full license and you will likely see a 2 to 5x increase for when he passes his test. That may change your budget.

The Clio and 208 are also likely to be quitye high insurance vehicles for a 17 year old.