Old, high mileage cars?

cyclonebri1

Only recently have I started buying newer cars. For 20 years or so I would buy 3 year old repmobiles with an average of 90k on the clock. I've kept these for about 4 years before moving on largely because cars have been developing rapidly over this period and I do find you get bored with the cars before they giveout. Never have I had any real problems either chassis or engine wise.
The most likely failure on an older car is probably a head gasket job, which some particular engines are prone to at a certain age rather than mileage, but provided overheating or coolant loss is not ignored it should be spotted early/cheaply.;)

Andy_Edinburgh

13yr-old Saab 9000 Turbo, still going strong at 172,000miles, with extremely good emissions readings. Treat a car gently when it's cold and get it serviced by an independent specialist, and it should last ages.

lambo28

12.5 year old VW Golf 1.4L, still strong at 82K. However, starting may take a few times. Good emission reading and no major problems.

Fate

Thanks for all of your comments :T

I got the car back from the garage today and I'm really pleased with my little car! There are a few issues that need sorting, but the garage has said there isn't anything major, I did need to have the rear wheel barings replaced, I didn't realize that your wheels can fall off if they're shot to pieces!! Hopefully I'll get a few years out of it.

anewman

Fate wrote: »

I did need to have the rear wheel barings replaced, I didn't realize that your wheels can fall off if they're shot to pieces!! Hopefully I'll get a few years out of it.

On your car should be under £50 a side I think (at cheapest garages), or if you do them yourself £10 for parts. They generally stay noisy more than anything. I imagine it would really let out some sort of sign before collapsing and your wheel falling off - although I don't think I ever want to find out

Fate

I got them done for £130 including parts, labour and VAT. Incidentally they are my Dad's Scooby mechanics so I figured that if they can sort out Scoobies they'll be fine for my Golf!!

willrow

Got an Audi A3 1.9tdi with 252,000 miles on and still going strong, oil change every 5k does me fine. only issue is the odd sensor, in which I take to Audi, they tell me nothings wrong and replace it

Flying-High_2

Where is the usual bunch jumping and down in excitement and almost boasting at theirs having "acheived" just over 100kmiles and still going strong..... blimey them cars nowadays:D

Good cars the MK3s... Keep on top of the servicing and it'll see you right... Rot wise with a MK3 its around the screen and the Sills inner, around the seatbelt mountings and outers that are the nasty bits.

Simple to work on and parts dirt cheap everywhere... GSF ECPS etc etc..

Inactive

Thread is almost 3 years old..;)

Flying-High_2

Inactive wrote: »

Thread is almost 3 years old..;)

:eek::eek: :oOh dear.......

He's probably by now discoverd the sills and the rot above the windscreen then:D