SRSport

Considering purchasing a new car sometime this year and looking through Autotrader Ive come across this dilemma. For the same price do I buy a newer higher milage car or a lower older one?

I dont want to name cars, petrol/diesel, facelifts etc as Im more interested in an 'if all things were equal' result but the typical options are:

Car A: '57, 75,000 miles
Car B: '05, 45,000 miles

BIG G's scoob

Full dealer service history.

simples.

drb5

iTrader: (4)

There's only 25k in it...not much mate??

How many miles a year will you do? If not a lot, i'd go newer, but if you intend on doing a lot and keeping it a while, then go for the older.

For the poll as an overall....i go older with lower miles.

SRSport

OK Ive changed it to 75,000 miles newer. As there is only 2.5 years in it anymore and I would be siding towards the older car.

Dunk

iTrader: (1)

Neither - overall condition everytime.

D

SRSport

^All things equal.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Yep, full "been serviced by the dealers spotty 16 year old inexperienced apprentice" service history...

I'd look at an independant specialist hisory myself

SRSport

Lol, thats what I was thinking. I can think of a few dealers that would put me right off should they have their names adorning the service history books.

Frosticles

iTrader: (1)

Just bought an 08 (57) BMW 320d M Sport with 95k on the clock. Car is like new with full history. Used to worry about mileage but if well looked after and serviced on the dot then I would buy again.

SRSport

In fairness if you have just bought it your impression might change if next month the engine fails but in general I am agreeing. I used to think I should only be concerned with how many miles its done but taking your car for example it's fairly safe to assume its sat its whole life on a motorway, little to worry the steering, suspension, brakes etc and very little will start to perish through ageing. This could represent fantastic value with the depreciation on offer.

Frosticles

iTrader: (1)

Exactly my thinking. Was sceptical at first but the car has done virtually all it's miles like you say, on the motorway. Was serviced on the dot and does feel and drive like new. Interior is completely as new as well with no signs of wear.
An older car with lower mileage may have been used for short journeys etc most of it's life so will not nec have always been up to temperature. (Especially if turbocharged)
I think nowadays the argument of really low miles vs higher miles motorway cars have cancelled each other out. A newer model will always be more desirable as well so should sell easier after 2 or 3 years.

SRSport

My inlaws have bought a C Max, the dealer offered them a low spec '07 with 6,000miles or Titanium '07 with 15,000 for the same price and bought the Titanium, not just for the luxuries but because it has had a half decent chance of reaching it optimum engine running temperature at least once in its life time.

john banks

I bought a 7 year old car with 35000 miles but it was immaculate with full Subaru service history. On the other hand when shopping for M3s I went for under 10000 miles as everything I saw beyond that looked tired. No I don't mean 100000 miles.

SRSport

10,000 and you still went for one?

john banks

That was more a reflection of the stock that main dealers had rather than anything about the car's ability to take miles.

SRSport

Do you mind if I contact you later this year to see how you're getting on with it?

Matteeboy

Totally depends on the model of car and condition. Most recent cars have been manufacturer used approved which gives some piece of mind yet still saves a fortune on new prices.
BM - 16k miles, 2 years old, Landy 37k miles, 3 years old. Despite the list price of the BM being £8k more but with less than half the mileage and year newer, both cars cost the same. Shows how hard Defenders hang onto their value!

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

Personally I'd go newer with higher miles.

Steve vRS

Do independents not employ apprentices?

Steve

Frosticles

iTrader: (1)

No problem at all. PM sent.

SRSport

10 / 10, a nice conclusive result then.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Quite probably so but as they make their money mainly from servicing and modifications over selling cars like dealers do, then they are more likely to watch over said apprentices or do the work themselves. My experience at dealers is they don't give a ****, so throw in the apprentices at the deep end. Yes they have to learn (as I am as an apprentice myself) but I do not want a bodge job done on a car worth good money, only for the dealers to relinquish any responsibility.

The Zohan

Yup, this counts for much, much more

Coffin Dodger

My Passat was eight years old and 40k on the clock Had FSH.

So far in three years of owning it I've doubled the mileage and the only issues have been the lambda sensor dying, and needing a new radiator (touch wood ). Poor car didn't know what hit it when I started driving it around, think some old duffer had it before me so probably never went over 40

As mentioned though the overall condition is the most important and the better quality the car was to begin with the more likely it is to have a long and happy life.

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

The thing to check with FSH is time v miles.

A lot of people service on miles when the recommendation is miles or 12 months whichever comes sooner.

Seen several lower mileage cars that although they are a few years old have only seen a garage once and are advertised with FSH.

I'd take one that has had the servicing done on schedule with slightly higher miles personally.

5t.