Mileage mental block

[AyBee]

I keep toying with the idea of a 111R and so have been browsing the classifieds fairly regularly. Having a look at the various mileages shown, is there a mileage at which people are generally put off these cars? I'm not bothered about the engine since I assume it's fairly bullet proof, but suspension wearing out is a fairly big concern in my head since I think I've seen 50/60k mentioned before. A lot of the cars available seem to be stuck around the 50k mark so I wonder if there is a mental block at this mileage and if so, why, is it suspension related?

[C43]

I don't think you can say a car has a switch off point at a certain mileage, it depends so much on how it is driven. There is a certain yellow Elise that a Lotus garage gives out as a pool car that has done over 100k and still feels incredibly sharp.

However I know personally 50k is a bit of a psycological barrier.

C43

[pthelazyjourno]

Driven hard and you'll find lots of cars have needed most of the suspension done by 40-50k.

So you're no more likely to buy a car that then needs a complete overhaul than you are buying one with 30k - just try and get one that has fresh dampers, balljoints, toelinks etc.

And pay a bit less! Job's a good un.

[djroadboy]

It varies from buyer to buyer to be honest.

Only thing I will add is that 111R engines are far from bulletproof IME. Neither are the gearboxes.

Dan

[wayneauch]

I am currently replacing the engine in my 111R at 98,000 miles, due to big end bearing failure. It had a life of 90% road use.

But it had a full suspension refresh around 6months ago, and feels tight and fresh as a new car.

They were built to be used

[oodam]

My S1 has done close to 140k and drives as well as it ever did.

[oodam]

I should add that it's on it's third set of shocks and second set of ball joints.