Extreme low mileage - avoid?
Discussion
Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster.
I’ve been on the lookout for a cheap and cheerful petrol car to replace my diesel. Small, Japanese and naturally aspirated.
I’ve found something that I’ve never seen before - 10 years old, no service history and less than 10k miles from new. HPI looks good and will have it looked at by a specialist prior to buying to make sure anything major isn’t missed. Just been given a service and MOT.
Assuming the car is in the condition I’d expect for the mileage, what should I be wary of in the future? I’m of the opinion that cars should always be driven and not just left to sit doing nothing. I’m budgeting for a set of tyres from day 1, but would appreciate advice on anything else that may cause issues from lack of use.
Long time lurker, first time poster.
I’ve been on the lookout for a cheap and cheerful petrol car to replace my diesel. Small, Japanese and naturally aspirated.
I’ve found something that I’ve never seen before - 10 years old, no service history and less than 10k miles from new. HPI looks good and will have it looked at by a specialist prior to buying to make sure anything major isn’t missed. Just been given a service and MOT.
Assuming the car is in the condition I’d expect for the mileage, what should I be wary of in the future? I’m of the opinion that cars should always be driven and not just left to sit doing nothing. I’m budgeting for a set of tyres from day 1, but would appreciate advice on anything else that may cause issues from lack of use.
Hard pass from me. I'd rather have one on 60k that's been serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and not just sat deteriorating on someone's driveway for 90% of its life.
I expect this car is commanding a premium as a result. Therefore, spend the same money on a newer one with more miles. Age and condition and history are more important.
I expect this car is commanding a premium as a result. Therefore, spend the same money on a newer one with more miles. Age and condition and history are more important.
What does the MOT history mileage suggest? Two years of normal use, and eight stuck in a garage, or 1000 miles a year?
If the latter, pop 20% of purchase in a savings pot, and just enjoy it, and fix anything.
If the former, be wary of things like perished seals from non-use.
I presume tyres because they have aged before they have worn?
If the latter, pop 20% of purchase in a savings pot, and just enjoy it, and fix anything.
If the former, be wary of things like perished seals from non-use.
I presume tyres because they have aged before they have worn?
tjvrs55 said:
Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster.
I’ve been on the lookout for a cheap and cheerful petrol car to replace my diesel. Small, Japanese and naturally aspirated.
I’ve found something that I’ve never seen before - 10 years old, no service history and less than 10k miles from new. HPI looks good and will have it looked at by a specialist prior to buying to make sure anything major isn’t missed. Just been given a service and MOT.
Assuming the car is in the condition I’d expect for the mileage, what should I be wary of in the future? I’m of the opinion that cars should always be driven and not just left to sit doing nothing. I’m budgeting for a set of tyres from day 1, but would appreciate advice on anything else that may cause issues from lack of use.
What car is it and how much is 'cheap'? Long time lurker, first time poster.
I’ve been on the lookout for a cheap and cheerful petrol car to replace my diesel. Small, Japanese and naturally aspirated.
I’ve found something that I’ve never seen before - 10 years old, no service history and less than 10k miles from new. HPI looks good and will have it looked at by a specialist prior to buying to make sure anything major isn’t missed. Just been given a service and MOT.
Assuming the car is in the condition I’d expect for the mileage, what should I be wary of in the future? I’m of the opinion that cars should always be driven and not just left to sit doing nothing. I’m budgeting for a set of tyres from day 1, but would appreciate advice on anything else that may cause issues from lack of use.
If the car has been regularly MOT'd and the service didn't flag up anything I wouldnt worry.
Thank you for all the replies - I really appreciate the help on this one!
It's an 11 plate Suzuki Swift and the MOT history miles are as follows:
2014: 8,709
2015: 9,373
2016: 9,437
2017: 9,623
2018: 9,626
2019: 9,631 (reported that front and rear 'Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened') - lack of use?
2020: 9,642 (reported that front and rear 'Brake disc contaminated' - again, lack of use?
2021: 9,678 (given MOT and interim service by trade seller)
On one hand, it looks like it was kept in a garage and never used. On the other, it has no history and has had 7 years of sitting.
If it passes all the checks I'd be giving it a full service at a locally trusted garage and a set of new tyres. The current set don't look bad at all but this would be for my piece of mind.
Before I go and do anything I would prefer to put this out there just in case it's a terrible idea and there's lots to go go wrong with a car that's not been used!
It's an 11 plate Suzuki Swift and the MOT history miles are as follows:
2014: 8,709
2015: 9,373
2016: 9,437
2017: 9,623
2018: 9,626
2019: 9,631 (reported that front and rear 'Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened') - lack of use?
2020: 9,642 (reported that front and rear 'Brake disc contaminated' - again, lack of use?
2021: 9,678 (given MOT and interim service by trade seller)
On one hand, it looks like it was kept in a garage and never used. On the other, it has no history and has had 7 years of sitting.
If it passes all the checks I'd be giving it a full service at a locally trusted garage and a set of new tyres. The current set don't look bad at all but this would be for my piece of mind.
Before I go and do anything I would prefer to put this out there just in case it's a terrible idea and there's lots to go go wrong with a car that's not been used!
Edited by tjvrs55 on Thursday 29th July 12:23
J1990 said:
1k Miles in 7 years and no servicing? Definite pass from me. The low mileage doesn't concern me but I'd be expecting it to still be serviced every so often, regardless of mileage - Is this logical? I don't know, but it would give me peace of mind.
Agreed, I wouldn't buy this unless it was so cheap it was disposable.Dunc.
When I bought my G33 it was 14 years old and had 4000 miles on the clock. It had spent quite a bit of time standing as it was in a private collection. It had been serviced every year
As soon as I started to use it I had no end of problems with leaks. Pretty much every rubber seal has become inflexible as as soon as movement was introduced they leaked.
I replaced pretty much everything involving rubber
brake caliper seals
master cylinder seals
clutch slave cylinder seals
diff seals
gearbox seals
engine mounts
door seals
fuel hoses
bushes
every rubber gasket you can think of and some you can't
For a car to be used as a daily, I would buy something that has been used and serviced and save yourself the potential grief
As soon as I started to use it I had no end of problems with leaks. Pretty much every rubber seal has become inflexible as as soon as movement was introduced they leaked.
I replaced pretty much everything involving rubber
brake caliper seals
master cylinder seals
clutch slave cylinder seals
diff seals
gearbox seals
engine mounts
door seals
fuel hoses
bushes
every rubber gasket you can think of and some you can't
For a car to be used as a daily, I would buy something that has been used and serviced and save yourself the potential grief
What if we turn the question the other way around and look at it from that angle - what is the appeal of a car that hasn't had the use, what are you hoping the benefits to be, because the seller will no doubt be looking for the low mileage premium?
If it were a collectors car then body condition and potential future resale value but on a cheap, small, Japanese runabout...?
I wouldn't run a mile personally but for all the reasons others have posted you might find it won't pay back. I'm in the process of tidying up a classic Jaguar that's been ostensibly off the road for 12 years. The PO threw £5K recommissioning it and I'm [picking up where they left off. Would probably have been better for someone to have thrown another 30,000 miles on it instead of hibernating it... I appreciate a 10 yo Suzuki isn't quite the same but the principles of lack of use remain.
If it were a collectors car then body condition and potential future resale value but on a cheap, small, Japanese runabout...?
I wouldn't run a mile personally but for all the reasons others have posted you might find it won't pay back. I'm in the process of tidying up a classic Jaguar that's been ostensibly off the road for 12 years. The PO threw £5K recommissioning it and I'm [picking up where they left off. Would probably have been better for someone to have thrown another 30,000 miles on it instead of hibernating it... I appreciate a 10 yo Suzuki isn't quite the same but the principles of lack of use remain.
It would be largely about the price for me.
Every single high price classic car will have low mileage so whilst a different ownership proposition they can't all be basket cases else the more used ones would be comparable prices?
I wouldn't expect the Swift to be any more hassle than a 60-70K one and if you run it for average miles for 3-4 years then the low miler will be a proven non basket case (or not) by then and more sellable at 50-60K miles than 100-110K one?
Shocks. bushes and the like should be like new, exhaust could be rotten as a pear. Interior should be like new, but aircon could be weak if the seals have dried out. Car might have 10K of general wear the clutch 50K! but I don't see as many issues with it as some here, but low miles can come with a very high premium which makes it questionable.
The Swift being petrol and no turbos(?) ie pretty simple would worry me less, in many ways it'll feel like you are getting a nearly new car?
Every single high price classic car will have low mileage so whilst a different ownership proposition they can't all be basket cases else the more used ones would be comparable prices?
I wouldn't expect the Swift to be any more hassle than a 60-70K one and if you run it for average miles for 3-4 years then the low miler will be a proven non basket case (or not) by then and more sellable at 50-60K miles than 100-110K one?
Shocks. bushes and the like should be like new, exhaust could be rotten as a pear. Interior should be like new, but aircon could be weak if the seals have dried out. Car might have 10K of general wear the clutch 50K! but I don't see as many issues with it as some here, but low miles can come with a very high premium which makes it questionable.
The Swift being petrol and no turbos(?) ie pretty simple would worry me less, in many ways it'll feel like you are getting a nearly new car?
You'll no doubt pay a chunky premium for the low mileage which will be pointless if you then want to put 12k a year on it.
Rubber bits will still deteriorate although not as much if it's been garaged.
Personally I'd pay a small premium over and average mileage one with service history but not much and that's assuming it looks like a 10000 mile car.
Rubber bits will still deteriorate although not as much if it's been garaged.
Personally I'd pay a small premium over and average mileage one with service history but not much and that's assuming it looks like a 10000 mile car.
I have actually bought a few cars like this, decent service of oily bits, brakes and a change of tyres and take it easy for first few thousand miles and you are usually good to go. Onwed a 14k mile Cinquecento sporting, a similar low mileage Panda 750, a volvo 343 with less than 30k, a volvo 940 with 33k and mant more, zero problems with any of them
If you give it a good look over I wouldn't let it bother you, I once owned a MK4 Fiesta (was about 12 years old when I bought it), had 19k on the clock, very little history. I had the car two years, completely abused it, and the only thing I ever needed was a tyre and a coil pack.
Sold it after 2 years for £400 less than I bought it for, stupidly cheap motoring.
Sold it after 2 years for £400 less than I bought it for, stupidly cheap motoring.
The low miles wouldn't bother me as long as they are backed up with history, you should also be able to tell looking at a car with that low miles too. We bought a 5 year old 330D with 14k miles on the clock and history aside, you could see it had only done 14k miles.
The reality is, come sale time in a few years every potential buyer will be asking the same questions you are now.
You said it has no service history, does that mean it hasn't been serviced or the owner simply doesn't have the paperwork?
Its a risk you take really, it could have all sorts of small niggles which likely won't cost a fortune but might drive you insane keep fixing them or it could be absolutely fine and pile on the miles without issue.
The reality is, come sale time in a few years every potential buyer will be asking the same questions you are now.
You said it has no service history, does that mean it hasn't been serviced or the owner simply doesn't have the paperwork?
Its a risk you take really, it could have all sorts of small niggles which likely won't cost a fortune but might drive you insane keep fixing them or it could be absolutely fine and pile on the miles without issue.
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