I like buying cars over 100,000 miles
Discussion
Does anyone else always seem to find themselves looking at or buying cars with over 100,000 miles on the clock?
I've bought a fair few over the years and I've not had any issues and often found they've been maintained better. To add a little spice to proceedings I've a love of Alfas and bought a number of high milers over the years.
There is great value to be found in buying high mileage cars as still many buyers seem to focus on the lower mileage examples. For me , economically, this doesn't make a lot of sense in the everyday market, I understand in the classic market but for every day use, why pay a premium for something you'll generally use to commute to work in. You also aren't getting more car just because it's low mileage.
My current fleet;
2010 Alfa Brera 1750 bought April 2019 at 126,000 miles, now on 144,000 miles for £4500, low mileage examples still sell for more than double this.
2018 Alfa Giulia 2.2 Diesel Auto bought January 2024 at 113,000 miles for £10500, a low mileage example will be £3-4000 more.
I'll be interested to hear from others who've followed a similar trend and the bargains you've found.
Not just Alfas of course.
I've bought a fair few over the years and I've not had any issues and often found they've been maintained better. To add a little spice to proceedings I've a love of Alfas and bought a number of high milers over the years.
There is great value to be found in buying high mileage cars as still many buyers seem to focus on the lower mileage examples. For me , economically, this doesn't make a lot of sense in the everyday market, I understand in the classic market but for every day use, why pay a premium for something you'll generally use to commute to work in. You also aren't getting more car just because it's low mileage.
My current fleet;
2010 Alfa Brera 1750 bought April 2019 at 126,000 miles, now on 144,000 miles for £4500, low mileage examples still sell for more than double this.
2018 Alfa Giulia 2.2 Diesel Auto bought January 2024 at 113,000 miles for £10500, a low mileage example will be £3-4000 more.
I'll be interested to hear from others who've followed a similar trend and the bargains you've found.
Not just Alfas of course.
A mate who does high mileage reckons price drops considerably over 100k but any inherent weaknesses would have shown up by now so a good buy for both reasons, The mileage he gets from normal cars seems to confirm his theory. I think the psychological 100k barrier only exists in the UK.
I don’t actively seek them but I’m not averse either.
The old ‘magic number’ used to be 60k miles.
Old enough to have depreciated severely but still dome life left in it.
I reckon that 100k is the new 60k as cars are built to better tolerances than ever, emissions controls do mean that they always run in tune & things like 4 cylinder engines on a 3 bearing crank are thankfully a thing of the past.
The old ‘magic number’ used to be 60k miles.
Old enough to have depreciated severely but still dome life left in it.
I reckon that 100k is the new 60k as cars are built to better tolerances than ever, emissions controls do mean that they always run in tune & things like 4 cylinder engines on a 3 bearing crank are thankfully a thing of the past.
Simon_GH said:
A mate who does high mileage reckons price drops considerably over 100k but any inherent weaknesses would have shown up by now so a good buy for both reasons, The mileage he gets from normal cars seems to confirm his theory. I think the psychological 100k barrier only exists in the UK.
My latest addition has been used mainly on motorways with cruise on, the cruise button is the only bit of the interior showing signs of wear, in a car that has an 8 speed auto, so has been running at low revs, little stress on the majority of major components, has been serviced 9 times in 6 years and still looks fresh, there isn't a reason to avoid these cars. Whether you buy high or low mileage get a car that's been looked after and you should be fine.
Stick Legs said:
I don’t actively seek them but I’m not averse either.
The old ‘magic number’ used to be 60k miles.
Old enough to have depreciated severely but still dome life left in it.
I reckon that 100k is the new 60k as cars are built to better tolerances than ever, emissions controls do mean that they always run in tune & things like 4 cylinder engines on a 3 bearing crank are thankfully a thing of the past.
Imagine buying for example a Ford Sierra with 100,000 miles in the 1980's you'd be mad!!The old ‘magic number’ used to be 60k miles.
Old enough to have depreciated severely but still dome life left in it.
I reckon that 100k is the new 60k as cars are built to better tolerances than ever, emissions controls do mean that they always run in tune & things like 4 cylinder engines on a 3 bearing crank are thankfully a thing of the past.
I dont seek them out on purpose, but have gravitated towards them recently...
Bought a BMW z4 on 155k as a track car, was great, only thing that went wrong was the alternator.
Bought a BMW 330d on 130k, took that to 165k before it was unfortunately crashed.
Bought another 330d on 125k, now on 160k and doing well.
Just bought a boxster s 987 on 115k, probably only do 3k a year so hopefully sell it on at 125k.
Bought a BMW z4 on 155k as a track car, was great, only thing that went wrong was the alternator.
Bought a BMW 330d on 130k, took that to 165k before it was unfortunately crashed.
Bought another 330d on 125k, now on 160k and doing well.
Just bought a boxster s 987 on 115k, probably only do 3k a year so hopefully sell it on at 125k.
brillomaster said:
I dont seek them out on purpose, but have gravitated towards them recently...
Bought a BMW z4 on 155k as a track car, was great, only thing that went wrong was the alternator.
Bought a BMW 330d on 130k, took that to 165k before it was unfortunately crashed.
Bought another 330d on 125k, now on 160k and doing well.
Just bought a boxster s 987 on 115k, probably only do 3k a year so hopefully sell it on at 125k.
Love that, I find myself looking at 987's as well from time to time. Bought a BMW z4 on 155k as a track car, was great, only thing that went wrong was the alternator.
Bought a BMW 330d on 130k, took that to 165k before it was unfortunately crashed.
Bought another 330d on 125k, now on 160k and doing well.
Just bought a boxster s 987 on 115k, probably only do 3k a year so hopefully sell it on at 125k.
I used to avoid them until I got a deal I couldn't refuse on an ex-Company car 1992 Cavalier SRi back in 1995. When I took it for its first MOT it had 97,000 miles on it but still drove just great. I kept it until about 105,000 but foolishly decided to keepthe 1991 Sierra Sapphire 2.0GLSi I already had when I bought the Cavalier because it had done half the mileage.
That turned out to be a big mistake - I haven't had a Ford since!
But in 2018 I bought a BMW 325i Touring with full BMWSH that had done 132K and it drove fine, although it did need a new electric water pump at 135K. I was a bit disappointed that it felt a bit sluggish so I sold it on 139K.
Replaced it in 2019 with a 330i Saloon on 107K that I still have on 124K and the engine is in perfect health. I've only had a few issues with a leaking gasket on the oil filter housing, new rear shocks and top-mounts and a failed passenger side rear door lock.
Since it became a Cat N last year it's worth very little but it had minimal damage and still drove so well I kept it. Plus I've had half what I paid for it back so I'll just keep running it. Sheds are so liberating!
That turned out to be a big mistake - I haven't had a Ford since!
But in 2018 I bought a BMW 325i Touring with full BMWSH that had done 132K and it drove fine, although it did need a new electric water pump at 135K. I was a bit disappointed that it felt a bit sluggish so I sold it on 139K.
Replaced it in 2019 with a 330i Saloon on 107K that I still have on 124K and the engine is in perfect health. I've only had a few issues with a leaking gasket on the oil filter housing, new rear shocks and top-mounts and a failed passenger side rear door lock.
Since it became a Cat N last year it's worth very little but it had minimal damage and still drove so well I kept it. Plus I've had half what I paid for it back so I'll just keep running it. Sheds are so liberating!
Mr Tidy said:
I used to avoid them until I got a deal I couldn't refuse on an ex-Company car 1992 Cavalier SRi back in 1995. When I took it for its first MOT it had 97,000 miles on it but still drove just great. I kept it until about 105,000 but foolishly decided to keepthe 1991 Sierra Sapphire 2.0GLSi I already had when I bought the Cavalier because it had done half the mileage.
Yeah, that generation of Cavalier was great, I drove loads of them, they felt better built that the Sierra that's for sure A mate who does high mileage reckons price drops considerably over 100k but any inherent weaknesses would have shown up by now so a good buy for both reasons, The mileage he gets from normal cars seems to confirm his theory. I think the psychological 100k barrier only exists in the UK.
It does make a lot of sense. As said, cars with over 100k miles are considerably cheaper and if they have good history should be fine.
My last car was a low mileage BMW 325i. When I bought it I was pleased it only had 40k miles on it but I soon found out its not always a good thing. I think it had done a lot of short runs in its life and the injectors failed shortly after. Most modern engines these days are complex and benefit from a good long run where they get up to temp and burn off deposits.
My current Fiesta ST is on 81k. I bought it at 3 years old with 67k motorway miles and the price reflected that. Haven't had any issues in the last 4 years so I'd definitely look to do the same again.
My last car was a low mileage BMW 325i. When I bought it I was pleased it only had 40k miles on it but I soon found out its not always a good thing. I think it had done a lot of short runs in its life and the injectors failed shortly after. Most modern engines these days are complex and benefit from a good long run where they get up to temp and burn off deposits.
My current Fiesta ST is on 81k. I bought it at 3 years old with 67k motorway miles and the price reflected that. Haven't had any issues in the last 4 years so I'd definitely look to do the same again.
Alfahorn said:
My latest addition has been used mainly on motorways with cruise on, the cruise button is the only bit of the interior showing signs of wear, in a car that has an 8 speed auto, so has been running at low revs, little stress on the majority of major components, has been serviced 9 times in 6 years and still looks fresh, there isn't a reason to avoid these cars.
Whether you buy high or low mileage get a car that's been looked after and you should be fine.
Ha! Do you mean the speed adjustment button (for cruise and speed limiter)? Yes, the soft covering surface has worn and split on mine, I have tried superglue, which has helped to keep it together a bit. It’s annoying when controls wear first!Whether you buy high or low mileage get a car that's been looked after and you should be fine.
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