How have normals not twigged that "high mileage" is not?
Discussion
I think I'm right in saying that with certain exceptions with serious design/manufacture faults (I'm looking at you, RX-8 - but of course there are various others like the catching-fire Zafiras) any non-exotic car made in at the last 20 years ought to make it easily to 250k miles if looked after vaguely properly.
But I saw today a car described as "ultra high mileage" for having 130k on the clock, lol.
The message isn't getting through that these things are fine. Is it ever going to? And if so, why hasn't it? And if not, why are we still this way? Or am I deluded?
But I saw today a car described as "ultra high mileage" for having 130k on the clock, lol.
The message isn't getting through that these things are fine. Is it ever going to? And if so, why hasn't it? And if not, why are we still this way? Or am I deluded?
Somewhatfoolish said:
I think I'm right in saying that with certain exceptions with serious design/manufacture faults (I'm looking at you, RX-8 - but of course there are various others like the catching-fire Zafiras) any non-exotic car made in at the last 20 years ought to make it easily to 250k miles if looked after vaguely properly.
But I saw today a car described as "ultra high mileage" for having 130k on the clock, lol.
The message isn't getting through that these things are fine. Is it ever going to? And if so, why hasn't it? And if not, why are we still this way? Or am I deluded?
A car could be described as "ultra high mileage" if it's done 130k in say two/three years. How old was it? But I saw today a car described as "ultra high mileage" for having 130k on the clock, lol.
The message isn't getting through that these things are fine. Is it ever going to? And if so, why hasn't it? And if not, why are we still this way? Or am I deluded?
Totally agree.
Fifty years ago when quite a few cars never got their mineral oil changed, just topped up all the time and half a pint of antifreeze was squeezed in the cooling system when talk of a cold snap was coming 100k miles was seen as borrowed time for any car. Now with much better engineered cars with better oils and year long coolant in cooling systems the mindset still doesn’t seem like it’s changed.
The high end cars and woe betide if you try and sell one with more than 20k miles, the thing will be worthless.
But there is hope for a bit of sanity when a car becomes a classic when the actual condition is far more important than the mileage. If I was to look at a car like a Mk2 RS2000 Escort the condition would be priority over mileage.
Just my opinion.
Fifty years ago when quite a few cars never got their mineral oil changed, just topped up all the time and half a pint of antifreeze was squeezed in the cooling system when talk of a cold snap was coming 100k miles was seen as borrowed time for any car. Now with much better engineered cars with better oils and year long coolant in cooling systems the mindset still doesn’t seem like it’s changed.
The high end cars and woe betide if you try and sell one with more than 20k miles, the thing will be worthless.
But there is hope for a bit of sanity when a car becomes a classic when the actual condition is far more important than the mileage. If I was to look at a car like a Mk2 RS2000 Escort the condition would be priority over mileage.
Just my opinion.
Somewhatfoolish said:
The message isn't getting through that these things are fine. Is it ever going to? And if so, why hasn't it? And if not, why are we still this way? Or am I deluded?
They probably know, but 3 year lease/finance cycles and the desire many people seem to have for something new/shiny causes people to eschew older vehicles: a 10 y/o 100k mile car seemingly just won’t cut it as far as many are concerned. Tbh, there’s some logic there as you get into buying older vehicles with potential issues but I’ve no issues at all buying something new/nearly new and running it for extended periods. Would prefer to spend my money on things other than depreciation.
TDLR: I’d be more concerned by a very low mileage example.
I don’t think mileage has been much of an issue for the past 40 years, (obviously there are exceptions) since the introduction of electronic ignition and fuel injection.
When I was at uni most parents, bought their children low mileage hatchbacks, these of then suffered engine problems, due to being previously under utilized.
Suddenly Mrs. Miggings, 5,000 mile, 10 years old Fiesta, only used on pension day, is being flogged twice a term to uni and back, not surprisingly some gave up the ghost.
By comparison, even the dregs of the British motor industry, a high mileage BL product was relatively reliable, I bought a 2.0 EFi Montego on 103,000, I also had a Cavalier SRi on over a 100,000.
They had one thing in common, ex company cars, well looked after and in regular use. This is of course anecdotal, but people don’t tend to stand in the pub and say ‘My 160,000 Vauxhall Astra, wasn’t a problem today”.
With modern cars, I’d be more inclined to think low mileage might be an indicator of some wrongdoings (mileage blockers etc.) In addition, things like MAF sensor/head gasket failure would be a concern.
A very low mileage car, would give cause for uncertainty. I really don’t understand the obsession with run of the mill, low mileage examples.
I don’t think mileage has been much of an issue for the past 40 years, (obviously there are exceptions) since the introduction of electronic ignition and fuel injection.
When I was at uni most parents, bought their children low mileage hatchbacks, these of then suffered engine problems, due to being previously under utilized.
Suddenly Mrs. Miggings, 5,000 mile, 10 years old Fiesta, only used on pension day, is being flogged twice a term to uni and back, not surprisingly some gave up the ghost.
By comparison, even the dregs of the British motor industry, a high mileage BL product was relatively reliable, I bought a 2.0 EFi Montego on 103,000, I also had a Cavalier SRi on over a 100,000.
They had one thing in common, ex company cars, well looked after and in regular use. This is of course anecdotal, but people don’t tend to stand in the pub and say ‘My 160,000 Vauxhall Astra, wasn’t a problem today”.
With modern cars, I’d be more inclined to think low mileage might be an indicator of some wrongdoings (mileage blockers etc.) In addition, things like MAF sensor/head gasket failure would be a concern.
A very low mileage car, would give cause for uncertainty. I really don’t understand the obsession with run of the mill, low mileage examples.
The bigger problem is the great British pubic are morons in almost every respect, they'll buy a car at 80k, be desperate to sell before it hits a ton, and properly skimp on maintenance in-between times.
Example here, massive SUV being offloaded at 99800, "brand new tyres", the cheapest of cheapest s
te.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025072548...
The miles ain't the problem, the owners are.
Example here, massive SUV being offloaded at 99800, "brand new tyres", the cheapest of cheapest s
te.http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025072548...
The miles ain't the problem, the owners are.
Higher mileage is fine, if you’re prepared to spend a bit more on maintenance and/or live with a bit of increased risk. I sold my Golf MK6 not long after the EGR Cooler went- had got over 142k when I part ex’ed it.
Still on original clutch, DMF, injectors, EGR, turbo, etc. Was a good car, but with time and mileage you have to be prepared to spend a bit more money/time on maintenance- wheel sensors, suspension parts, heat shield over the exhaust was getting ready for replacement, plus the increased risk of big stuff going. Still relatively cheap motoring though with no finance payments, etc.
Still on original clutch, DMF, injectors, EGR, turbo, etc. Was a good car, but with time and mileage you have to be prepared to spend a bit more money/time on maintenance- wheel sensors, suspension parts, heat shield over the exhaust was getting ready for replacement, plus the increased risk of big stuff going. Still relatively cheap motoring though with no finance payments, etc.
If "looked after properly" means all the rubber bits (drop links, CV joints etc) have been replaced. Problem is the parts might be cheap but garage labour isn't.
Increasingly on modern cars there's always the chance of big bills (ecu units, turbos, even ABS control units etc).
I've taken 1 car over 100,000 miles and two within a stones throw of 150,000. The latter both had ongoing reliability issues that were age related (PD turbos and injector loom...).
I wouldn't be afraid of high mileage on a young car that wasn't a taxi, but I can appreciate why the general public have concerns at higher mileages.
Increasingly on modern cars there's always the chance of big bills (ecu units, turbos, even ABS control units etc).
I've taken 1 car over 100,000 miles and two within a stones throw of 150,000. The latter both had ongoing reliability issues that were age related (PD turbos and injector loom...).
I wouldn't be afraid of high mileage on a young car that wasn't a taxi, but I can appreciate why the general public have concerns at higher mileages.
I agree with this, but I don’t always practice what I preach.
Bought my Jag XJ, was happy to have a high miler, saw a couple and they were a bit rough round the edges. Have wanted an XJ for ages and that want didn’t include dirty, worn seats, loads of dings and dents, budget tyres and a general down at heel vibe.
It’s the luck of the draw, there are lovely high milers out there but your odds of finding one dwindle as the miles rise, and everyone describes what they are selling as mint, immaculate and like new even if it’s a whiffy old heap.
So you end up on wild goose chases looking at cars that will never be very nice, I bought mine on 34k, my dad came with me to look at it and he is famously particular, it is rumoured he has found issues on brand new cars, he should have been in quality control but he said “If this is what you want, this is the one to get”.
But, won’t rule out high milers, a lot is down to how the car presents, the owner/dealer and the records of work done. Easy to buy a car needing two grand in work, set of tyres, new brakes and a few other bits can add up very quickly and can be a false economy.
Also depends on your budget, and how many days you want to spend traipsing up and down looking at cars.
Sen low milers that are ruined, one that sticks out was a MK6 Golf GTi, had been a busy mums kid wagon, it was ruined, covered in dings, kerbed wheels, scratched up interior despite only 30k or so. The ones you want are the ones one careful higher up in a company has had, had services and just flown up and down motorways.
Bought my Jag XJ, was happy to have a high miler, saw a couple and they were a bit rough round the edges. Have wanted an XJ for ages and that want didn’t include dirty, worn seats, loads of dings and dents, budget tyres and a general down at heel vibe.
It’s the luck of the draw, there are lovely high milers out there but your odds of finding one dwindle as the miles rise, and everyone describes what they are selling as mint, immaculate and like new even if it’s a whiffy old heap.
So you end up on wild goose chases looking at cars that will never be very nice, I bought mine on 34k, my dad came with me to look at it and he is famously particular, it is rumoured he has found issues on brand new cars, he should have been in quality control but he said “If this is what you want, this is the one to get”.
But, won’t rule out high milers, a lot is down to how the car presents, the owner/dealer and the records of work done. Easy to buy a car needing two grand in work, set of tyres, new brakes and a few other bits can add up very quickly and can be a false economy.
Also depends on your budget, and how many days you want to spend traipsing up and down looking at cars.
Sen low milers that are ruined, one that sticks out was a MK6 Golf GTi, had been a busy mums kid wagon, it was ruined, covered in dings, kerbed wheels, scratched up interior despite only 30k or so. The ones you want are the ones one careful higher up in a company has had, had services and just flown up and down motorways.
Interestingly, most of of the cars I've owned have started to have significant issues at around the 100-120k mile sorting of mark.
The Corrado's suspension fell apart. OK all consumables, but the cost to keep in on the road would have been far more than it's value.
My wife's Punto's power steering failed; again, repairable but well beyond economical to repair (even doing the work myself).
The Octavia had been having niggly issues for a while but the engine finally gave up at 120k miles.
I guess other than the Skoda, you could argue that the problem was that they were essentially worthless due to market forces rather than beyond their useful life but still, they all generated what would have been four figure bills at that sort of mileage.
The Corrado's suspension fell apart. OK all consumables, but the cost to keep in on the road would have been far more than it's value.
My wife's Punto's power steering failed; again, repairable but well beyond economical to repair (even doing the work myself).
The Octavia had been having niggly issues for a while but the engine finally gave up at 120k miles.
I guess other than the Skoda, you could argue that the problem was that they were essentially worthless due to market forces rather than beyond their useful life but still, they all generated what would have been four figure bills at that sort of mileage.
Edited by kambites on Sunday 27th July 09:19
Evanivitch said:
If "looked after properly" means all the rubber bits (drop links, CV joints etc) have been replaced. Problem is the parts might be cheap but garage labour isn't.
Increasingly on modern cars there's always the chance of big bills (ecu units, turbos, even ABS control units etc).
I've taken 1 car over 100,000 miles and two within a stones throw of 150,000. The latter both had ongoing reliability issues that were age related (PD turbos and injector loom...).
I wouldn't be afraid of high mileage on a young car that wasn't a taxi, but I can appreciate why the general public have concerns at higher mileages.
This. With the state of the roads now suspension components are getting tired by 100k, particularly on run of the mill cars. With the aggravation factor of corrosion and broken fixings they can become expensive to replace. Add in car park dings and general tattiness and a regular car like an Astra will become virtually worthless. People just want a nice shiny new car - even if it is tat.Increasingly on modern cars there's always the chance of big bills (ecu units, turbos, even ABS control units etc).
I've taken 1 car over 100,000 miles and two within a stones throw of 150,000. The latter both had ongoing reliability issues that were age related (PD turbos and injector loom...).
I wouldn't be afraid of high mileage on a young car that wasn't a taxi, but I can appreciate why the general public have concerns at higher mileages.
I have not bought a car with less than 80k on it in the last 30 years. The last car I sold, RX400h had 197k on it when sold, it is still out there a year later taxed and MOT'ed.
Right now the Volvo is on 107k and the seat on 130k and the series 2 Land Rover says 189k, but to be fair there probably isn't much original left on that.
Never really have that many issues, but if I had to pay someone else to sort the issues out, it might feel very different.
Right now the Volvo is on 107k and the seat on 130k and the series 2 Land Rover says 189k, but to be fair there probably isn't much original left on that.
Never really have that many issues, but if I had to pay someone else to sort the issues out, it might feel very different.
kambites said:
Interestingly, most of of the cars I've owned have started to have significant issues at around the 100-120k mile sorting of mark.
The Corrado's suspension fell apart. OK all consumables, but the cost to keep in on the road would have been far more than it's value.
My wife's Punto's power steering failed; again, repairable but well beyond economical to repair.
The Octavia had been having niggly issues for a while but the engine finally gave up at 120k miles.
I guess other than the Skoda, you could argue that the problem was that they were essentially worthless due to market forces rather than beyond their useful life but still, they all generated what would have been four figure bills at that sort of mileage.
I think this is the issue though. If you sell a car and buy a new car you often take several thousand pound hit on the sale and buy price spread we think nothing of accepting a low ball trade bid to part ex our cars but a £2000 maintenance bill is avoided or people pay it, get scared and then take the hit and trade it.The Corrado's suspension fell apart. OK all consumables, but the cost to keep in on the road would have been far more than it's value.
My wife's Punto's power steering failed; again, repairable but well beyond economical to repair.
The Octavia had been having niggly issues for a while but the engine finally gave up at 120k miles.
I guess other than the Skoda, you could argue that the problem was that they were essentially worthless due to market forces rather than beyond their useful life but still, they all generated what would have been four figure bills at that sort of mileage.
If you run a car to big miles and prepare for a few £1000-3000 bills then they can go on and on.
Also, equating a running cost bill to the car value doesn’t actually make all that much sense, sometimes you have to pay to keep them going, it’s not an investment.
georgeyboy12345 said:
Mileages of used cars I ve bought
45k
68k
32k
54k
and my latest 77k
It s been no less reliable than any of the others
All of which seems pretty low mileage to me. Had you said 177k or 277k then fair enough, but I'm failing to understand why 77k is a big milestone? Cars can be problematic from the word go and conversely, cars knocking on well above 250k can get there with minimum fuss.45k
68k
32k
54k
and my latest 77k
It s been no less reliable than any of the others
Mileage simply doesn't bother me, to the point that my latest shed has a mere 160k and that seems positively box fresh in my world. Other stuff has all been above 200k and nothing has ever given significant, regular issues...
Pistonheads is also to blame with their High Mileage Hero based editorials. Usually a 30 year old Volvo on 180k... complete non story to me but yes, I guess for some they'd be coming out in cold sweats over those sort of figures.
To me, it stands to reason that a car of the same age with 40,000 miles on the clock is a better prospect with one with 150,000 miles, even if they look in identical condition and have been properly serviced.
Less wear on the engine internals, gearbox, suspension, steering rack etc etc.
I did once have a Granada Ghia that had done 135,000 miles which drove perfectly however.
Less wear on the engine internals, gearbox, suspension, steering rack etc etc.
I did once have a Granada Ghia that had done 135,000 miles which drove perfectly however.
It's basically fear of the unknown and, to some extent, the known.
The known...
Coil springs, ball joints, wheel bearings, shock absorbers, etc. All "consumable" but not cheap on some cars.
The unknown...
Engine issues caused by corner cutting, which is more likely on a high mileage cars as high mileage cars are cheaper, thus bought be people who can't afford low mileage cars and might be running them on a shoestring budget... and any other issues arising from shoestring maintenance.
I've seen a lovely F32 BMW 440i with just shy of 124k miles on it currently for sale for £14k... but would I want this car knowing I can't put a BMW warranty on it, the ZF auto 'box will need servicing, if it hasn't been, various suspension components might need replacing, front shockers have "light misting" which, depending which way the wind is blowing when you Google, is either normal or a sign of imminent failure. By the time you've got it straight you've spent getting on for £20k, which will get you one with half the miles and eligible for a BMW warranty.
The known...
Coil springs, ball joints, wheel bearings, shock absorbers, etc. All "consumable" but not cheap on some cars.
The unknown...
Engine issues caused by corner cutting, which is more likely on a high mileage cars as high mileage cars are cheaper, thus bought be people who can't afford low mileage cars and might be running them on a shoestring budget... and any other issues arising from shoestring maintenance.
I've seen a lovely F32 BMW 440i with just shy of 124k miles on it currently for sale for £14k... but would I want this car knowing I can't put a BMW warranty on it, the ZF auto 'box will need servicing, if it hasn't been, various suspension components might need replacing, front shockers have "light misting" which, depending which way the wind is blowing when you Google, is either normal or a sign of imminent failure. By the time you've got it straight you've spent getting on for £20k, which will get you one with half the miles and eligible for a BMW warranty.
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