Issues with buying a 6 year old car with low miles?
Discussion
I've been car hunting at the moment, and have identified a car local to me (at a small Independent dealer) which I liked the look of. Went down Monday to have a look and drive, and really liked it. However, I freely admit I am not at all mechanically minded so have a few questions for the wise sages of PH:
1) The car is 6 years old (on an 05) with 20,800 miles. I have run the details through the DirectGov MOT History check, and all the mileages check out (1st MOT 2008 = 15,184, 2nd MOT 2009 = 18,640, 3rd (and last) MOT 2010 = 20,838). This does indicate that the car has done more or less nothing since April last year (the date of the test), and this has meant the tax has actually run out. It has been serviced twice at an Audi main dealer (at 11,000 and 19,000) and the guy said he would get it serviced again with an oil and filter change before selling it. Is this concerning in anyway?
2) The car is pretty much immaculate (as you might expect) inside and out, bar one blemish. This is a large scuff on the front left side alloy. Again, the chap pointed this out but has said he will get it sorted should I wish to purchase. This itself is not a problem, the only thing that makes me wonder is the car has Bridgestone tyres all round, bar the scuffed wheel, which has had a replacement tyre fitted. I did query this, to which he said it was most likely a puncture. Again, should I be worried? To be honest, I'd almost be inclined to change all the tyres anyway, since they are 6 years old.
For what it's worth, the chap did seem an honest, decent guy, and had all the paperwork, service booklet etc. He had HPI'd it, and showed the printout which was all clear, but I'd be inclined to do a check myself (unless a kind trade-PHer is really bored
) anyway. I do have the details of the only previous keeper, and have found them in the phonebook (car has been kept and MOT'd locally since new) so could give them a ring, or is this a bit weird?I might be overly cautious, but I'm spending a decent enough chunk of cash (by my standards) so want to get it right!
Cheers for reading.
New cars can sit around at docks or in fields for over a year before being purchased 'New' so dont worry about the low mileage, I mean this is probably whats attracting you to the car in the first place right?
The guy could have got a puncture in the same wheel as well as making contact with a curb. This could have been one incident or two. I doubt it will have damaged the car as they are designed to absorb these knocks but obviously it is worth getting the tracking done when you buy it. Especially if you are getting new tyres too.
The guy could have got a puncture in the same wheel as well as making contact with a curb. This could have been one incident or two. I doubt it will have damaged the car as they are designed to absorb these knocks but obviously it is worth getting the tracking done when you buy it. Especially if you are getting new tyres too.
Cheers for that ATM. Edit: and Ozzie. So it seems fine then?
Anyone want to weigh in with anything else before I Hpi and probably buy?
I'm still debating phoning up the previous owner this afternoon for total piece of mind. Would you be pissed off if someone phone you up to discuss a previously owned car?
Anyone want to weigh in with anything else before I Hpi and probably buy?
I'm still debating phoning up the previous owner this afternoon for total piece of mind. Would you be pissed off if someone phone you up to discuss a previously owned car?
Be very careful if it's a rep car (and definitely if it's a diesel) as 5k per year for the first 3 years doesn't ring true. If a diesel, well people don't buy them new to do low mileages on the whole.
I'd be more confident if it was a privately owned car where the owner just did a few thousand a year, probably a petrol and a nice spec etc.
But, you've seen the car so you will know the condition, wear on the interior etc.
I'd be more confident if it was a privately owned car where the owner just did a few thousand a year, probably a petrol and a nice spec etc.
But, you've seen the car so you will know the condition, wear on the interior etc.
Stupidlikeafox said:
Cheers for that ATM. Edit: and Ozzie. So it seems fine then?
Anyone want to weigh in with anything else before I Hpi and probably buy?
I'm still debating phoning up the previous owner this afternoon for total piece of mind. Would you be pissed off if someone phone you up to discuss a previously owned car?
should be, how many cars have you really heard of that die after 20000 miles, your looking at around another 15k at least before you need to do anything at all major, probably more.Anyone want to weigh in with anything else before I Hpi and probably buy?
I'm still debating phoning up the previous owner this afternoon for total piece of mind. Would you be pissed off if someone phone you up to discuss a previously owned car?
if you like the car get it, as long as the HPI is clear, do you mind me asking what it is?
Dracoro said:
Be very careful if it's a rep car (and definitely if it's a diesel) as 5k per year for the first 3 years doesn't ring true. If a diesel, well people don't buy them new to do low mileages on the whole.
I'd be more confident if it was a privately owned car where the owner just did a few thousand a year, probably a petrol and a nice spec etc.
But, you've seen the car so you will know the condition, wear on the interior etc.
Yes be careful, that goes without saying. If the car is advertised as only 20,000 miles it should look brand new and factory fresh. If it doesn't then something may be a miss with the mileage.I'd be more confident if it was a privately owned car where the owner just did a few thousand a year, probably a petrol and a nice spec etc.
But, you've seen the car so you will know the condition, wear on the interior etc.
However a lot of people started buying diesels in the main stream and sometimes people buy a car, their situation changes and they dont use it much. So its not a reason to think fraud.
As above
As an example of low mileage cars - one of my neighbours bought an i10 just about a year ago. It has covered a total of 15 miles since then!!
Now, to be fair I wouldn't want to drive it either, but that isn't really why it hasn't moved - she's just a lovely old dear who is used to having a car and didn't want to be without one, even though I very much doubt she'll ever drive again.
So, genuine low-mileage cars do sometimes exist.
Just do the usual checks (and given you're buying from a dealer there'll be a bit warranty / come-back if necessary anyway?) and go for it!
As an example of low mileage cars - one of my neighbours bought an i10 just about a year ago. It has covered a total of 15 miles since then!!
Now, to be fair I wouldn't want to drive it either, but that isn't really why it hasn't moved - she's just a lovely old dear who is used to having a car and didn't want to be without one, even though I very much doubt she'll ever drive again.
So, genuine low-mileage cars do sometimes exist.
Just do the usual checks (and given you're buying from a dealer there'll be a bit warranty / come-back if necessary anyway?) and go for it!
The only thing i would be wary of is that low miles cars tend to command a premium in pricing. If you then put average miles on it, then come resale time it wont be a low miles car anymore, so technically you may lose more in depreciation.
Conversely if you actually do small miles, it would be better to buy a high miles car cheaply and then sell it on with 'average' miles.
Conversely if you actually do small miles, it would be better to buy a high miles car cheaply and then sell it on with 'average' miles.
I would definitely 'phone the prev owner if you have their details.
What do the brake disks look like? It may well still be on the originals pads and disks or they could have been changed due to corrosion.
Mine (54 reg) only just broke 50K, but it did 20K in it's first year and then my job changed so I now work from home and only use the car for one or two trips down South per month. At least it's getting a good run when it does go out.
If the car you're looking at has been used for lots of short runs, one thing I would be keen to do is take it for a good run - at least 30 miles. Ideally start it and drive away from from stone cold, although that might be difficult to organise too, and listen for stange rattles and tapping noises.
What do the brake disks look like? It may well still be on the originals pads and disks or they could have been changed due to corrosion.
Mine (54 reg) only just broke 50K, but it did 20K in it's first year and then my job changed so I now work from home and only use the car for one or two trips down South per month. At least it's getting a good run when it does go out.
If the car you're looking at has been used for lots of short runs, one thing I would be keen to do is take it for a good run - at least 30 miles. Ideally start it and drive away from from stone cold, although that might be difficult to organise too, and listen for stange rattles and tapping noises.
My OH replaced a 9 year old Almera with 95k on it (all her miles) with an i30 last June.
The i30 now has just turned 3k. It won't see 5k before the first service. Circumstances change, and some cars unexpectedly spend most of their lives on the driveway. The long winter this year left us using my car (winter tyres and Quickclear are better in the winter, and she's not confident driving in poor conditions).
The i30 now has just turned 3k. It won't see 5k before the first service. Circumstances change, and some cars unexpectedly spend most of their lives on the driveway. The long winter this year left us using my car (winter tyres and Quickclear are better in the winter, and she's not confident driving in poor conditions).
Funnily enough, I have an '06 Audi with 20,500 miles on the clock. I bought it 2 years ago with 9k on the clock, when it was just under 3 years old.
Of course it's not 100% guaranteed, but it's likely that the car has been used lightly and looks as if has been serviced by time intervals rather than mileage. I do low miles and always make sure my car is in tip-top condition, while accepting that using on short jopurneys isn't as beneficial as the longer runs.
The main benefit is that people will usually either pay you more or choose your car first when you come to sell a low-miler. Again, the science behind why they do that isn't always correct, but it does make life easier!
Of course it's not 100% guaranteed, but it's likely that the car has been used lightly and looks as if has been serviced by time intervals rather than mileage. I do low miles and always make sure my car is in tip-top condition, while accepting that using on short jopurneys isn't as beneficial as the longer runs.
The main benefit is that people will usually either pay you more or choose your car first when you come to sell a low-miler. Again, the science behind why they do that isn't always correct, but it does make life easier!
Major thanks to you all, knew I could count on PH.
Tried calling the previous owner this afternoon but they weren't there, but I will try again a bit later.
It's an Audi A3, up for £6,900.
Tried calling the previous owner this afternoon but they weren't there, but I will try again a bit later.
Ibizahoo2 said:
... do you mind me asking what it is?
Go on then, but don't laugh (remember I'm only 20, it's to see me through my last 4 months of Uni and 3 years of Accountancy training).It's an Audi A3, up for £6,900.
I did the same thing, albeit an angry dad 55 plate CMax rather than an A3 - the miles were more important to me than the age of the car as I tend to go for cheap Ford diesels, run them up to 100k and get rid before the death rattles come. This one was owned by a local guy, main dealer history, his shop runner that he traded in for a new one. I bought it last year with 28k. It's on 62 now and has just had routine servicing.
I bought my mustang with 23,000 miles on the clock (9 years old at the time) and had many issues due to dried out seals and 'parked' bearings, although a lot of this was probably down to the general abysmal quality of the car and its materials..
on the flip side, a friend bought an MR2 with low miles that was about 12 years old at the time and had no issues what so ever, so I guess its really only an issue on a poor quality car where materials will degrade faster..
on the flip side, a friend bought an MR2 with low miles that was about 12 years old at the time and had no issues what so ever, so I guess its really only an issue on a poor quality car where materials will degrade faster..
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff