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when buying an old car, does high milage put you off much?

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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 06:08 AM
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Default when buying an old car, does high milage put you off much?

say anything from late 80's or early 90's
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 06:15 AM
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Depends on the car and what the mileage is?
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 06:17 AM
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beemer, around 150k
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 06:24 AM
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If its a rare car, then you may have no choice.

But rebuilding an engine is easier than replacing bodywork. So I always buy on body condition.
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by baxter
beemer, around 150k
not really high miles for a car made in the 90s,some cars a 3/4 years old have that ,miles on them
condition,condition,condition is all that matters
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 08:28 AM
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Originally Posted by AJC
If its a rare car, then you may have no choice.

But rebuilding an engine is easier than replacing bodywork. So I always buy on body condition.


Same as me I always buyin condition... It's like my 3dr... If you hit the mileage you would never guess its fine 90k... It's more like 30k.... Trim etc.. Looks so low mileage.
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 08:32 AM
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The age old phrase "buy on condition" is the best advice, i'm not saying don't look at the odometer but don't make a big deal of it.

Two personal recent examples from me;
-I searched for ages to buy an M5, and I always had this stupid taboo about buying cars with more than 100k miles on it, then after researching you find that a car with say 70-80k miles might need a new clutch, brakes, suspension and so on, where a car with 100k miles might already have had all thae expensive shit done, so don't get hung up on the number of miles. Outcome, i bought one with 99kk miles and it's never missed a beat, brilliant car!

Also just took delivery of an E36 328i, has 153k on the clock, the car has no stone chips on it, and runs like a clock, it has been meticulously maintained, i forget when i drive it how many miles it's done until i look at the odometer. It's a convertible and came from south england so drier weather and has likely been garagaed most of its life. Also if you buy a high mileage car, my preferance is to get one which has been owned from new by the present or very recent owner, you usually find its had all the proper servicing and wanted for nothing.

Bottom line is don't let the milage bother you (within reason), it's something that i moaned about for years and realised it's a load of shit.

Last edited by rog; Oct 16, 2012 at 08:39 AM.
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 08:33 AM
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I'd buy an honest 150k over a rough looking 50k any day!
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 09:05 AM
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yup, once a car is past aroun 20 years old mileage is pretty insignificant.

buy on condition alone.

my ERST has only done 80k but its probably on its 3rd set of clocks.....
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by gingeRS
yup, once a car is past aroun 20 years old mileage is pretty insignificant.

buy on condition alone.

my ERST has only done 80k but its probably on its 3rd set of clocks.....
Yeah, cant agree more.

Unless you are paying big big money for genuine low milage, original car - then dont even look at the clocks
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 09:53 AM
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Same as above, buy with your eyes, i always buy on condition and good history helps rather than low miles and no history.
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 10:56 AM
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Originally Posted by rog
The age old phrase "buy on condition" is the best advice, i'm not saying don't look at the odometer but don't make a big deal of it.

Two personal recent examples from me;
-I searched for ages to buy an M5, and I always had this stupid taboo about buying cars with more than 100k miles on it, then after researching you find that a car with say 70-80k miles might need a new clutch, brakes, suspension and so on, where a car with 100k miles might already have had all thae expensive shit done, so don't get hung up on the number of miles. Outcome, i bought one with 99kk miles and it's never missed a beat, brilliant car!

Also just took delivery of an E36 328i, has 153k on the clock, the car has no stone chips on it, and runs like a clock, it has been meticulously maintained, i forget when i drive it how many miles it's done until i look at the odometer. It's a convertible and came from south england so drier weather and has likely been garagaed most of its life. Also if you buy a high mileage car, my preferance is to get one which has been owned from new by the present or very recent owner, you usually find its had all the proper servicing and wanted for nothing.

Bottom line is don't let the milage bother you (within reason), it's something that i moaned about for years and realised it's a load of shit.

100% agree, can't believe how many rs fords I see with "69000" miles on the clock that are 20/25 years old,that's about 3k a year!!!
Would you really by an rs new for Ł12/15k in the 80's and only drive it a few miles a year?
Total crap.
Probably done that by its first mot and clocked back!!!
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 11:23 AM
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to me mileage doesnt matter as people have said its what u see and how it drives that counts the most.my e class when i bought it in december was on 94k but could see from bodywork and how it ran that it had been cared for.having worked in dealers my working life cars can go wrong from day 1.
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by vaughant
100% agree, can't believe how many rs fords I see with "69000" miles on the clock that are 20/25 years old,that's about 3k a year!!!
Would you really by an rs new for Ł12/15k in the 80's and only drive it a few miles a year?
Total crap.
Probably done that by its first mot and clocked back!!!


I bought a 35k focus and didn't use it....

Last edited by Rsmat; Oct 16, 2012 at 03:45 PM.
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by vaughant
100% agree, can't believe how many rs fords I see with "69000" miles on the clock that are 20/25 years old,that's about 3k a year!!!
Would you really by an rs new for Ł12/15k in the 80's and only drive it a few miles a year?
Total crap.
Probably done that by its first mot and clocked back!!!
I only do 2-3k a year, and if I bought a new car for about Ł30k today, I'd still only do 2-3k a year in it

As we all well know, many RS' are used at weekends only, and many are garaged up half the year, and some only come out for shows (and then, some of those are trailered). It's no different than someone buying an RS4 now for Ł30k, or maybe a Porsche, etc, and having it for weekends, only putting ~3k a year on it.

Or are they all clocked too?
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 03:48 PM
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a high mileage engine shouldnt put you off but keep in mind the bushes etc that have also done that mileage, ive learned form high mileage cars thats ive bought that its not often the engine gearbox or diff that suffers the faults from high mileage, its sensors bushes and seals
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 07:34 PM
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it depends what sort of car your looking at, but if theyve been rebuilt and the chassis looks good then mileage isnt really relevant if its old imo.
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 07:46 PM
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echo what everyone else has said and buy on condition, especially if you are looking at something old school from the 80's/ 90's
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 07:49 PM
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Mileage has never put me off, ive just got a E39 528 sport with 229k on the clock and it drives faultless, put it in for an MOT and failed on a tyre and headlight bulb.
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 07:52 PM
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I think car been stood and low mileage usually have more wrong with them.
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 08:07 PM
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Originally Posted by RS_matt
I think car been stood and low mileage usually have more wrong with them.
thats how my supra was, look how that turned out lol
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Old Oct 16, 2012 | 09:21 PM
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My 318is (1.9) has 182k on it and honestly the car is mint.

Buy on condition not mileage.
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Old Oct 17, 2012 | 11:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Thrush
I only do 2-3k a year, and if I bought a new car for about Ł30k today, I'd still only do 2-3k a year in it

As we all well know, many RS' are used at weekends only, and many are garaged up half the year, and some only come out for shows (and then, some of those are trailered). It's no different than someone buying an RS4 now for Ł30k, or maybe a Porsche, etc, and having it for weekends, only putting ~3k a year on it.

Or are they all clocked too?

sorry but when the fuck is a Ł40/50000 super car like a Porsche or Audi rs6 in anyway comparable to a shitbox rs turbo escort that was Ł12000 in 1990 comparable?
It's like buying a fiesta st now and putting it away thinking its gonna be worth good money in 20 years time hence the comment.
The only exceptions would have been the 500's or limited editions back years ago,I was buying and breaking better rs's than a lot out there now back in the 90's when they were like saxo's,ten to a penny and even then there weren't many with genuine miles.
You wouldn't store your Ł1000 Lexus away thinking its gonna be worth anything in ten years time would you?
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Old Oct 17, 2012 | 11:23 PM
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Where did I mention Ł40/Ł50k super cars? And where did I think my car was gonna be worth anything in ten years? And where did I say anything about storing cars?

Open your fucking eyes before typing the complete bullshit, you seem so good at

Better still, let me help you - Ł30k today is about the same as Ł15k back in the 80's, at least as far as cars are concerned. So, buying a Ł30k car now, and only putting 2-3k miles on it, is no different to buying a Ł15k car back in the 80's and only putting 2-3k miles on it.

What don't you understand about that?

The type of car in question is irrelevant - I used my car as an example; not because of the car, but because of the mileage, you fucking moron. Don't like my car - give a shit pal, I won't lose sleep. Lets use the Escort I had before it - piece of shit, rust box Escort. Still only put 2-3k miles on it per year though. Why? I don't need to use it everyday, that's why. It's not a weekend toy, it's not a cherished car, it's nothing special - far from it. Point is, I don't need to use it everyday, and it's not my only form of transport, so naturally it's not going to clock up much in the way of miles.

Likewise, it's entirely feasible, although possibly not for your puny little mind, that some people bought cars in the 80's that weren't they're only form of transport, weren't needed to be used everyday, and thus only put way under the average mileage on.

Add to that, that many people who DID by RS marque cars DID buy them as weekend cars, and later many people who DID buy them second hand, or third hand, or even 7th hand, STILL kept them as weekend cars, and then there are some that only take them out to shows, means it's entirely feasible that they have low genuine mileage on them.

If you weren't such a mong, you'd have been able to read that.

Now back to your hole - silly boy......
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 12:28 PM
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Don't think it matters, as long as the car is looked after, serviced corectly etc. Doesn't bother me 1 bit.
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 12:42 PM
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well i got my e30 beemer yesterday! had 165k on the clocks but done a 200 mile home journey and it drove perfect!!! the body work really is well kept. ive had 3 people already come up to me and ask about the car
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by vaughant
100% agree, can't believe how many rs fords I see with "69000" miles on the clock that are 20/25 years old,that's about 3k a year!!!
Would you really by an rs new for Ł12/15k in the 80's and only drive it a few miles a year?
Total crap.
Probably done that by its first mot and clocked back!!!
That's the most ridiculous post I've ever read.

And trust me, on here, that's some achievement...
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 07:08 PM
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Ok boys keep believing that all the rs and xr's that you see advertised with what always seems to be "69000 miles" are totally genuine.
Iirc I saw a thread back on here a few months back with a 3dr cossie that the owner knows full well has done over 150000 miles in his ownership for sale with a "genuine" 45000 miles on it,but not to upset the new owner he's not letting on the cars true history.
Perhaps it was a bit of a generalised statement but honestly are you telling me that a hell of a lot of cars out there from the 80's/90's survived pre computerised mots without having their mileage "shaved"?
I'd say there's more been clocked from that era that haven't,in fact I'd be very hard pressed to think of many cars that I've owned that haven't in some way or another had a bit of "fettling" be it mileage or otherwise,it's just a trait of buying a used high performance 80's car which believe me I've had loads of,probably 40/50 cars.

Mr thrush,living up to your name for certain.
Current price of a Porsche or RS4? I'm guessing around Ł40-50000? Totally incomparable to a shitbox ford escort with a few bits of plastic trim and 130bhp in back in 1990 when even the runout S2's struggled to pull Ł13000 brand new,the modern day equivalent being a fiesta ST etc hence the comparison.
Your argument centred around the fact that RS models even back years ago were the weekend warrior cars of rich folk who knew they were so exclusive that they never did more than a few k a year and just took them to shows at weekends etc.
Well,sorry to shatter your illusions that I speak shit but actually I was involved for 15 years in making parts for ford cars and I can tell you when I started that the carpark was full of rs/xr models as they were cheap,reliable means of transport offered to us at very cheap prices. There were dedicated lines making certain parts that were exclusive to the rs/xr range like rear discs etc and they were busy lines,perhaps not quite the same volumes as the mainstream stuff but still 24hrs a day 5 days a week,we fondly named the rear discs with drum internal hanbrakes "piss pots" as they were a pain in the fucking arse to make as they needed double the machining.
Where I worked you used to get really badly hit if you took the car back after a year or two with anything more than 12k a year on it,as of course these were being p/x all the time for newer or cheaper models due to the deals we got,so I've seen a LOT of cars having a "haircut" on the mileage front.
When they went to digi mileage the local mileage man was near enough a permanent fixture in our carpark,so much so he left his full time job and still works for himself to this day!!!
Sorry if it came across I was "dissing" your ride,I actually think the lexarse are a grat range of motors but you know yourself their extremely good value so I'm not being out of order suggesting their available for a grand!!!
Who knows,perhaps a mint low mileage one of them will hit silly rs prices in years to come?
I think a comparison of rs4 against saph cos and Porsche against perhaps a 3dr would have been a fairer comparison,as the cossies were always big money cars even back then,I looked at an 88 saph in mercury grey with cloth so pretty boggo and he had an invoice for Ł23000 new,I'd say with all the options that would be a nigh on Ł28000 car back then so comparable.
My saph has 136k on a h plate with fsh,which i think is low for a 23 year old car,it could be genuine but I'm told it's high mileage by the purists,hence perhaps it's a subject I do find a little amusing when that equates to 5k a year and I know it hasn't been on the road for the last 6!!!

Last edited by vaughant; Oct 18, 2012 at 07:53 PM.
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Old Oct 19, 2012 | 07:23 AM
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My personal choice...

I couldnt give a flying duck about millage,

The condition of the car is more important, that tell you if its been looked after imo!

You could get 2 cars 2 cars with same LOW millage...

One of them may of never had an oil change or polish...!
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