How many miles on the clock is too many???...in a car?

Off-topic
1

I know that y-e-a-r-s ago 100k on a car was considered in the same way that the sound barrier was - an invisible wall that, once passed, your engine would disintegrate.

My dear long departed old Dad would consider a 75k mileage as far to close to the dreaded 100k and only bought cars that were 50k or under,

Mind you the cars designed in the 60’s couldn’t cope with the new fangled motorways - and apart from Mercedes and VW Beetles ( Japanese cars were not invented then - ask Art and Jet :smiley: ) they blew up if pushed to do 75mph for more than two hours…

So now it’s 2014 - fuel , oil, bearings, tolerances are light years away in sophistication than in my Uncles Hillman Minx ( which decided to throw it’s pistons on the M1 - not once but twice!) .

We shouldn’t worry about high mileages ( or should we ).

Here’s why I ask.

Eldest daughter about to get a driving licence.

I have identified a Mini One as the best car ( and she LOVES em )

I have found out you need to buy one with a Getrag gearbox ( the early pre-July 2004 gearboxes are too fragile)

But the mileages on the 2004 or 2005 models are obviously high ( in my mind )

The normal mileages are from 70k to 85k with loads at 90k and a fair few at 100k plus.

She has seen a nice one locally with 108k on the clock ( me Dada would revolve in his grave)

I’m getting cold feet - it is a lot cheaper than a 70k to reflect mileage and has been well serviced but I’m thinking…

a) Will it blow up in another 500 miles?

b) all the components , the wheel bearings, gearbox, brake mountings…bloody hell even the paintwork has been subject to LOADS of wear, vibration and wind blast - will something give?

and

c) If we b uy and keep it a few years will anyone want to buy it with 140k on the clock or will it only be good for scrap???

So guys and gals whaddya think? am I being silly?

2

Check this page on Honest John’s site… http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mini/one-r50-2001/?section=good

My friend worked for a BMW/Mini dealership and worked on loads of these. Power steering pumps are a big issue so check the steering operates properly and there’s no leaks visible from the pump. Other than that, it seems that they are like most cars in that reliability is average, a looked after high mileage car might be a good buy, but it could be a money pit. Very much a gamble, but quite an expensive one due to them holding their prices so well.

I’d be more inclined to go for a Fiesta or a Yaris if your daughter can stomach the ‘image’ :cool:

3

Who is going to be paying for servicing and maintenance?
You or your daughter?

Cars can do a lot more miles now than when they used to but I, personally, would balk at a high miler simply because more things will go wrong.
It might not turn into a lump of un-driveable rust but you might start paying for more ‘little’ things that add up over time.
That said, having a full service history and evidence of care counts for a lot- much as with bikes.
Also I’d look for something that has done motorway miles as it is easier on the car than loads of stop/start city driving.
A high miler will probably be due to motorway travel.

4

Hey - good points all - keep em coming!

Anyone every had a 100 to 150k miler with no problems???

5

Buddy of mine bought his wife a Mini One as a runaround ,bought it nearly new 2006 , he nicknamed it the grenade , reckoned the only thing it needed was a pin … We ended up using my van to tow it round the corner from a Seat dealers , untied it, started it, ran it onto the forecourt and he traded it in for a Leon diseasel . … then fucked off sharpish :smiley:

6

don’t worry about mileage now as much as before, what is it cam belt or chain, if it is belt when was it changed because that may need doing soon if it hasn’t already been also if there is a service history your laughing…

also depends of what kind of miles they do motorway or town I recently bought a 2005 ford focus 150k miles unless you driving 24/7 its not likely them miles were done in a town, so motorway mileage is easy cursing for a car especially a larger engine. I changed oil and everything like mini service as soon as I got it and never had a problem

and obviously the usual wear on side of seat from getting in and out would also show if them miles was short journeys around town keep getting in and out that would show signs of wear.
if the bodywork is clean and tidy no rust and things like that then I wouldn’t be too concerned, when I bought mine the man didn’t even wash it but the outside and inside was in good condition

7

I have had a 150thou miler with no problems, bought it at 60’000 … Nissan 2.0 GTi Almera … and I hammered the bollocks out the thing , limiter ,change limiter ,change hehehehe … total mechanical abuse of the worst kind …I amazed myself with what it put up with . Just kept going .

8

Our fleet at work is mostly diesel and we have some on 175000 miles now which have had no problems. I think the build quality and expectation has improved since our fathers heard this from theirs and passed it on. I think it’s all down to the servicing and if the person you buy it from has kept receipts etc. I’m thinking of getting my daughter a ford ka as the insurance,safety and maintenance doesn’t seem bad some mob called marmalade are offering cheap insurance if you buy a car through them for younger drivers.

9

Mmmm that marmalade sounds good! Thanks

10

I had a 92,000 mile Vectra until recently, it sounded like a can of nails and was a total transmission failure waiting to happen. The problem being the dual mass fly wheel. They are a total nightmare, we’re talking £800 parts and a £500 labour bill for a non-dealer garage replacement. If you’re looking at high mileage check if its a dual mass fly wheel model, if it is they fail at around 75,000 to 100,000 miles, walk away.

11

Good point Art - I had heard about ‘dual mass flywheel’ thingys and their problems in another make (VW? BMW?) but i’d forgot about it.

Good to bear in mind.

12

im sure its the pre 2004 minis that use the Chrysler engine and post 2004 use the Peugeot engine I might be wrong with the dates tho

all diesel are Peugeot

miss wise wanted one so I took her to a dealer & she got halfway round the testdrive & said she didn’t like the car

high mileage never worry’s me I have a C250 estate (the barge) its got 225k miles on it I don’t use it that often now the future mother out law uses it as her daily car

most of my daily cars start with no mileage & end up with space ship mileage

13

My son bought a 93 polo- mk2 ( i think) with 176k. He did 22k last year and had to fork out £300 notes for a refurbished gearbox. Other than that its just been service costs (& a fcoff huge stereo system). amazing little car.

14

Hey I like the story of the Polo 176k and the C250 at 225k …wow :w00t:

I remember that in the 60’s Mercedes used to issue you with a freeking medal if you went over 100000 Kms (62k miles) … and again at 150000kms (93k miles) etc … old boys attached it to the radiator grill! :crazy: How times have changed!

15

now you just get the badges ripped off don’t matter how many miles you have

the most mileage I ever had from a car was 325k & that was a Renault 25 turbo

16

I’ve got a £500 P reg Fiesta with about 135k on the clock, it’s lasted 18 months without major expense and has never missed a beat. They are easy to come by (have a look on suburban supermarket noticeboards) but whether they have street cred with the youf of today is another matter. Also as a first car it would not be too precious if anything should happen to it.

17

Good point

18

Mate has a diesel that had over 250k miles on it. Engine etc all perfect, service history is immaculate as you would expect.

19

If you buy it from a dealer you can negotiate to get a extended or upgraded warranty, that will provide some peace of mind for the first year at least. You could get an RAC inspection also. My driving instructor ran his Toyotas up to 150K routinely with no problems that was over about a year and a half though so not directly comparable.

20

my focus is on 190k