Quick! Which car should I buy?

[Lavenderpillow]

I have two to choose from- both the same price.
Car one was registered in 2017. Great condition throughout, 11,000 miles on the clock.
OR
Car two, registered in 2018.
Great condition apart from a small scuff on one alloy. 30,000 miles on the clock.
Dealer is also offering a year’s road tax free.
I need to decide ASAP!

I would go for 2017

The lower mileage one for sure.

Probably the one with less miles.

One . Car tax is a very small amount of money.

If the newer one is fully serviced, I'd probably go for that unless you're really going to really rack the miles up. 30000 miles on a 4 YO car is still well below average.

Actually, check the tax rates for both of them. If the 2017 is pre April, the tax could be very low (£30 pa or less). So if you plan to keep this car for a good few years, that could add up to a significant saving.

But people who only drive 11000 miles in 4 years often do lots of very short journeys, which isn't good for the engine and gearbox.

Is there a difference in the model years? Or are they actually the same car/very close together?

December 2017 vs January 2018 is a different consideration to January 2017 vs December 2018 on cars this age.

Depends
How many miles will you do? If not many then buying a car with above average miles makes sense as it’ll be average after a while with you.

Is the spec identical?

Identical spec yes.

Cars were registered Nov 2018 and August 2017 so over a year difference. What do we think?

I’ll probably do 3 thousand a year

Go for the newer one, you might get more resale value on the 18 plate.

Especially if your mileage stays low at around 3,000 a year and you keep the car for a few years.

@SiobhanSharpe

Go for the newer one, you might get more resale value on the 18 plate.

I agree with this, if you're only expecting to do 3000 miles per year, it's always going to be low miles for the year and you're effectively getting the value of being a year newer on the resale value for free.

The small scuff on one alloy is neither here nor there. There's probably not a car in the land that doesn't have the odd alloy scuff unless it's been repaired or driven by an exceptionally careful driver.

The low mileage one is very low and as already mentioned may have just been used for very short journeys which over time wears parts down more. Although I stand to be corrected!

Definitely 2017, husbands a mechanic. Newer cars are much better at dealing with shorter journeys nowadays less mileage always better. I've seen some 2016 cars so fairly new still with horrendous mileage have a rubbish resale, lower mileage always better for the sake of a years Reg

I'd go the newer one. It isn't good for a cars engine to only be driven short distances, longer runs are better so the engine of newer car with more miles is probably in better shape. And free road tax.

In that case I’d say the 2018 one. 30k isn’t high miles, you won’t do loads so it’ll stay a low mileage car. It’s newer. Same spec

The common rule is “buy on condition not on miles”

Are they the same make/model?

From our experience another example...a year older BMW 3 series with maybe 10,000 more miles or a year younger VW golf with 10,000 fewer miles, both costing about the same. The BMW is a much better buy.

Lowest mileage definitely

Whichever is the nicer colour?!?

They’re the same colour!

Damn, there goes my skilled approach to buying cars ;)

I'd be inclined to say the first one if you might want to sell it as you will get more resale value.

If you just want to keep it- which do you like more?