AIBU to consider buying a car that’s done 100k miles?

[Bordercollierun]

Just that really. Need to get out of a PCP I can’t afford due to the cost of living so smaller budget than I would like.

Car is a diesel, good service history (roughly every 20-25k miles) Good history of repairs, owner has had it for 6 years. It’s a 2019 plate. I need it to do 15k miles a year, lots of motorway. It’s priced lower due to miles hence in budget.

Am I buying a disaster here? Owner seems genuine but then so does everyone selling something!

we have done this without problems. The cam belt often needs doing around the 100k mark and you won’t get much change from £1k so check whether this has been done. You can’t see it so need a receipt from a garage to prove it.

What is the car? Impossible to say otherwise.

A diesel will be fine on those miles , especially if it’s been serviced regularly

Depends entirely on the diesel.

It’s a Citroen Spacetourer if that helps?

Ive also looked at a Ford tourneo (worried about the hassle with the wet belt thing) and a Toyota Proace which was nice but an extra £6k over the Citroen. They are both at a garage but not a main dealer.

That’s not a great service history, only 4 services? I’d be changing the oil in a diesel at max every 10k miles - ideally less than that.

What annual mileage has it done over the six years and in particular the last year?

Do they use DPF cleaner and have they ever done any DPF repairs? Has it had a new battery in its lifetime?

Can you buy a warranty for it? What make and model is it, have you checked for reliability and known issues? Joining model support groups on FB before purchase will help you to know what to look out for and if it’s a bargain.

Also- I say owned as I saw its advert before it went to garage so have seen the previous history…they ended up PXIng it.

I’d swerve a private purchase in all cases, no protection

Ah didn’t realise it was at a garage that’s better
and pop some of it on credit card for S75 protection assuming it meets the limits

Looking at the MOT history it’s done around 20k a year which does fit with what the previous owners used it for.

Its passed all MOTs,. Some advisories for tyres etc.

It had a minor leak in the exhaust a few years ago but nothing since. Is this a worry?

really appreciate the help I hate everything car

It might be priced this way becuase you can’t buy a manufacturer extended warranty post 100k miles

As you might tell by my name so do I and I have been so burned

That’s good for a diesel engine - you want to avoid lots of short journeys

if it’s not had any major repairs I’d be setting money aside for new battery, belt, and maybe some other bits.

what guarantee is the garage providing, and have you looked for other high mileage options of the same car?

My diesel is serviced every 10k (which is twice a year at the mo!) 20-25k seems a very long interval. Usually it’s every 10-12k or every 12 months whichever comes soonest.
As someone else posted if it hasn’t already had it done the cambelt will be possibly very overdue, mine is every 80k

I always buy higher mileage diesel VW - if regularly serviced I’ve got them to 280000 miles plus and then it’s not the engine that’s been the problem - current one is on 205000 and I’m hoping to keep it another 4-5 years

I’d be asking the garage for their thoughts in writing about the service history in particular asking about the delayed oil changes and get them to confirm that turbos, pipes cylinders, timing chain all look good, nothing is blocked or has sludge build up. They can do pressure tests etc.

ask them to run a diagnostic test and provide you with the result (you can offer to pay for this should you go ahead with the purchase)

what engine is it, some are worse than others

ask if there were any intermediate oil changes

check under oil cap for build up

Absolute maximum between servicing should be 10-12k miles or every year. I wouldn't touch a car that had only been done every 24k

We’ve just bought ds a car for 2k that’s done 20k.

Oh and yes, my timing chain has just been done as 100k - at the cost of £1200. Definitely something to consider

Def check the timing belt..... mine is a chain and I didnt get much change out of £4k 😤 so will be driving mine into the ground now..... diesel engines are designed for long mileage as long as they are looked after. Does it have a DPF? Another potentially expensive job if it goes (bitter experience).

4 or 5 services in 7 years isn't good service history.

New & Used Cars for Sale - Autotrader UK

Ah maybe this is cheaper for a reason then.
Ive no idea if it has a DPF but I assume it does. It’s already had a belt last year.

Back to the drawing board.

I don't think the service history is particularly good to be honest. My annual mileage is only 3k a year and I alternate between a part service one year (with oil change) and a full service the next. You need a car with a full service history at every 10k max. Also, I would go with Japanese cars if you're going down the high mileage route. You'll pay more but they'll give you years of trouble-free motoring. I'm on my second Honda which I highly recommend.

I’ve had two diesels that I bought with over 100K miles on them. I needed them both to last me 5 years or so and they did with no major problems.

I just bought a 2013 Ford galaxy with 125k on it. Spot on service history and maintenance receipts. Partner likes tinkering with cars and will keep it running. He kept an 08 Mondeo running to 300k with very little cost as he does the labour on evenings and calls it fun.

Do you have a tame mechanic who could check it out for you?

It might be OK for another 100K miles if it's in good nick.

I'm a driver of French cars and the electrics are usually are dodgy.

100k miles is a psychological barrier to some. It’s a
hangover from the good of days of the British car industry of the 1970s and 1980s, where it was something to be celebrated if your car got to 100k miles without falling apart.

These days most modern cars can easily do 200k miles or more - whether diesel or petrol.

If it’s been maintained well and the price is right, no reason not to buy it.