What to priortise: mileage or price

[ProfessorTiddles]

Hi
Looking for some advice. First off its worth pointing out I am not a car person at all. But I need one for work!

Went to look at a used car dealer today. Two cars of the model I want. Virtually identical.

One is 2 years older than the first, higher mileage (22k) but 3.5 grand cheaper.

Second is newer, lower mileage (9k) but more expensive

I can afford the cost of the more expensive one but obviously spending less would be better. However am torn because the newer one would, presumably last for longer....

DH isnt providing much help with this so thought Id ask on here for any advice...

Thanks!

As long as all the maintenance/servicing is commensurate with the mileage, go for the cheaper one.

What type of car? How old are they each and how much £ each. This will make a difference. Also, do they both have full service history?
Generally, well looked after cars that have been regularly driven, over a range of journeys, therefore have higher mileage are a good buy. Often, any issues with the car have already made themselves known and been rectified. However, once you get into higher mileages and older cars that isn't always true.

Cheaper car is 2022 and more expensive is 2024

Both vauxhall grandlands.

Cheap one about 17300 and more expensive just over 20300

Not sure about service history for 22 model, assume 2024 one would given its age...

Assuming the cheaper one has service history I would go with that. They are both barely run in.

22k mileage for a car that’s almost 4 years old is pretty good. My 73 plate car has 18K on it already

I would go with the newer one. It is likely to last you for longer without needing to be replaced and if well maintained would probably work out to be better value for money in the long run. The newer one may have some of the manufacturers warranty and/or a service plan with it too.

I highly recommend you look up wet belt issues with Vauxhalls, they are an absolute nightmare & write off engines if they haven’t been serviced correctly

Came here to say the same thing. We had to put a new wet belt on a Grandland which had only done 19k, because it was breaking up.

Grandlands are truly awful cars. Time to look at something else.

Dreadful car with lots of well-known issues. Better options include Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai and Peugeot 3008.

Well, the Sportage is a good shout, the Qashqai is unreliable junk and the 3008 IS a Grandland.

Lower mileage isn’t always a good thing, sometimes suggests it’s possibly been off the road for a while. 9k for a 2024 plate is pretty good though you want between 8-10k a year to show it gets good runs etc. If your heart is set on that car then I’d get the 2024 plate, but do agree with other comments about different cars. We have a Kia sportage and cannot fault it!