Low mileage 2014 17k miles. Bad idea?

[SummerVibe]

Looking at a 2014 mark 7 golf SE. Has only 17k miles on the clock so very low. Town driving only with one owner. Bad idea? Anyone else any good or bad reviews on the mark 7 golf?

Golfs are great cars. Provided it has been serviced and the price is ok then I can't see any problem.

Can't see how it could be a bad idea. Good make of car plus low mileage is a good thing if the price is good.

Thanks for your replies. Servicing all up to date with franchise. Just worried re it not being properly 'broken in' and town driving rather than motorway. Concerned parts could have worn/poorly lubricated etc as not being driven much. I guess you won't know until it happens

Is it petrol or diesel?

Low mileage is fine, but there are a few caveats:

1. Check that the odometer hasn't been tampered with
2. Get a mechanic to check it over. Cars that haven't been used very much have rubber parts that dry our and crack
3. Infrequent vehicle use or frequent use for short trips can cause rapidly accelerated corrosion within the exhaust system
4. The battery could be flat if it doesn't get a chance to charge up on long journeys
5. Check that it has had frequent oil changes
6. Above all check the service history

Thanks @Lonicera, will check all that out.

@Pickles it's a diesel.

I bought an 04 diesel Zafira in 2011 with only 11,000 miles. I don’t remember exactly how it had been used for the whole 7 years, but latterly it was just for an occasional long trip into the countryside with a bike in the back for the owner to go for an interesting ride.

Anyway another 7 years on, has crept up to about 35,000 & is still mechanically sound although as Lonicera says rubber & other trim is a bit worn now. Also it’s too old to have a DPF or other high-tech diesel kit - that’s an important factor.

Can you find out any more about the “town driving”? Lots of shortish slowish trips are very hard on DPFs. Do you have a friendly local garage who could check it over for you?

@lapdance do you think the trim is worn simply with age or because you bought the car at such low mileage?

The garage is about 30-40min drive from my home so not sure re getting it checked over. Unless my mechanic came with me

Also DPF is a nightmare now. Can't see any way of avoiding these issues!! Thankfully I do high miles (about 25k per year) at 60mph plus so my cars have some chance of maintaining the filters

Oh, age, definitely - the car spends about 95% of its life parked on the street facing S, so any deterioration is probably caused by weather exposure.

At least 1 tyre has had to be replaced before the tread was worn out because the sidewall was cracking. Also there’s a small flat black panel between O/S front & rear doors; it started peeling, I had it repaired, & now it’s peeling again - the N/S, which is normally in the shade, is fine.

otoh there’ve been no age problems under the bonnet & even the windscreen rubber seems ok despite the sun. The local garage that service it think it’s brilliant! I paid over the odds for its age because of the mileage but it was worth it.

I think if you can get the Golf’s diesel emissions system checked out independently as performing well (& it might be one of those affected by the VW fraud? ) it’ll probably be a good buy, & great for you with your mileage. (Would your mechanic come along?)

it's a diesel.

In that case I’d avoid at all costs. Low mileage and modern diesels do not make good bed fellows. I’d rather buy one with 3 or 4 times that mileage.

Yeah I know what you mean @Max. Just limited options because I do such high miles and higher mileage cars are worth next to nothing when I have had them a couple of years because of all the driving I do changing cars is a stress! Have to do it fairly frequently with all my driving!!

Have you looked at Kia/Hyundai, @SummerVibe?

DH does 30k+ miles commuting annually & after a couple of disastrous older cars we went for a nearly new Kia Ceed - there is (or was) a Kia authorised scheme for nearly new low mileage cars with the balance of the 7-year/100,000 mile warranty. (Hyundai’s warranty is 5 years.) With a trade-in, some cash & a bit of 0% finance it wasn’t too painful.

Most recent Ceed is a 61 plate (bought in 2012) now approaching 200k miles. It’s been relatively painless apart from tyres; driver’s window is sticky & turbo isn’t working right recently, will ask about that at next service. Otherwise ok. Worth very little obv but as long as it keeps going it’s fine...

@lapdance yes i did consider those. My only hang up is that they wouldn't be my first choice looks/design wise but they are definitely good options for warranty. Maybe I should just go with one for peace of mind. Reassuring you haven't had a lot of bother with the Kia!

We’ve had 2 & they’ve both been great 😊 Lookswise they may be a bit dull but not unlike a Toyota. Very functional. Genuinely economical too - DH generally gets 55mpg