Really Low Mileages

[FarmerPug]

I had a look on autotrader to see whats on, and i come across this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p
Its not the lowest mileage one on, and it has a powersapper (auto box), but even so at 24k that car must be like new, and heres one quite the same just a tad more miles and a strange colour interior.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p
But what sort of people are driving these cars, because they must only go to the shops on a sunday sort of car, and whats the chance of them being clocked

[Bailes1992]

I imagine both engines will be abit worn. Diesels take a while to warm up, most engine wear is done when the engine is cold, once it's warm wear should be minimal!
The cars have probably been used do to no more than 5 miles or so now and again, maybe nip up the road to the shop etc. They will be coked up and have just as much wear on them as a HDi that's got 200k and been on the motorway all day everyday!

[FarmerPug]

ahy plenty of gunk in the engines from never being drove hard, but a good service full service if they were bought and they would be good cars apart from the fact they are autos

[Gary406]

They will be coked up and have just as much wear on them as a HDi that's got 200k and been on the motorway all day everyday!

how is that possible ? surely a car with 170k miles less doesnt have as much wear

[highlander]

I bought my 1999 D9 in November 2008 and it only had 27,600 miles on the clock. I just passed the 51,000 mile mark this month.

It was owned by Britannia Insurance in Glasgow and was basically only driven between the guy's house and the company office. Brittania was the only previous owner.

Low-mileage 406s are out there - though low mileage isn't the be-all and end-all. Treat any second-hand car just the same - there's an element of risk buying them. Check them out and make sure they run just fine before you hand over the cash, regardless of age, mileage, or service history.

[FarmerPug]

thats why i like buying from an independant dealer (not backstreet ones) but a good independant still might be a bit expensive to buy the car from but i got a full valet, any scuffs were fixed, it had an air freshner, taxed, a 6 month warranty. and was i treated well at the place with a cup of tea, and something to eat from an attractive woman. My car came from a subaru/lexus dealers but they seemed to have a full range of cars there.

[Bailes1992]

To be honest back street garages are probably allot cheaper compared to indies. I'd rather use the spare money to get things sorted at a bodyshop of my choice and valet the car myself.

[mjb]

Chances are both cars are desperately overdue a cambelt change

[steve_earwig]

Tbh if you think the mileage on a car bought from a back street dealer, or anywhere come to that, won't have the mileage "adjusted" then you're deluding yourselves. Unless it's got fsh that tallies with dates etc. then I wouldn't trust anything, condition is a much better guide - check the brake disks, interior, pedals, gear knob, paintwork... stuff most Dellboys can't easily and/or be bothered to change. I always assume a car's mileage is wrong, when my D9 appeared it was way off a cam belt change but I wanted it done regardless, so I (gulp) took it to Pug, who said I was nuts for wanting it changed. Until they changed it, then they informed me that the mileage probably wasn't kosher. And it came from a big dealer with a good name and everyfing.

Condition is also a good way of telling if the car's been looked after and regularly service or neglected and thrashed from a to b with the loud pedal crushed into the carpet.

[Welly]

I'd buy a genuine mega-low miler simply because it's not had as much use as a high miler. The sussy and all the controls will be (and feel) much tighter and you have the prospect of piling on the miles without it ever becoming too high.

[steve_earwig]

Give me a new car for a couple of weeks and I'll hand it back a worn out wreck