I'm the first to tell people to buy a car on history and condition rather than age and miles and in most cases I'd stick with it but I'm swaying.

 

If you had the choice of the two following cars which would you pick? Both same age, spec, trim and year but

 

Car A: 115,000 miles with full service history 

Car B: 75,000 miles with no service history but owner (of 6 years) says his brother is a mechanic and done a yearly service for him

 

It's tricky to tell if someones feeding you crap sometimes although the brother servicing it story is perfectly plausible.

 

Now I've written this I think maybe I need to speak to the seller of the second car in person and see how they come across. 

History...

Addon

115should see the major service interval done and most niggly thigs will likely have failed and been replaced already.

In my brain 70 -100k is where big problems and expensive services (timing belt or tensioners and the like) crop up and may or may not be already done esp with ni history available... ciuld bexome more costly.

Edited 15 September, 201510 yr by mac11irl

Diesel or petrol?

It's a little 1.4 16v petrol, the cambelt is due at 75k so car B is due one, which would be factored into the price, I'd get the cambelt and a service done straight away. 

The mileage is a bit more significant then, in terms of likely future 'trouble-free' engine life. I'd be tempted to ask where the brother works and if you can pop round or call him at work to discuss the car, see how big a hesitation results.

I would initially say history Matt but would also say price comes into it as well.  Is the price of the no history car such that you can take a punt at it?  Also condition of the cars is vital because what has or hasn't been done to them in the past makes little difference to what you see with your own eyes.

The mileage is a bit more significant then, in terms of likely future 'trouble-free' engine life. I'd be tempted to ask where the brother works and if you can pop round or call him at work to discuss the car, see how big a hesitation results.

 

Good idea, worth a try. 

 

I would initially say history Matt but would also say price comes into it as well.  Is the price of the no history car such that you can take a punt at it?  Also condition of the cars is vital because what has or hasn't been done to them in the past makes little difference to what you see with your own eyes.

 

Well, a higher mile example with no history seems to be up for £2000, with history £2200 or so. This car I've been looking at was on ebay and didnt make the reserve so I've asked them if they're flogging it privately. It got as far as £1400 on ebay, I was thinking £1500 or so, needs a new key and the cambelt/service (£300) so it's not a huge saving BUT it's also not a super expensive car. If we was talking a 3, 4, 5 grand car then I'd say it's not worth the risk. 

 

Part of me says just spank the extra for a low mileage FSH one, but they do tend to go up a bit in price, this is suppose to be a cheap daily.  

I'd say whichever one is in better condition. A £2k car is not a big investment and if you get 2 years running out of it and then have to scrap it, it will owe you nothing and you'll have done very well out of it. When they get to that age, mileage, service history etc don't really matter in my mind, as long as they start, go and stop ok then they won't be a bad buy depending on price.

Well the problem with buying of fleabay is you cannot always see before you buy.  There are plenty of cheap cars out there and advertised on notice boards all over so take your time and take your pick and keep your fingers crossed.

I'd say whichever one is in better condition. A £2k car is not a big investment and if you get 2 years running out of it and then have to scrap it, it will owe you nothing and you'll have done very well out of it. When they get to that age, mileage, service history etc don't really matter in my mind, as long as they start, go and stop ok then they won't be a bad buy depending on price.

 

Its a fair point, a good prod and poke about could be as beneficial as a wad of history.

 

Well the problem with buying of fleabay is you cannot always see before you buy.  There are plenty of cheap cars out there and advertised on notice boards all over so take your time and take your pick and keep your fingers crossed.

 

The car I'm after isnt the most common. I didnt bid on the eBay auction because it was ending before I could go look at it, luckily it's only 20min away so if I were to buy it I'd go look it over first. I need to keep hunting! 

 

Cheers for the replies everyone

I would pick car "A" but it also depends on condition of the car though. 

Also if you spilled the beans and told us what you are after we may have knowledge of that model.  I hate secrets.

Also if you spilled the beans and told us what you are after we may have knowledge of that model.  I hate secrets.

 

Hahaha, ok ok, I'll come clean. It's nothing exciting for most people anyway. I'm after a Panda 100HP, wanted one for years but now I'm in the position where one would make sense. 

Is that the 4 x 4 one?

Fix It Again Toni...

 

 

Nah they're really OK.

 

I ran a Punto Mk2 for 10 years and apart from 2 blown head gaskets and a banana-shaped cylinder head it was painless and cheap.

 

 

On the low mileage front.  Once bought a 6 year old car with only 30k on it and it was crap.

 

One "mature" owner doddering around town - it was so choked up.

 

Six months of thrashing up and down the A1 - the mpg improved from 29 to 42.

 

That "low-mileage" car was so f****ed-up when I bought it - jeez.

Edited 16 September, 201510 yr by camelspyyder

Is that the 4 x 4 one?

Na, the 4x4 was either a 1.2 or 1.3 diesel, the 100HP is a 1.4 16v, if you're bored have a read of evo magazines review on one.

Fix It Again Toni...

Nah they're really OK.

I ran a Punto Mk2 for 10 years and apart from 2 blown head gaskets and a banana-shaped cylinder head it was painless and cheap.

On the low mileage front. Once bought a 6 year old car with only 30k on it and it was crap.

One "mature" owner doddering around town - it was so choked up.

Six months of thrashing up and down the A1 - the mpg improved from 29 to 42.

That "low-mileage" car was so f****ed-up when I bought it - jeez.

I had a MK2 Punto too, decent car but very boring, 1.2 8v so sluggish too. Pretty reliable though. I've been doing my homework on the Panda, built in Poland and quite well by all accounts, I had a quick look round one last week, 109k on it and the inside had held up well, only the steering wheel looked a bit tired. Parts are pennies and it's got character, everyone raves about how much fun they are while not doing silly speeds.

Got a 130k Clio 1.2, I've had a 30k one of the same age, mine was so much better to drive, it was all cracking up with age, I'd advise look at both, take them for a decent test drive, then see what's what but I'd always go for history

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I had a MK2 Punto too, decent car but very boring, 1.2 8v so sluggish too. Pretty reliable though. I've been doing my homework on the Panda, built in Poland and quite well by all accounts, I had a quick look round one last week, 109k on it and the inside had held up well, only the steering wheel looked a bit tired. Parts are pennies and it's got character, everyone raves about how much fun they are while not doing silly speeds.

 

Yes I like the 100HP a lot -  but its a panda.

 

A lad who drives a 500 at work is getting sick of the "is that your girlfriend's car?" jibes

 

The panda will get those too.

Yes I like the 100HP a lot - but its a panda.

A lad who drives a 500 at work is getting sick of the "is that your girlfriend's car?" jibes

The panda will get those too.

It's all good, the other option I was looking at was a Vespa, fat man on a moped? Or Fat bloke in his Mrs Panda? Dunno what's worse?

I get your point -  there is a monstrously fat dude riding a scooter at work and it looks...wrong?

Na, the 4x4 was either a 1.2 or 1.3 diesel, the 100HP is a 1.4 16v, if you're bored have a read of evo magazines review on one.

You are kidding right?

You are kidding right?

No why?

I get your point - there is a monstrously fat dude riding a scooter at work and it looks...wrong?

Haha, I'm not sure I could pull it off at the moment. Just two little wheels under me.

I was looking at these a while back until I saw it next to a fiesta and the fiesta looked massive. Has slightly put me off wanting one, which is really annoying as they are great value...