Just having a think today...

In your views, what would you consider being excessive milage for a car? more specifically a small car like the fabia? 100k? 150k? 200K?

Do you think bigger cars (aimed at the rep-mobile market) are better engineered to handle big miles?

/discuss

The mileage is not the most important factor to me, I've had several cars exceed 100k, most were at least 60k on the clock when purchased.

Main reason for me to consider a bigger car is the need for more space (say family), or because the car is less jumpy on a bumpy road due to the longer wheelbase.

Also what engine is used, a 1.2 petrol with 5 speed box having done 100k is a fair bit, a PD engined one with the same kinda mileage should still be sound.

As you're well aware though, bits start to go wrong over time, and I'd expect some major outlays every once in a while.

I'd quite happily do 100 miles/day in the Fabia, in which I feel relatively safe compared to my Rover 100 at the time. SWMBOs Kia is also well-equipped for being able to slow down rapidly & safely, although that is a bit underpowered for my daily trek to work.

One of the directors here has just purchased a Yaris, 1.4 petrol, which is also quite small but he lives in London. He does a fair bit of mileage though, but so far so good.

The mileage is not the most important factor to me, I've had several cars exceed 100k, most were at least 60k on the clock when purchased.

Main reason for me to consider a bigger car is the need for more space (say family), or because the car is less jumpy on a bumpy road due to the longer wheelbase.

Also what engine is used, a 1.2 petrol with 5 speed box having done 100k is a fair bit, a PD engined one with the same kinda mileage should still be sound.

As you're well aware though, bits start to go wrong over time, and I'd expect some major outlays every once in a while.

I'd quite happily do 100 miles/day in the Fabia, in which I feel relatively safe compared to my Rover 100 at the time. SWMBOs Kia is also well-equipped for being able to slow down rapidly & safely, although that is a bit underpowered for my daily trek to work.

One of the directors here has just purchased a Yaris, 1.4 petrol, which is also quite small but he lives in London. He does a fair bit of mileage though, but so far so good.

As you say.. bits starting to show wear, bushes/brakes/clutch etc. and milestone services like cambelt. plus of course the effect the miles have on the value on the car (if you dont plan to run it into the ground) - i dont think small cars are meant to cover big miles.

It's a trade-off really. To rack up mega-mileage means that the car has most likely been on regular, long-distance runs mostly likely on motorways (unless like my mum you live in Norfolk which doesn't have any! ) This kind of usage causes relatively little wear, as the engine is nice and warm, is often running at a constant speed, and the brakes and clutch are not used as often as in town driving (I once realised on an early morning trip to Edinburgh that I'd neither braked nor changed gear in over 100 miles - imagine how many times the brakes and gears would be used in 100 miles of town driving!)

Of course "rep-mobiles" tend to be only 1 or 2 years old when they're sold on, and so even though it may have 100k or more under the wheels, its trim, electrics, etc. should still be OK. The clutch and transmission shouldn't be too badly worn (see above), and so especially if the car's to be bought as a run-about, it should last for a good few years to come!

In fact, if it hadn't have been flat blue, Mrs Ap0gee's car would have been an 04-plate 1.2 Comfy, rather than the silve 51-plate 1.4 8v Comfy she now has. The blue car had 78k on the clock, but other than that was fine (cambelt had been changed at 60k, so no worries there!). As SWMBO will only do about 6k a year, in 3 or 4 years time, it'll still be barely at the 100k mark, and so depending on the condition of other parts, it might still have been worth keeping. As it stands, the silver car's already had various parts related owing to age-related failure, and may yet need more work done. Even though it's only got 48k on the clock, at 5 years old, non-drive parts are now on their way out.

IMHO, the only reason a high-mileage / low age car wouldn't be a good proposition is if you intend to do mega-miles yourself... Otherwise, you have yourself a bargain!

Just having a think today...

In your views, what would you consider being excessive milage for a car? more specifically a small car like the fabia? 100k? 150k? 200K?

Do you think bigger cars (aimed at the rep-mobile market) are better engineered to handle big miles?

/discuss

30k

I pretty much echo what ap0gee has said. If its done high mileage at a young age, and you dont do many miles yourself, then high mileage young cars are a sound buy. I'd rather have a 2 year old car with 100k on the clock than a 6 year old with 20k.

I think small cars like the Fabia, whilst might not have monster mileages in mind at design stage, they are built to a standard that makes them last so. However, if you are buying a car to last long mileages then I'd be looking at something a bit bigger - you only have to step up the size a little bit to get better longevity imho. Look at the difference between the Fiesta and the Focus for example.

30k

I have to say, that engine aside, my Fabia was feeling quite leggy at 37k when it went, but it did have a very hard life, probably akin to 100k miles of sensible driving.

I guess it also depends what you use your car for, and if modded if you did it properly in the first place

Shiftys car is his stress-toy so its had a rough life.. but he doesnt need a car for his 10metre trip to work...

me on the otherhand the car is also my stress toy, so gets just as hard a life as the shiftywagon but i also have to drive to and from work every day which is where the mileage has come from.

Mine tends to get driven hard every once in a while, mostly stuck on motorway etc at some pace, that's why the FMIC, hybrid (turbo not stressed at all at constant high speed) & propane (fuel economy) are hopefully going to be helping keep mine at a tuned but safe level.

I have not seen Shifty drive his car other than on his Blueflame vid, and that wasn't in person - but he does appear to give it some heavy right foot (and why not )

Personally I find the Fabia vRS (tweaked mildly ) a very nice car on the motorway up to very much license-endangering speeds for hours at decent fuel economy even then, or good fuel economy when driving during normal traffic conditions at NSLish speeds.

My car is nearing 60k and apart from the bl*dy annoying problem I've got with the coolant loss right now, I can't say I've had anything significant go wrong (yet?). I don't use it for the track, which probably makes a massive difference to the stress on the car.

Jason's car is highly tuned & tracked, how many miles on that now?

I guess it also depends what you use your car for, and if modded if you did it properly in the first place

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Now now, play nicely.

Jason's car is highly tuned & tracked, how many miles on that now?

Engine went in @ 7360 miles. Now over 35k. No issues as yet.

I bought an Octavia at 79k just before 3rd birthday, v.minor bodywork, driver's seat a little saggy, pedal rubbers worn, otherwise it could be 30k - 3 months no problems yet! Smooth tight drive, no rattles squeaks, plenty of go still. Always bought v.low mileage/almost new before.

As has been said, depends entirely on how it's treated. I always allow the engine to warm up to 90 degrees before full throttle / revs, change the oil every 7k or 8k miles and use good quality synthetic oil etc. If treated well, modern petrol engines should see 150k before they're likely to need any work, modern diesel engines 250k. I read those figures somewhere else, but they are believable IMHO.

I think it's everything else around the engine that will generally determine the car's life. Bodywork (rust etc.), electrics, interior integrity etc. etc. Our old Astra mk2 1.6 petrol was still running superbly engine wise when we sold it at 13 years old and 116k miles. The bodywork however, was pointing out that the car's days were numbered.

Well my 1997 2.0 Zetec engined mondeo has covered 157,000 miles and has had no issues with the engine, still uses no oil, doesnt leak and starts first time. I had a small technical problem with the autobox at 155K, but it didint cost much to fix and I think at that mileage its not bad.

Modern engines are far better than older ones and are made to tighter tolerances.

I bought my Octavia 2.0TDi at 12 months old with 14K on the clock 3 months ago, she is now coming up to 22K miles.

To me, mileage is unimportant. What is important is service history, providing the schedule is adhered to I expect a modern engine to last the life of the vehicle. I would rather have a car that has done 40K per year than one that sits locked away and only comes out at weekends. The reason being that weekend toys tend to get driven hard for the 2 days they are used. A 7 day a week car will get the same use at the weekend, but equally get a chance to run normally in the week.

I agree. Service history is the key IMO. If its been serviced and maintained regularly then there should be no real major problems. Wear and tear are the most obvious unavoidable problems.

I had an Octavia SLX TDI with 60,000 when it was four years old and never had any trouble. Felt like lower mileage cars I'd had.

Also bought a Leon Cupra after that which was three years old with 50,000 on the clock. No issues there either as it was a reps car that had been maintained on the dot.

I'm sure there are some newer low mileage cars with big issues as you would expect with some higher mileage examples.

There you go

Just having a think today...

In your views, what would you consider being excessive milage for a car? more specifically a small car like the fabia? 100k? 150k? 200K?

Do you think bigger cars (aimed at the rep-mobile market) are better engineered to handle big miles?

/discuss

Hi

Generally have found that the bigger the ratio of engine size to car weight, the longer the car lasts. I have kept some bigger engined vauxhall V6 and Staright 6 cars over 200,000 miles with sound engines.

Of course probably more important is what oil it has run and how well it has been treated (run in properly, not thrashed from cold etc.)

Chris

Chris

More bhp/litre = greater stress on engine and drivetrain components.

More bhp/litre = greater stress on engine and drivetrain components.

Sure, but surely the drivetrain is designed for the extra ooph.

I like Chris's explaination.

Chris has said it well

It could well explain why a lot of American cars quite comfortably do a few hundred thousand miles - lowly tuned engines, automatics, and generally low speed limits are quite common

Sure, but surely the drivetrain is designed for the extra ooph.

I like Chris's explaination.

Now we know that thats not the case with the fabia vRS drivetrain....

Also agree with the view that service history is more important than milage. I know of several examples of PSA and VAG cars that have run up 500_000 miles or so in taxi work.

Now we know that thats not the case with the fabia vRS drivetrain....

Hmm, I have to disagree slightly. I think the main issue is the durability of bushes - but maybe these were designed to fail shortly out of warranty periods to sustain dealer income :rubchin:

Out of 14,000 members I've only heard of 1 driveshaft failing, and its hardly fair to use that as an example

Only drivetrain issues really are flywheel and clutch.

One of which can be upgraded. The other cannot.

John, when have you ever heard of a flywheel failing (other than on competition tuned engines that is)?

John, when have you ever heard of a flywheel failing (other than on competition tuned engines that is)?

Happens all the time.. VAG have been plauged by flywheel problems, especially on diesels..