Car buying - age vs mileage

[woody1]

I'm looking at a few cars on autotrader, all from indie garages. Same make & model, very similar spec, roughly same price.

A) 2014 - 30,000 miles
B) 2016 - 50,000 miles
C) 2017 - 70,000 miles
D) 2019 - 90,000 miles

I only do a couple of thousand miles a year so I could get a younger higher miler like (D) but I'm more inclined to go for (A).

Just curious what trade-off others would choose.

[WTFH]

1. Check the MOT history - what issues have been found/resolved?
2. Check the recent service history - when was the oil last changed, when was the cam belt done
3. What engine is it?

If it's a low mileage older car, the things I would expect will need doing:
Tyres, brakes, clutch & battery
Things that may need doing:
Springs, trailing arms and track rods.

[woody1]

They all claim to have Audi FSH.

The engine is petrol and thankfully uses a timing chain rather than a belt.

[WTFH]

They all claim to have Audi FSH.

The engine is petrol and thankfully uses a timing chain rather than a belt.

If any of them are 4wd, find out when the last Haldex service was done.

[woody1]

If any of them are 4wd, find out when the last Haldex service was done.

Yep, they're all quattro, so I'll check that.

I guess the main potential issue with a low mileage older car, even if it has been properly serviced, is where it's been kept, rather than wear & tear. I keep mine outside and we live 1/2 mile from the sea; need I say more!

[BlueSharp]

I'm looking at a few cars on autotrader, all from indie garages. Same make & model, very similar spec, roughly same price.

A) 2014 - 30,000 miles
B) 2016 - 50,000 miles
C) 2017 - 70,000 miles
D) 2019 - 90,000 miles

I only do a couple of thousand miles a year so I could get a younger higher miler like (D) but I'm more inclined to go for (A).

Just curious what trade-off others would choose.

When was the version model you're looking at launched? I typically avoid a launch version of a car for a few years so any of the bugs can be worked out with upgraded components.

[woody1]

When was the version model you're looking at launched? I typically avoid a launch version of a car for a few years so any of the bugs can be worked out with upgraded components.

Ah, 2014. Audi TT Mk3. It was mostly only a facelift of the Mk2 which I currently have, unlike 1->2 which was much more extensive.

[WTFH]

Ah, 2014. Audi TT Mk3. It was mostly only a facelift of the Mk2 which I currently have, unlike 1->2 which was much more extensive.

The only 2014 I can see on AT with that kind of mileage is the pre-facelift and in St Austell.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-det...o=2015&fromsra

[woody1]

The only 2014 I can see on AT with that kind of mileage is the pre-facelift and in St Austell.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-det...o=2015&fromsra

That's the one, but I didn't even spot that it was pre-facelift. Doh!

The "black edition" styling probably threw me. Although TBH the differences between 2 and 3 are pretty subtle.

I'm not overly bothered, although I believe 3 was when they switched from timing belt to chain, which would be a plus.

[vwdan]

There's no easy answer to this one. An older car is an older car - regardless of milage, things wear and perish, especially rubber stuff - so seals, bushes etc. But also rust etc, it's been exposed to the elements.

I think a 10+ year old car will start to show its age - you also may have issues with tech, Android Auto etc, if that's important to you.

But, of course, miles are also miles - I certainly wouldn't want something with 90,000 on unless it was a cheap runabout

Out of your list, I'd probably be looking at B or C.