which car to chose?

your opinion please...

imagine you have to chose between two cars - same model, same good condition, same price.

option 1) 2004 - 33k mls - 1 owner from new - no service history, TB is not done so far
option 2) 2006 - 78k mls - 3 owners, full service history, TB & WP done

I tend to the lower mileage car even it's older. What do you think?

Option 1 I reckon for the lower mileage. Two years doesn't mean much on a car that's 8 or 10 years old.

Well mileage doesn't tell the whole story, it might not have travelled as far but where those miles were done could be important, if for instance, those lower miles were done in heavy traffic the car would've spent a lot of time running and going nowhere,probably a lot of short trips, it would've spent a lot of time at idle leading to carbon build up, glazed and lipped bores. This is why trucks, tractors etc have hour meters, it gives a better indication of actual use.

The higer mileage car might've been mainly used for long country drives, and as such would have more wear and tear on the suspension and such like.

The fact that the low mileage car has no service history, may mean that the poor thing rarely got serviced.
Where as the "full service history" may not be all that kosher, back in my motor trade days in wasn't unknown for some of the less scrupulous, opperators to have had a couple of bogus stamps made up for the purpose of stamping the empty spaces in service book histories, thereby fabricating a "full service history".

Factors such as mileage and service histories are best taken into consideration as indicators, they are no replacement for healthy scepticisum and a thougher inspection.

TB?
Throttle body or timing belt?



Personally I'd go for the lower mileage.

Option 1 only if you are prepared to pay the extra to have a full service including the belt. My MGF falls in to Option 2 and has not given me any serious surprises. I realise that this is the family car you are looking for so how long do you plan to keep it?

R

Option 2, everythings done and its ready to go, without spending a penny, with option 1 the first thing you have to do after handing over the money is put it straight into a garage to spend more money and time on it. I know thi sall too well, bought a VVC with HGF 2 weeks ago and still havent even driven it yet as its still not repaired.

talkingcars wrote: TB? Throttle body or timing belt?

timing belt & water pump

Blow-in wrote: ...so how long do you plan to keep it?

over the last years I only purchased quite unpopular cars as Chevrolet, Hyundai (or MG ) - never paid more than £2000.00
and drove them for at least three years / 50k mls. I usually went for the 'lower mileage option'.

Id go option 2 as long as the full history included all documentation such as old service and repair receipts and mots etc ... I just dont trust cars with fully stamped book but with no paper work to prove.

me personally I keep every recipt for any thing I do to the car in its service pack just to back up everything I say when and iff I come to sell it..

option 1 with low millage sounds good but with no history I wouldnt even entertain this idea.

I was lucky when I bought mine it had 34k on the clock , full documented history and cam belt , water pump and upgraded head gasket all done

Well both have there good points. No service history. Well if I sold mine it would have no service history BUT it has all been done