When Is mileage too high?

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Saltex

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I find it funny clicking on this topic and then coming across the 200 000 km thread right on top, nice coincidence:)

Anyway too lazy to go through that thread to see if I can find an answer I am looking for. So what would you consider too high mileage for a secondhand car purchase?

I've been looking at car models starting from 2006 and starting with mileage from about 60k with a full service history etc. but seeing as my budget could get something a bit better but with a higher mileage of 100k I dunno if it is worth me taking that extra bit of risk, cause when I think 100k mileage I just see it as alot, or am i just seeing it as alot because it is just a number but in car terms it can be considered ok?
 
At 200,000 a Land Cruiser is just getting going.
 
A 2006 car at over a 100000km is not going to have the safety net of a warranty or maintenance plan. Too risky for me... Those third party warranties for older cars are just not good enough, from what I've heard.
 
Depends. VW/Toyota with 100k is still new, Renault with 100k is old.
 
Entirely dependent on the car and how well it's been maintained.

As has been said, 200 000 on some cars is nothing, whereas 100k on others is already too much.

Rule of thumb is that if you do a low annual mileage, there is nothing wrong with buying a relatively high mileage, well maintained car. If you do anything approaching 20 000 km per year try and keep as far under 100 000 as possible.

It's not necessarily the engine that is going to give trouble, but all of the other bits and pieces that take a hammering with mileage.

Buyer of a high miler ( over 100 000) beware.
 
As other have said, depends on the vehicle.

One should also take the mileage into consideration on your budget. I cannot understand how somebody can buy a vehicle with say 200,000 km on the clock and then expect everything to run like clock work. For some vehicle it may but for others it just will not.

If you buy a high mileage vehicle (depends on type) you have to budget for repairs which will eventually crop up.
 
Very much vehicle dependant. I would not buy an Opel with more than 50,000km on the clock despite mine having more than 4 times that. The reason is I cannot be sure how well it was taken care of and they can be a mechanical nightmare if not handled with care.
 
It all depends on the car, the age and how it was driven.

I don't particularly like the newer cars. (2004+) Most manufactures built them to only make it to the 100 000km warranty and then break so they can sell a new car. There are exceptions to this.
Do your homework on the vehicle you are interested in and see what people are having issues with and what it will cost to have it repaired and maintained.
 
Yeah what a dilemma. Brand new Fiesta or a 7 series BMW nearing the end of its service plan. Its like picking between a golf cart and a tank. Logic says Fiesta. Heart says 5.0 V8 BMW + credit card = win
 
4567319 said:
Yeah what a dilemma. Brand new Fiesta or a 7 series BMW nearing the end of its service plan. Its like picking between a golf cart and a tank. Logic says Fiesta. Heart says 5.0 V8 BMW + credit card = win
Click to expand...

Problem with the buying BMW is that when it starts going wrong you'll have to pay for the Fiesta anyway in spare parts;)
 
ScottulusMaximus said:
Problem with the buying BMW is that when it starts going wrong you'll have to pay for the Fiesta anyway in spare parts;)
Click to expand...

This is true. I sold my Merc E320 at 200 000km because a new car was much cheaper than the frequent repairs.

I'd say rather get something new or a demo model if you do high mileage. If you do low mileage I wouldn't go much higher than 80 000km. In that case the warranty and/or motorplan will probably expire before you hit the max km's anyway.
 
'00 Renault Megane with 275k km still going good :) So it all depends on the car and your luck
 
What year was your E320? I have a 1994 - but service costs to get it in good running order have been hellishly expensive. I'll keep the car for another year or two and then sell it.

But I have to ask, if you sold your E320 because the service costs were too high, what makes you think an old 7 series BMW will be any different?

If you can see a FSH for the car, and know it has been looked after, then maybe. Read a lot of reviews of that model and year first. However, in most cases, I would stay away.
 
Another factor to consider is if a car did 90% high driving as opposed to 90% stop, start, speed hump driving in town the one that did it's milage on the highway will be a better buy. But you will only know this if you personally knew the previous owner...
 
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