Car buying – mileage versus age versus spec? – Page 2 – Chat Forum

ade · 2010-12-12T20:22:05Z

It's sadly time to sell the Alfa before it costs me any more money in repairing it, so I'm car shopping. So far a Focus with a 1.8 TDCI seemed like the best bet for practicality, economy and niceness to drive. My friendly local mechanic was pretty positive about their reliability too, which was a big tick. I want to spend about 6-7k, so i found a couple of decent ones locally and drove one yesterday. Then my used car dealer brother offered me a new shape 2007 Mondeo with the 2.0 diesel, nice colour, all the toys and the right price. BUT... it's got 108k miles on it. Normally I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole, but firstly my brother would have to put up with a lot of grief from me if it turned out to be a dog and secondly, I drove it for 40 minutes yesterday and you really couldn't tell it had big mileage. The outside was mint - no stonechips or dings, the interior was almost perfect apart from the right side of the seat where it was a little worn. The engine revved freely, the gearbox was crisp and snappy and there were no worrying noises. It's been serviced at the right intervals too (about every 4 months, by my reckoning!). All in all, way nicer than the Focus. I'm really torn - I'm petrified that I could be looking at silly bills on it, but as it's pretty much sat on a motorway for its life, logic says it's had a relatively easy time of all those miles. Do you have any experience of cars that have done lots of miles in a short period? Anything to look out for? Or would I be a fool to even consider it?

ade

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@fruitbat The cynic in me can't help but wonder what kind of country mansion that would be if you weren't running four Alfas?!

Four cam belts... four sets of lambda sensors... four rolls bars... sixteen coil packs...

Posted : 14/12/2010 8:32 am

fruitbat

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Actually there's just 3 Alfas and the Fiat Bravo is a Motability leased car.

The 166 is a V6, so just 6 coil packs for it!

I do all the work myself so costs are not that crazy really !! 😆

Posted : 14/12/2010 7:17 pm

chakaping

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Very slight thread hijack - I'm also looking at getting a new-shape Mondeo estate. Probably the 2.0 petrol in my case.

The cars I want are about £9k and 22k miles - so how much should I expect to barter down?

Paying cash, not loan. 52-plate Mondeo hatch to possibly trade in with 72k miles.

Posted : 14/12/2010 7:49 pm

Surf-Mat

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Fruitbat - running three Alfas makes the username "Fruitloop" more appropriate.

Posted : 14/12/2010 8:23 pm

carlosg

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I've now got a petrol MG ZT-T which is probably the best car I've owned

Credibility FAIL!

I also own a variation of the same car albeit in diesel Rover 75 tourer form , Ultra reliable BMW diesel engine does mid 50's mpg fully loaded on a run only losing 2mpg with a 400litre roofbox. It's got good quality full leather interior ,dual zone climate control ,heated seats and plenty of space in the back for storage IMO it's a great family car at a very good price .

Who cares what the fashion police think ! the same people probably mock those on cheap bikes too.
ZT-T
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/mg/zt-t/postcode/s91ej/radius/1501/quicksearch/true/page/1/sort/pricedesc?gquery=used%20cars%20MG%20ZT-T
Rover 75 tourer
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/rover/75/postcode/s91ej/radius/1501/body-type/estate/page/1/sort/pricedesc?gquery=used%20cars%20ROVER%2075

Posted : 14/12/2010 8:38 pm

nbt

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chakaping - Member

<snip> 52-plate Mondeo hatch to possibly trade in with 72k miles.

whatever they offer you, see if Crazy legs can match it 😉

Posted : 14/12/2010 8:47 pm

chakaping

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Sorry, did I miss something nbt?

Posted : 14/12/2010 8:54 pm

nbt

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Crazy legs wrote his car off last week and is looking for a replacement. He did post further up this thread : http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/car-buying-mileage-versus-age-versus-spec#post-2092345

Posted : 14/12/2010 9:13 pm

hora

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A pistonheader once told me he regularly ran skoda superbs on his fleet passed 200k and they were serviced on the dot.

With everything that needed replacing due to use and wear.

108k is approaching the renewal of bits stage. At what point does owning a nice but expensive to run alfa cost the same as a depreciating, costing shitbox out of warrant ford? False economy.

Posted : 15/12/2010 8:04 am

chakaping

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nbt - aha, will certainly stick it on classifieds when time comes!

Posted : 15/12/2010 11:29 am

Wozza

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We've got a 140k 51 plate 330d Touring. Came with FSH and every receipt since 2002, feels a very good car.

I think if you buy something well made in the first place that's been well looked after you should be fine.

Posted : 15/12/2010 12:39 pm

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