[Closed] Would you buy a 10yr old car with 11k on the clock.

I got a 7 yr old 10k car.

Had no problems, but first thing you do is rpelace the tyres if they are originals - the rubber wont be in very good nick after 10 yrs even if the tread is deep as an ocean.

Still should have had all the relevant services and cambelt changes etc

Or it's gone round the clock and started again!

I suspect the only real 'damage' is that the engine hasn't had a proper run in/bed and proper run throughout it's life...suspect the ECU will be needing a reprogram and the engine will probably need a decent few runs to help it 'pick up'...probably also needing it's fluids changed/flushed as well.

Just my thoughts...I'm a complete luddite when it comes to cars...

I inherited an old cortina off my uncle, the tyres where a bit cracked, the brakes didnt brake the first time i went out, the oil need changing and so did all the fluids, and because it had been put back into a garage after wet runs it rusted quite fast, but i was so grateful to him for giving it to me, did quite a lot more miles in it.

After getting it serviced run it in gently, before you do lots of motorwy miklles, then give it a bit of a rag to clean out the engine after putting redex in the tank, best done late at night due to the smoke content.

I don't know if the same sort of thing happens with modern cars- motorbikes tend to be a bit stoneaged- but a mate bought a 5000 mile, 10-year-old bike that wouldn't run properly. "Just old fuel", he said. Eventually I opened up the engine and the cylinder walls were just blocks of rust. No idea how the water got in but it didn't get back out. Stuff like that would concern me... Mechanical things unused like to corrode and seize.

No idea why an ECU would need reprogramming just because the mileage is low?

I'd avoid it like the plague. Engines need to be run regularly and for long enough to reach their optimum operating temperature. With such low mileage it's likely that the car's only been used for short runs which means it's never really reached this temperature.

At start up, especially with low ambient temperatures the engine needs to run rich and there's a danger that unburnt fuel will enter the cylinders diluting the engine oil, reducing it's lubricating properties and accelerating wear.

To offset this risk the car should have had the oil and filter changed much more frequently, which I doubt will have been the case.

If you buy it, take it for a full service including timing belt straight away, unless there's a receipt for it being done very recently. And definitely check the tyres, cos originals will have perished most likely.

Once bought and serviced and new tyres, take it on a long drive, warm it up thoroughly then give it a good thrashing once everything is up to temperature. Would suggest a good long drive for sure, back country blast for a couple of hours should bed the brakes in, and make sure the engine is in tip top condition.

Depends on the price, how does it drive? I had a belter of a car once, 24k at 23 years old. I put 25k on it before someone crashed into it and didn't need anything special done to it other than oil change it, swap out all the tyres and drive it.

On the other hand I've bought a 10yr old low mileage motorbike that promptly blew lots of engine oil seals once it had a few thrashes.

So long as it drives ok, isn't a bucket of rust, and is attractively priced, go for it. Just don't pay a premium for the low mileage.

Put it in reverse with a brick on the accelerator pedal like in off of Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Seems tidy, not driven it yet. Well priced too, I initially though it was a typo on the mileage.

There's low mileage and cars that have done so little that you potentially get all the problems detailed ^^^. Depends on how the mileage was accumulated - a nice run in the countryside every Sunday will obviously be considerably better than a car that has done a couple of miles to the shops and back every day.

Could be a bargain if you get it checked properly (assuming you can't do it yourself) and factor in the cost of a service and parts as required.

My old man had to have his dashboard on his Focus replaced by Ford which reset the mileage. He's only got the relevant Ford documentation now showing the real mileage of the engine. I'm assuming owner can verify genuine low mileage?

If the car has been sitting unused/unstarted for a period of time, imvhe it's worth avoiding.

Personally I don't worry about the ageing of timing belts or tyres (Michelin Alpin) but do change fuel hoses regularly.

I would take a hard look at pedal rubbers, seat condition, tyres (which should be original) and service parperwork (do British MOTs have the mileage on them?).