Would you put Mileage or Age first?

[peterwatkins99]

Hi guys, i'm looking at two boras, and i can't decide. One is 53 Reg with a touch over 100K on the clock, selling for 6k

The other is 2000W reg but has just 71k on it, and is selling for nearly half that price.

Both seem similar inside, both are the 115 SE

For less money and less mileage it seems a no brainer, but I ws wondering what the forum thinks - is it better to get a newer with high mileage or older with less?
thanks

[Col]

Personally I'd go older with less.

But the thing I'd look at more than anything else is condition.

[Apophis]

Hi! It looks like they've been reps' cars (particularly the 53). The W reg might have been a rep's, but after 3 yrs, will have been sold on. The reps' cars are usually very well maintained, after that, you have to trust the service records. Particularly important is the timing belt, it MUST be changed every 60,000 (40,000 is better). As a guide, my Bora sport 150 tdi is a 53, ex rep car. It was £8695 last January. It has done 59,000 miles. So if you know the history of the W reg car, and its service history is well documented, that's a good buy. If you don't, go for the 53.

[Fizzbitt]

Personally i would take the older car with less miles as it will be easier to sell on when the time comes.

As said above, as long as it has full documented history you should be fine.

[golf tdi 02]

age first for me they go way past 200k so not bothered

[MalcQV]

Is a 5 year old car with 50k on better than a 3 year old car with 50k on?

I think it depends on the overall condition, how the car has been looked after, service history etc.

My weekend toy is 24 years old with 47k on. My daily is 4 years old with 57k on. Which one is guaranteed to start in the morning? The daily of course.

[Fizzbitt]

Fair point Malq but i always purchase a car with resale in mind. As in how easy will it be to get rid when the time comes...

Newer car with sky miles is harder to get rid off than a slighter older car with half the miles.

[MalcQV]

Fair point Malq but i always purchase a car with resale in mind. As in how easy will it be to get rid when the time comes...

Newer car with sky miles is harder to get rid off than a slighter older car with half the miles.

Only ever bought a car because I like it. I think of the money as spent and if I get anything back on the car it is a bonus. My last four cars have either just stopped working, been written off or £400 in part ex. I tend to keep them that long they are pretty much worthless when I am done.

[Fizzbitt]

Only ever bought a car because I like it. I think of the money as spent and if I get anything back on the car it is a bonus. My last four cars have either just stopped working, been written off or £400 in part ex. I tend to keep them that long they are pretty much worthless when I am done.

I tend to keep cars for max about 2 years hence the different thought process.

[ini]

If they are in similar condition, i would also go with the older, lower mileage car, as you will never recoup the 3k difference for the slightly younger, higher mileage one.

It does depend slightly on what your annual mileage is, but for a daily driver i would chose the cheaper car.

Mechanically 30k miles is nothing, especially on the 115 engines, which exhibit less engine/injector cam wear than the 130/150 engines.