Used car. Should I be afraid of cars with high mileage?
For many people looking for a used car, high mileage is enough to turn down a potentially interesting car. Is a low mileage in a used car a guarantee of its good technical condition and is it worth being afraid of big cars?
It's no secret that many used cars on the Polish market are de-metered. In addition to the honesty of sellers, the market situation encourages manipulation. The reason is simple - buyers want to buy cars with the lowest mileage as cheaply as possible, counting on their good condition and - in the future - trouble-free operation. Is this line of reasoning correct?
Let's start with the fact that the course is uneven. The optimal operating conditions of the car are long, confident driving over long distances. Compared to operation in city traffic, there are fewer engine starts, less time for its “cold” operation. Fewer shifts will prolong clutch life, and not having to constantly turn the handlebars will result in less rim wear. In the case of a frequently used vehicle, verification of its use by previous owners is not possible. Cars with high mileage - let's say that it is more than 300 thousand. km - the vast majority of them were regularly serviced. Therefore, it is very important when checking the instance of interest to us to analyze its service history. It may turn out that the car, despite the unattractive cost indicated by the odometer, has the mentioned key and expensive components, which means that it may be more attractive than its counterpart with lower mileage, which these defects are still waiting for. Of course, mechanics is just one of the aspects that you need to pay attention to. Long highway trips can leave a lot of spray on the front end, and heavy city use can be identified by worn door hinges, a worn driver's seat, and a worn steering wheel and shift lever.
On the other hand, low mileage does not always mean no investment and should not always be taken as a guarantee of uptime. One of the most important considerations in this case is fluid change intervals. The fact is that the car passes, for example, 2-3 thousand kilometers a year. km, does not mean that the oil does not need to be changed. And many users, unfortunately, forget about it. As a result, after checking the service history, it may turn out that the oil has been changed every few years. Another question is how the car is stored. Ideally, it should be in a dry garage. Worse, if he has been parking “in the cloud” for months or years, for example, in front of an apartment building. In the case of such a vehicle, it may be that the chassis is corroded and the tires, brakes and battery should be replaced immediately.
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In any case, the most important thing (and, unfortunately, often the most difficult) is to carefully check the technical condition and check the service history. In the case of servicing the car at an authorized service station, this, as a rule, will not be difficult. Worse, when we are not sure of the authenticity of the documentation for the car - after all, dealers know how to forge service books. Suspicions should arise because of the same seals, signatures or handwriting. In times of huge popularity of detailing, it's pretty easy to get caught on the counter after a fix - especially for people who buy with their eyes. A washed, fragrant interior, a shiny paintwork or a washed engine, in addition to delight, should also cause alertness. A frequently used procedure - replacing or covering the steering wheel with new leather - in this case, one should proceed from excessive wear of the previous one - it is necessary to compare this fact with the meter reading of the car being viewed.
See also: How to take care of your tires?
One of the key elements that must be completed before purchase is an inspection visit to an authorized service station for this brand, chosen by us and not by the seller. If the seller does not agree to such a check, it is better to forget about his offer. We must also remember that this spending of a few hundred zlotys will benefit us in the long run. This can save us even more repair costs and give a fairly reliable estimate of the actual technical condition of the car.
There is no universal answer to the question of which is better - a car with low or high mileage. In each of these cases, you can find a good copy and one that will require considerable investment. Always check the information that sellers provide us, and in case of doubt, consult with specialists.
