Should I be afraid of cars with high mileage?
The odometer reading does not determine the condition of the vehicle. Various factors also matter, because kilometers are not everything.
A car's high mileage is hardly ever a source of pride for a salesperson, unless the car has a record number of miles and if it's in good condition, it can really be admired. Such situations, however, are extremely rare, and the mileage record holders are already such cars that are more suitable for museum collections than for everyday use. In addition, their prices are also record-breaking.
Despite the fact that, as experts emphasize, the odometer reading is not a determining factor in the condition of the car, high mileage is not something that could inspire a potential buyer. So there are those who try to prevent a used car buyer from knowing the real odometer reading. An electronic record is not a hindrance, because specialists in "mileage correction" can change it so that it can only be detected after a thorough check of all elements of the car in which this information is recorded during operation. Hiding the actual mileage often goes even further to get rid of other traces that the car has traveled much more than it currently has on the odometer. A worn and badly worn driver's seat gives way to another, but in much better condition, as well as the steering wheel and gearbox cover. In place of the bare metal pads on the pedals, there are also worn rubber pads, but to a much lesser extent. These are just a few of the many ways to follow the tracks after long miles.
Used car buyers don't hit the blind either and know how and where to look for any signs of mileage fraud. They want his confirmation. No one will be misled by the fact that five years ago the car was inspected at an official service station with a mileage of 80 km, then the owner drove to other service stations, and now there are only 000 km on the odometer. As for the statement that the mileage is so low, because an elderly man occasionally drove the car. Everyone knows that in this case there is always a long line of close relatives or good friends waiting for a sale to buy such cars. Sellers also understand this very well, and if they already explain it with a low mileage of the car, then there is a chance to believe it.
On the other hand, is it really necessary to avoid high mileage cars at all costs? Is every car that has already traveled 200-300 thousand kilometers suitable only for scrap metal? The mileage of the car certainly affects its technical condition, for example, due to the progressive wear of various components, but the end result is the resultant of the various components.
The car consists of many nodes and in general a huge number of parts. Their durability depends on various factors. There are those that work reliably even after many years, and there are those that wear out after several or several thousand kilometers. Proper operation does not only include the periodic replacement of certain materials and parts. It also includes repairs that occur not only as a result of excessive wear, but also due to various random events. Repairs performed according to the manufacturer's technology means that the interacting parts can continue to function reliably for a long time. On the other hand, repair, which consists only in replacing the damaged element with a new one, restores the operation of the device and is relatively cheap. However, it carries a high risk that it will soon fail again due to damage to another element with a degree of wear similar to the rest of the part, except for the replaced one.
Accurately documented history of inspections and repairs makes it easy to assess the level of vehicle reliability. If some key components have already been replaced in a high mileage car, it is likely that they will last longer than those installed in a new low mileage car.
The general condition of the car is also affected by the driving style of the driver, the conditions in which the vehicle is operated and how the owner treats it.
A well-maintained car, properly maintained and repaired, even with high mileage, can be in much better condition than one that has been driven for far fewer miles but has been started and serviced haphazardly.
Record mileage:
The highest mileage passenger car currently is a 1800 Volvo P1966 owned by American Irving Gordon. In 2013, the Swedish classic scored 3 million miles on the odometer, or 4 kilometers.
The 240 Mercedes-Benz 1976D takes second place in terms of the number of kilometers traveled. Its Greek owner, Gregorios Sachinidis, drove it for 4 km before handing it over to the Mercedes Museum in Germany.
Another record holder is the famous 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, owned by a resident of California (USA) Albert Klein. For thirty years, the car covered a distance of 2 km.
