Is Mileage or Year more important when I have a budget?

[TheNinja]

Let's say I have a budget of like $15k. I could get a 2003 with 45k miles on it or a 2010 with 110k miles for example. Which do you think is more important overall the age of the vehicle or the mileage?

 

[vi edit]

The other constraint is class/type of car. If I can't find value in a particular segment maybe re-evaluate sizing needs and go down a size.

Right now I can buy a brand new pretty well loaded Focus for $15,000. If I need to haul 6 people that's not obviously going to work. But if it's just me and another person or two on occasion then maybe it'll be fine instead of getting something bigger like a Camry.

It's too hard to answer the question as you phrased it. Too many variables. Most important one is how many miles will *you* be putting on it. If you are only doing 5,000 miles a year then a higher milage vehicle isn't as big a deal. If you are doing 20,000 miles a year then I would lean to the lower milage car since it's that much longer before you get into the high priced maint items.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I'd always prefer the newer higher mileage car in that situation. Main reason being that rubber items wear regardless of mileage. You're definitely looking at needing weather seal, radiator hoses, power steering hoses, bushings, etc in the near future.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Depends how well serviced the higher mileage one was. Also what kind of miles... Highway/city/county gravel/winter/ etc.
Really depends. I might buy a car with 300000km on it this Thursday, but it looks like it will be in better shape than the car I bought with 100000km.

as vi said. Too many variables.

rust always my concern with older cars.

 

[desy]

Older, condition and care is the most important, new with high mileage is usually a pretty good bet as technology is better and if they racked up that many miles its typically highway easy miles.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

If you live where they salt the roads it's usually better to get newer.

 

[TheNinja]

Well my wife put on 1500 miles last year. No, I didn't forget a 0, it's 1500. However I'm having a third kid so I'll start to use it a little more often. My other vehicle is a car that holds 5 people though. This new one would be a SUV or minivan that doesn't get used a lot except for trips.

No salt in Northern California. I'm looking at Toyota Sequoia right now, but it's still $17k for 43k miles 2003 4x4 model with leather.

 

[vi edit]

1500 a year? No question, get as new as you can at the cost of milage. Better tech, safety, chance of finding parts longer. Ect.

 

[SearchMaster]

Yeah, no kidding. If it has 110K now, then in 10 years it'll have 125K

Hell I work from home and put 1500 miles on my car in a month and a half. When I was commuting, that was about 3 weeks worth.

 

[TheNinja]

Thanks guys. Ya, we'll put more on the new vehicle than the 1500 she puts on now b/c we'll start to use it more with more kids. But in general we take the car everywhere b/c it's cheaper to drive, easier to park, and we don't need all the extra room.

I think maybe newer is better. I'd be hesitant to buy a 10 year old car for $17k even though it only has 43k miles on it.

 

[smackababy]

I'd say they are equally important barring any models that had bad years. You want the newest car with the fewest miles. I'd probably sacrifice year before miles, but depending on budget and what you want in the car, that can be difficult.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Well my wife put on 1500 miles last year. No, I didn't forget a 0, it's 1500. However I'm having a third kid so I'll start to use it a little more often. My other vehicle is a car that holds 5 people though. This new one would be a SUV or minivan that doesn't get used a lot except for trips.

No salt in Northern California. I'm looking at Toyota Sequoia right now, but it's still $17k for 43k miles 2003 4x4 model with leather.

I see no point in putting alot of money into a car that is used so little. Buy a well taken care of high mileage car, like an older Tahoe. My neighbor bought an 04 Tahoe a few years ago that was immaculately taken care of by the previous owner, and he loves it. You get all the utility, and since it's driven so little, gas mileage doesnt matter.

 

[kitatech]

Miles or year...or miles per year....I look for 12-14k per year as the sweet spot for city/hwy combined....