• Looking for a smarter way to manage your heating this winter? We’ve been testing the new Aqara Radiator Thermostat W600 to see how quiet, accurate and easy it is to use around the home. Click here read our review.

Old cars with low milage

C

Coaster

Joined
1 Feb 2005
Messages
491
Reaction score
12
Location
Tyne and Wear
Country
United Kingdom
I've read online about older cars with low milage being a problem.
Such as stagnant fluids, perished tyres and rubber seals. Rusty brake discs

I have seen 2 cars advertised online
Both 17 plates so pushing 9 years old. One has 11k on the clock and the other 30k .bone of them has an expired road tax over a few months so I guess it hasn't moved for a while.
Before I take a look at these cars is there visible signs of trouble if I poke about under the bonnet with a torch?
Not sure if there's internal stuff I won't be able to see. I don't know if they've been left outdoors and exposed to the elements more either

Also more importantly, is it worth looking at these cars?
 
My disabled wife's garage kept Suzuki is 10yrs old from new and has not covered anywhere near 10K miles yet, but I can assure you the vehicle is kept in excellent condition with everything replaced/serviced as and when needed. What cars are you considering so that the forum can enlighten you of any problems known to members?
 
'17 plate .... old?
Anything in the old MOT's or renewal failure to indicate an issue? Service history schedule?
Message / talk to the Sellers. Get the story.
Do some online research on common faults if any, but go and look, do a pre MOT check where possible, and some basic inspection tasks.
Do you have any diagnostic software for these vehicles? A friend who could help?
Wear and tear works both ways, but don't be put off but assuming the worst is a natural starting point.

Last car Mercedes W124 300CE Coupe, 1994
Current VW Golf GT TDi 2002
Current vans 1999 VW T4 Transporter 2.5TDi
 
Last edited:
I would say that if a car is old - over 15 or 20 years old - and still legally giving reliable service, it must have been maintained to quite a good standard. But naturally there will be some components on a car of that age that will be degrading (rubber seals, as mentioned) and may need servicing or replacement in the near future.

If you're the sort of person who worries about possible maintenance on an old car, especially if you would have to pay someone to do most of it, maybe old cars aren't for you.
 
It's worth looking at the common faults that may affect the cars in question - ecoboost, wet belt, seemingly lots of Stellantis stuff at the moment.

Often it's particular engines, gear boxes (especially computerised automatics) and electrical items (fancy display screens).

My car is 15 years old and no rubber related issues (I did have a 12 year old astra with a lot of rubber failure - 3 coolant hoses and a turbo hose in 3 years, again this particular issue for this car was well documented online) - just a few minor electrical gremlins and a bit more "consumables" replacement eg suspension stuff and brake calipers in addition to the usual tyres, discs and pads. Other than consumables I'd struggle to list 10 things in the car that have failed since it left the factory.
 
Things like perished tyres and brake discs wouldn't bother me at all, but if they are auto transmission then you need to get a test drive with the car nice and hot. Check for clean oil and coolant, you could need a timing belt. Expect the paint to be poor if the car has been left outside without attention.
John
 
Bought a 10 year old Volvo with 30k on it and a 12year old Honda Jazz with 28k on it both were fine and eventually sold on easily with the low milage .
 
If they haven't already got one then ask sellers to get an MOT done or make the sale subject to you getting one done.
 
Mechanicals and consumables are (relatively) simple to address.
And also simple to judge when it is not worth chucking more money and effort at them.

With older cars, it is often the rust that does for them in the end and, it is more tricky to draw a line under further expense and effort at addressing it.
 
Coaster said:
Before I take a look at these cars is there visible signs of trouble if I poke about under the bonnet with a torch?
Not sure if there's internal stuff I won't be able to see. I don't know if they've been left outdoors and exposed to the elements more either

Also more importantly, is it worth looking at these cars?
Click to expand...

There is a ton of information online about how to assess second hand cars so I suggest you do some homework.

There are also lots of helpful YouTube channels.

The cars will be worth looking at once you have some understanding of basic car checks and how to test drive a car. There's no point looking at them until you've got that.

Also, you have to research individual car models for known issues.
 
My I interject at this point about engine wear? If everything checks out okay, take it for a run to reach full engine temperature and then gun it in 2nd gear on a straight road section and watch the rear-view mirror for any tale-tale smoke as soon as you remove your foot from the accelerator. It's not a cast-in-stone diagnostic, but is usually a good indicator of bore and/or valve guide wear. Also, a few mins of tick over and again blip the accelerator and watch the tail pipe (y)
 
Scally-Ho said:
My I interject at this point about engine wear? If everything checks out okay, take it for a run to reach full engine temperature and then gun it in 2nd gear on a straight road section and watch the rear-view mirror for any tale-tale smoke as soon as you remove your foot from the accelerator. It's not a cast-in-stone diagnostic, but is usually a good indicator of bore and/or valve guide wear. Also, a few mins of tick over and again blip the accelerator and watch the tail pipe (y)
Click to expand...

I would add that the smoke you're looking for in your test is blue which is obviously a sign of wear. However, if it's a diesel it's normal to get some black smoke at the beginning of a low gear thrash/Italian tune up. This normally greatly reduces or disappears after a couple of hard accelerations to clear out the soot.
 
Scally-Ho said:
My disabled wife's garage kept Suzuki is 10yrs old from new and has not covered anywhere near 10K miles yet, but I can assure you the vehicle is kept in excellent condition with everything replaced/serviced as and when needed. What cars are you considering so that the forum can enlighten you of any problems known to members?
Click to expand...
thyre both Honda Jazz's.
I have been looking at common faults on the jazz and just going to have a look at the mot stuff now thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Thoughts/opinions on a car i bought..
Replies
7
Views
946
Keithmac
K
Back
Top