High mileage cars

[surrey jim]

Dear NSC

The time has come to update my car to a more family orientated vehicle. I only do 7-10K miles per year and they are typically on short journeys.
I saw a Hyundai I30 online that ticks all the boxes with what I want. The car is a 1.6 diesel, the only problem is it has 122K miles on the clock (car is a 57 plate). The mileage is high but is this a problem on modern cars? It has a full service history etc.

Thanks in advance

 

[carlzeiss]

I have a I30 myself , a 2010 1.4l petrol , not sure if I would touch an example with that high a mileage . Guess it depends on how much you are looking to pay though .
If you are doing 7-10k year a diesel would only save you £180-£250 in fuel pa but repairs to a diesel motor can be expensive .

 

[narly101]

It totally depends on the price, and your budget.

 

[Lincoln Imp]

It has lost nearly all its value so if the price is right I'd consider it for sure, especially as you will be adding a fairly low mileage. 122,000 is between 20 and 25k a year - high but not galactic. If it has a timing belt it should have been changed twice by now, second time fairly recently. Clutch and flywheel might be tired so you do need to test it before buying. There is no reason why a well maintained and sensibly driven diesel engine shouldn't last 200k - you could have seven or eight years of cheap motoring out of this car.

 

[narly101]

I personally wouldn't buy anything second hand that has done more than 60k.

 

[public school boy]

My Selwyn insists that we stick with our old Lada. Loads of miles on the clock by still running. I want to upgrade to Trabant but he just won't listen. He says that he has become too attached to the car as we first made love in it. The back seats still show evidence of all our encounters.

 

[carlzeiss]

The I30 1.6 L diesel is cam chain rather than belt so no worries there . All models seem to suffer from suspension part failures , these though should have addressed under warranty . This forum is worth a look for prospective I30 owners :-


http://www.i30ownersclub.com/forum/

 

[Icy Gull]

Plenty of diesel cars, usually German, are good for very high mileages as long as meticulously maintained. I have no idea if Hyundai's come into that bracket. Audis, Seats, VWs, Skodas should all be good for 200k.

 

[carlzeiss]

Plenty of diesel cars, usually German, are good for very high mileages as long as meticulously maintained. I have no idea if Hyundai's come into that bracket. Audis, Seats, VWs, Skodas should all be good for 200k.

Unfortunately and from experiance I wouldn't place Skoda wag diesels in the same bracket as Hyundai .

 

[Icy Gull]

Unfortunately and from experiance I wouldn't place Skoda wag diesels in the same bracket as Hyundai .

Not clear if that means the Skoda ones are better or worse than the Hyundai?

 

[dougdeep]

As long as it has a full year's MOT and it is clean and the price is right then I'd go for it. The diesel engine has barely been run in.

 

[dennis]

A few years ago we bought a Ford Escort that was just coming up for three years old but had 93000 miles on the clock. It belonged to Seeboard and had been fully serviced etc. we paid £4K for it.
On the way home we passed a Ford dealer and the same cars were £8K but sensible mileage.
We had the car 12 years before it was no more. We didn’t have to spend silly money on it and got £2K scrapage deal on it.
I would recommend that you consider it but take advice from a mechanic if possible.

 

[beorhthelm]

high mileage doesnt mean as much as it used to, but 122k in a 5-6 year old is high in anyones book and will substantially effect the value. so you take a bit of a chance, you should get newer/higher spec for your money if the mileage is that high. i dont know if thats high enough to be a problem in a Hyundai. as said, in VAG, BMW, Mercs thats just getting comfortable.

btw, how do you manage 10k a year on mostly short journies? i reckon thats 27.34 miles a day average.

 

[carlzeiss]

Not clear if that means the Skoda ones are better or worse than the Hyundai?

A 2007 Hyundai U1 diesel is a sound engine but few have yet covered really high mileages and other parts such as clutch , gearbox and suspension seem to have more issues than the Skoda's that I have owned and driven .

 

[Icy Gull]

A 2007 Hyundai U1 diesel is a sound engine but few have yet covered really high mileages and other parts such as clutch , gearbox and suspension seem to have more issues than the Skoda's that I have owned and driven .

My experience of an Audi A4 1.9tdi was a dull but totally reliable experience. I bought at 100K and moved on at 200k and the car is still running sweetly a year on, as my brother now has it.

So I guess I can recommend VAG cars but I have never owned an Asian car so cannot give the OP any advice.

 

[dougdeep]

I found that the best and longest lasting diesel is found in Peugeots. I have a 2 litre 206 and it's never given me any trouble and will do 60 mpg, and I don't dawdle.

 

[JJ McClure]

My Astra diesel hit 194,000 this morning. Three miles later the radiator spang a leak and it over heated. I'm to Halfords at lunch to get some radweld so I can get home.

 

[skipper734]

I found that the best and longest lasting diesel is found in Peugeots. I have a 2 litre 206 and it's never given me any trouble and will do 60 mpg, and I don't dawdle.

The 2 Litre turbo Peugeot/Citroen diesel engine is the best in the world, it's the other bits of the two makes that kill them. A 2000 and 1600 modern version is found in the Citroen/ Peugeot, Fords and others. The actual diesel engine of any make, is the least of any owners troubles.
I've had two, 300.000 miles plus, never had to top up the oil. As I said it's all the other bits. Modern brake discs appear to be made out of chocolate, tyres last longer.

 

[Jello]

my old diesel Alfa had 215K on clock when I traded it in for a newer 110K model. I do 20-25K a year so no point buying low mileage car as it kills the value. Last Alfa I did 170K with relatively little trouble seeing it was an Alfa, serviced regularly and drove mainly motorway miles.

 

[ofco8]

I personally wouldn't buy anything second hand that has done more than 60k.

Oh dear. My 55 plate Crossfire (made by Mercedes) has just gone over 60k. Won't sleep tonight now.