Buying VERY Low Mileage Cars

[Dave]

Does anyone forsee any issues with buying a 5 year old RS with only 5,ooo miles on it?

It has had services at 6months, 2 years and 4 years. No cambelt done yet. It hasnt been specifically stored it just genuinely hasnt been used much and kept garaged.


Thanks

 

[Leeshez]

It should be ok. When you start it up from cold check for blue smoke Also look for accident damage, I.E different shades of colour ETC.

 

[_Kenny_]

jesus 5k miles in 5 years? How much is it?
If it has been run kind of regularly on short journeys it should be fine

 

[Dave]

I'm happy that the car is genuine backed by documents. Im just worried about mechanical problems.

 

[Clart]

I'd personally rather pay less and get ones thats used regularly

 

[Ali]

mine was 3.5 yrs old and had only dun 11k miles?? It's mint.

 

[Dave]

thats slightly better compared with 5 years and 5.5k mate!

 

[Craig]

my 53 plate 172 mk2 only had 6000 miles on it when i bought it a few months ago.

 

[Rich]

I only do about 2K a year in mine, so it will only have 5-6 k on it when I come and sell. Brought my last car (306) with only 4K on the clock at 3 years old and that was fine.

 

[Dave]

What about shocks and stuff like that? Whats likely to need replacing?

 

[R20 CWH]

id get a report on its condition then that should help with your fears

 

[172 Dave]

hmmm low miles ....... prefer them used probably got honed barrells, check v carefully for smoke if thats been used for short short runs them there barrells aint seen much other than fresh petrol lubing through them!

 

[Dave]

honed barrels?!

 

[172 Dave]

Honing is a final finishing operation conducted on a surface, typically of an inside cylinder, such as of an car engine block. Str8 from the book i add!
Basically if it hasnt been run in properly you can end up with odd tolerances in the block, the car should be run in by the book or you can end up with the scenario where at 70-80 mph or more you will get a droning noise from the car, this can be where the pistons aint sitting sweetly up n down the barrells as the car has only ever been used on slow runs. its commonly known as honing.

 

[Dave]

How much to fix?

 

[Mondial172]

I only do about 2500 a year too. Only because I only really use my car at weekends and never go away in Britain. Maybe the odd trip to the south coast or bluewater. I don't drive it too work and when I do I car share with a mate so we do half and half. Other times I take L/T because parking in croydon is very expensive. Plus it would get keyed!

Had my VTR 3 years and did 18500 but my life has changed since then.

I'm thinking of selling it at the moment but wouldn't ask silly money because of the low miles.

 

[rwaterman]

A couple of cars prior to owning my 182 I had an AXGT it was a J plate 1991 I think?? it had only covered 18000 miles it was absolutely mint I had no problems with anything for the time I owned it...

Rob.

 

[172 Dave]

Just something worth looking for, i bought a 16v golf Mk2 which had 17k on it at 8 yrs old dont think it had ever seen 4k revs when it got to 85 ish it droned all day long to the point of insanity!
If it smokes run away!