Used car. Should you be afraid of cars with high mileage?
It's no secret that many used vehicles on the Polish market have their odometers rolled back. Aside from the honesty of sellers, the market situation encourages manipulation. The reason is simple - buyers want to buy cars with the lowest mileage as cheaply as possible, counting on their good condition and - in the future - trouble-free operation. Is this line of reasoning correct?
Let's start with the fact that the mileage is uneven. The optimal conditions for the car's operation are a long, steady drive on a long journey. Compared to operation in urban traffic - the number of engine starts is lower, and the time of its "cold" operation is also shortened. Fewer gear changes will cause the clutch to last longer, and no need to constantly turn the steering wheel will cause less wear on its rim. In the case of a used car, it is impossible to verify how it was used by previous owners. Cars with high mileage - let's assume that it is over 300,000. km - in the vast majority, they were properly serviced. That is why it is very important to analyze its service history when checking the item we are interested in. It may turn out that the car, despite the uninspiring value indicated by the odometer, has key and expensive components replaced and thus may be more attractive than its counterpart with a lower mileage, which these faults are yet to come. Of course, the mechanics are just one of the aspects that you need to pay attention to. Long highway runs can leave a lot of chipping on the front of the body, and intensive urban use can be recognized by worn door hinges, a worn driver's seat, or a worn steering wheel and gear lever.
On the other hand, low mileage does not always mean no expenditure and should not always be treated as a guarantee of trouble-free operation. One of the most important issues to pay attention to in this case is the intervals for replacing operating fluids. The fact that the car covers, for example, 2-3 thousand kilometers a year km does not mean that you do not need to change the oil in it. And many users, unfortunately, forget about it. As a result, after verifying the service history, it may turn out that the oil was changed every few years. Another doubt is how to store the car. It's best to keep it in a dry garage. Worse, if for months or years he parked "under a cloud", e.g. under a block of flats. In the case of such a car, it may turn out that the chassis is corroded, and the tires, brakes and battery are suitable for immediate replacement.
Editors recommend:
Driving license. Changes in recording examsHow to drive a car with a turbocharger? Smog. New fee for drivers
In any case, the most important (and unfortunately, often the most difficult) is to thoroughly verify the technical condition and check the service history. In the case of servicing the car at the Dealership, it will usually not be difficult. Worse, when we are not sure of the authenticity of the vehicle documentation - after all, dealers are proficient in counterfeiting service books. Suspicions should arouse the same stamps, signatures or handwriting. In times of great popularity of detailing, it is quite easy to fall for the odometer after the correction - especially this applies to people "buying with their eyes". A washed, fragrant interior, glossy paintwork or a washed engine, apart from admiration, should also arouse caution. A frequently used procedure is the replacement or covering of the steering wheel with a new leather - in this case, it should be assumed that the previous one was worn out above average - it is necessary to compare this fact with the state of the odometer of the car being viewed.
See also: How to take care of tires?
One of the key elements that we should do before the purchase is a control visit to an authorized service station of a given brand and chosen by us, not by the seller. If the seller does not agree to such a check, it is better to forget about his offer. We should also remember that this expense of several hundred zlotys will be profitable for us in the long run. It can protect us from even greater repair costs and will give us a fairly reliable assessment of the actual technical condition of the vehicle.
There is no universal answer to the question of whether a car with low or high mileage is better. In each of these cases, you can find a good copy and one that will require considerable investment. Always verify the information provided to us by the sellers, and in case of doubt - consult the experts.
