UKC

I've seen a few older Audi estates with around 200k on them for around 600 pounds.

What's the kind of milage when one should start to think twice about buying them assuming they've been well looked after?

Thanks,

Tim

In reply to Timmd:

Whichever way you look at it, 600 quid isn't going to buy you a lot of trouble free miles before your next bill, unless you get really lucky, a punt is what it is, good luck.

In reply to The Mystery Toad:
It's a (hopefully not so) long distance in the future I'm thinking of. My dad recently gave his old 1996 A6 estate with around 130k on the clock to my childhood friend form nextdoor, he's going to have a baby soon so I can't really grumble, but I half had my eye on it for after I pass. It's never missed a beat and is only worth around £600 or so, which is why I'm wondering about milage.

Something large and scuffable is what I'm thinking about, as my house needs doing up, and I keep seeing things in skips which I could reuse or maybe take for scrap money (after asking first).

(I did add some text?)

In reply to Timmd:

Well if you know it's history you may be ok, 200k isn't a lot of miles really, what tends to write these things off is when you get a bill for example say it needs springs and dampers, plus a few bushings all round to get it through the next test, or 4 tyres and brakes, or a clutch and timing belt, etc, and the bill comes close to the value of the car so people chop them in and buy something newer as they don't think it's worth the money. From what I know of vag group cars in the right hands 350k is a realistic target.

In reply to The Mystery Toad:
I see, no, I don't know it's history as it's just been given to my childhood friend from next door. Nevermind!

I'm not averse to spending on bushings and dampers, and springs and things, as you're going to have to eventually is my thinking, it's more I'm wondering how many miles is too many to be even worth considering.

Food for thought, thanks.

In reply to Timmd:

If its been reasonably well looked after in servicing terms it could go forever. I've a 1999 diesel A4 and its barely broken in at 150k.

At £600 it could be money in the bank - and if it blows up after 6 months what have you lost?!

Suilven

In reply to Timmd:
All cars will cost money to run and with older cars you have to put your head in a different place from newer cars.

Every so often, you will have to spend as much as the car is worth. If done wisely then you end up with a car that will pass the next MoT and do a lot more miles before the next big billing. If you take the alternative path of just buying another banger then you are buying somebody else's problems.

If you can get hold of the emission readings from the last two MoT then there are some good indicators there for engine life. If the car has passed everything by a reasonable margin, especially HC, then it is a good sign.

All rubber parts whether wipers or bushes or tyres or hoses need replaced regularly. Hoses may start to give problems after 6 to 8 years. Original maker's suspension bushes last a long time but if replaced by cheaper stuff may fail again in 2 to 4 years.

No compromise is worth taking on timing belts (best plan is a car with chains!). A good make of belt is always worth it because the labour is the main cost.

Batteries last maybe only 4 years for aftermarket types. So after four years, you need to be suspicious of any charging problems. It can be the alternator but batteries have a far shorter life. If you ignore the elderly battery's problems then keeping it all going will also kill the alternator.

Starters and starter rings are a pain in the neck. If by any strange chance the clutch is also showing signs of age then this is the time to kill two birds with one stone. On most cars, all this can be done cheaper at the same time. New clutch kit plus secondhand flywheel and secondhand starter.

Even main dealers are usually rubbish at electronics. Check the internet for info. Consider using an experience specialist

The internet is a fantastic source of information about car repair. Almost every make of car and type of fault is covered by a website somewhere.

If your car, having survived 100,000 miles and several MoT test already without completely falling apart, keeps breaking then there are two things most likely to be causing problems. The person who is driving it and the person who is fixing it. Consider anger management training (useful in both cases!).

In reply to Jim Fraser:
That's very informative, thanks. I'm currently trying to transition from the bank of mum and dad to the bank of me, so any information like that is very helpful.

In reply to Timmd:

if you get 12 months trouble free driving for 600 quid its worth it, when it breaks down scrap it and buy a new £600 car, its the cheapest form of motoring

In reply to Jim Fraser:

effing great reply , cheers

In reply to Timmd:

Bought my 1.9 tdi A4 less than two years ago with 180k and now up to 227k In that time I've changed tires (to be expected in close to 50k) couple of oil changes, approx £150 in total for its mot (bushes) and recently changed the rear pads.The previous owner also knocked £200 of the sale price to cover the cost of a new timing belt which was overdue.

Pretty sure the car has an original clutch which feels close to the end of its life but then it felt like that two years ago when I bought the car so who knows how much life is left in it.

My long term average mpg (not reset since I bought the car) is 50.9. Jump on the motorway and switch the cruise on at 70mph and after an hour or so given dry roads its settled around 57mpg and it still has the smoothest ride and slickest gear changes of any car I've owned till we bought my wife a nearly new A3 (and I still prefer mine except it smells of dogs and climbing shoes not new leather. Honestly couldn't be more impressed.

In reply to Timmd:

I've had 3 cars in 27 years.

First was a Peugeot 505 estate, petrol. I took if from 11k miles at 15 months to 250,000 at 13 years. It was still a good runner when I sold it and I saw it around for a couple of years after that.

Then I had a Volvo V70 estate, petrol, for 9 years. Took if from 70k to 245,000 before parking it in the loading bay of a Transit van on the M25.

Had a BMW 525 Tourer, deisel, now for 6 years, taking it from 81 k miles to 212,000. This one's been the least reliable of all and I've had to spend out on a new clutch and dual mass flywheel, plus just now for a new inlet manifold. Decided that's the last major spend I'll make on it and looking for a replacement soon.

Either I've been very lucky or (relatively) modern cars will do a lot of mileage if serviced regularly. I don't drive sedately at all, but I do have them serviced regularly and replace stuff (filters, belts etc) when they become due.

In reply to Timmd:

If its a diesel then I think its a better bet than a petrol engined car. They usually last a bit longer. The Audi 1.9D engines are very well tried and tested for many more miles than that, mines a W reg A6 estate and has 186k on the clock. The engine is fine, the rust the running gear (brakes/shocks etc) will probably fail before the engine. But as everybody has said its a bet, weigh up the odds and decide. Seems a fair ish bet.

In reply to nbonnett:

Don't think buying a new car is a good idea if you are cash strapped but having said that... I bought my Nissan Almera 12 years ago, was new at the time - don't remember what I paid but wouldn't have been more than 7-8K. It's never broken down in 12 years and it might even be worth £1000 or bit more today - I fail to see how spending £600 on a really old car every year is cheaper or better!