What's a reasonable mileage?

[tomd]

I'm looking at buying a second hand Ford Focus, and obviously the mileage affects the price I pay for one. I'm looking at the T-51 (1999-2001) range, so what kind of mileage should I expect on a car of this age? What would be unusually low or high? Is there an amount of mileage I should really can expect a Focus to reasonably last?

I saw on a second hand car show (some late night cable TV) that you should really expect around 8000 miles per year for a used car, but most of the ones I've seen are higher than this.

I probably won't be using it for much, (I live, work & shop fairly locally, and probably drive 300 mile round motorway trip to see family once a month). If it makes a difference I'm looking mainly at diesel models, because I've always preferred diesel cars.

[Ethel]

The AA says that 9000 miles per year is the average for domestic use.

Think carefully about the diesel car - they are economic for high mileage useage, less so for low mileage.

However, diesel engines do tend to have a much longer life that petrol, and even 90,000 miles would not be considered 'high mileage' for a diesel car.

Mileage is not the only consideration - it would be better to have a higher mileage car that has been well maintained and looked after than a lower mileage car that has been run into the ground without proper servicing.

My car is a year 2000, and has done less than 20,000. That is exceptionally low. For a petrol car, over 90000 would be considered high.

[Orangesauce1]

Hiya, I have a 1999 Golf Gt TDI, almost 90,000 on the clock and as new! As Ethal said Diesels are still breaking in at 90,000.

Besides I would say 12k a year is average in a car! its easily done. Look at the servicing and history and the body work too to make sure there is no erosion

Check Glasses Guide to for the price with the milage they are really good

[tomd]

Thanks very much for your responses so far - you mention 90k would not be considered 'high' milage - as an upper bracket, hoping to get a few years of trouble-free use out of it, what kind of mileage would you avoid? Where would you expect them to be nearing the end of their hassle-free lifespan?

[Orangesauce1]

My friends diesel has done around 160k and still passes MOT first time! so it depends on what you are happy with!

Keep it serviced and it will keep running like a dream

[Ethel]

Even at 150,000 miles a diesel engine should still have a lot of life left in it.

The trouble is everything else has done 150,000. Wear and tear on everything from exhaust to axles to drivers seat and pedals.

You need to get out there and look at a few. Keep an open mind, don't buy the first one that appeals, unless it is exactly what you want and in good order.

Take a friend with you when you go to buy - hopefully one who knows what to look for. Even if s/he doesn't, there will be a witness to what is said, anda voice of reason.


Next time you get an 'older' private hire car - have a look at the mileage. Don't be surprised if it's well over 300,000.

[vehelpfulguy]

There are LOADS of s/h Focus on the market, after all it is one of the top selling cars.

Dont take the first one you see, and make sure the mileage is genuine.

Look at service history or MOT certificates to check the mileage for each year.

[tomd]

Thanks for your input, (obviously apart from Ward~Minter, but it's good to see you've got intellegent comments to make as well; although I would assume that the best-selling car on the market probably is fairly decent).

There are a few near me on Autotrader around the �2,700 - 3,000 mark, most of which have the milage around 10-14k.

By "private hire" car you mean taxi/minicab right, not a hire car?

How would I go about making sure the milage is genuine? What are common signs of it being tampered with?

[Ethel]

tomd - the easiest way to check the mileage is genuine is to scrutinise the previous mot certificates - if they are available.

Mileage is recorded on these and should show a fairly regular increase in mileage each year.

Look at the pedals - are they particularly worn? Is the driver's seat 'sagging and tired'? These can be signals of excessively high mileage.