which is best

[larkie1066]

is it better to buy a car that is younger but has more miles on the clock or a car with less miles but is older ?

[Grunty]

I am not an expert in these matters, but I think most of the wear in an engine is while it is being started up from cold. So a car that does two miles a day going to work and back would be more worn for the mileage. Police cars for example are sold at high mileage, but they have rarely cooled down, and have been well maintained.

[MORELLO]

I bought a young one with low miles. Result.

[admarlow]

depends on the make of car, if its a quality one (i.e. BMW , Merc ) then high miles don't matter

[Catso]

Expanding on Grunty's answer: if it has high miles, but with a full service history, then the high mileage isn't really a problem. Cars are designed and made to do this. No service history - be careful!

[Toureman]

Taking a broad view and depending on time range............

A younger car with high mileage will have better specifications and be more economical.

An older car with low mileage will have lower specifications and be less economical.

[Rock'n'Roll]

If you don't want it as a status symbol,then,if you have a friend who knows owt about cars,look for a banger for a couple of hundred quid with a good MOT,and keep changing it. Other alternative is to get one as new as possible with a service history,personally I would shy away from those about 6yr old costing around �6.000