Ideal age / mileage

[jberks]

Posted this before but it got sidetracked.
Whilst driving in this morning I was thinking. I got the car with 17,000 miles on it. Now, at 35,000 she somehow feels smoother and more enthusiastic that she did just a few months ago. Even the suspension has lost some of it's stiffness and feels more comfortable. As I do 25k pa, I'm paranoid that I'm wearing the car out faster than I can afford to pay for it, and would expect to change before the psycological 100k barrier, but in reality, maybe this is just daft.

I felt the same with my E240. A little of the idle smoothness had perhaps gone by 60k but once rolling, she was livelier and smoother than when I'd first picked her up.

I had a new Audi A3 Turbo, but for a few weeks first, they lent me a used one. The used one was great, real fun, revvy, chuckable etc. Then the new one arrived and was a disappointment. A bit harsh, lumbering, not as eager to rev etc. Traded back in 3 years later with 15k on the clock I couldn't help feeling that it's best days were still a few years off and I'd been a mug to let go so soon.

It got me thinking that whilst most of us look for a car with as close to 0 miles as we can afford, in reality perhaps the best cars actually have 60k on them already.

So, at what mileage is a car at it's best?
(and yes I know there's no real answert to this one - just a bit of banter!)

 

[Retired]

I think you may well be right about the engine not giving of its best until a few miles have been racked up. My nervousness about ‘higher’ mileage cars isn’t to do with major drive train components it centres more on suspension, brakes, catalytic converters, MAF and especially digital electronic items. These seem more prone to failure and cost considerable sums to repair / replace.

 

[Blobcat]

IMHO it depends on what you want the car for and how many miles you are likely to be covering in it. If you are unlikely to break 10K p.a. then a higher mileage car will be better as it is nicely run in and you are unlikely to put mega miles on it. If like you and I are, covering ~30,000 p.a then we really need a low mileage car to start with as we will be doing the running in (and mega miles).
My E320cdi was just 2 yrs old with 17,000 miles on when I bought it. The first owner whilst taking a massive hit on depreciation had not even run in the car. I cannot remember exactly when mine started running right but now with 110K on it runs perfectly.
I am in the flat part of the bathtub curve, but again like you wonder when that will change. As seen in some of the threads recently low mileage is doing more damage as the car is not getting up to running temperature. Exhaust and breaking systems are rusting out, gearboxes have failed and engines have coked up.
There is still the perception that a 5 yr old car with 30,000 miles is a better buy than one of the same age with 80-100,000 miles. I wonder which would be cheaper to run for another 2 yrs and 30,000 miles?

 

[shj]

This question is a bit like the "how long is a piece of string" question, some cars I've owned were at their best before they had any recorded milage!
However my 95 E320 coupe with 104000 runs and feels better than a lot of brand new cars I've had (long may that continue)
Simon

 

[angus falconer]

My nervousness about ‘higher’ mileage cars isn’t to do with major drive train components it centres more on suspension, brakes, catalytic converters, MAF and especially digital electronic items. These seem more prone to failure and cost considerable sums to repair / replace.

Quite....on my last C43 I replaced MAF and crank sensor. On my latest I have replaced MAF, crank sensor, starter relay and brake light switch.

Supension at 62,000 miles feels like new - good news.

I am planning for the cats sometime soon.......

 

[angus falconer]

Correction now I have though about this.

ELECTRICS
On my latest C43 I have replaced MAF, crank sensor, starter relay and brake light switch. On my last C43 I replaced MAF, crank sensor, two plug leads and one coil pack.

BRAKES
Disks replaced on this one by previous owner at 45k so plenty life left there, especially if I make sure I don't warp them.....A total of six brake disks on my last one.......four worn out in normal usage, two warped through carelessness - never repeated

SUSPENSION
Supension at 62,000 miles on my latest one feels like - new silent, firm, perfect damping even when loaded up and cranking on which is good news. The last one had a few minor creaks and groans which weren't bad enough to track down but suggested some minor wear. I replaced the lower ball joints on my last one, the previous owned did the same on my latest one.

EXHAUST
I am planning for the cats at some point and toying with the idea of a stainless exhaust[/QUOTE]

 

[television]

Interesting this coming up now. I have just been reading some long term test on MB's in the USA, the mags give the fuel cost over each year along with servicing cost and repairs, and the cars get more economical as the miles go by an SLK here started off in life doing 18.8 mpg and at 45k it was doing 24.8.

malcolm