Buying a car - old mileage discrepancy

[beefcake]

Hi guys

I'm looking at buying a 28 year old car and have ran a car check and had this back (see image) ...I was just wondering if you guys would be put off by this? 

[grizz]

I would put it to the seller.

And ask to see the V5c as it shows how many previous regitrred owners

It may have had a new speedo fitted (unlikely) etc erc etc.

Ultimately

If it feels wrong, walk away.

Whats the worst that can happen??

Your money stays safely in your pocket and you get a second chance at spending it.

One could or should also expose sellers like that if you feel a moral obligation

Hope that helps.

Certainly you will get all different responses and opinions

[hotfuzz]

I think it depends of a number of factors.

1. Is the current owner the same owner as the original discrepancy in the mileage, in which case they could possibly explain/prove why there is a discrepancy, possibly a new speedo?

2. Are there other documents with the vehicle which may indicate the MOT chap recorded the incorrect mileage (Highly unlikely)

3. Clearly the car hasn’t been used for several years, is there a reason for this?

4. I think it also depends on the car, how much it is and if you like it and if you really care?

5. Is the owner Ferris Bueller?

[OGDB]

I think it all comes down to what the car is, how much it is and other contributing factors.

I have bought things with mileage issues in the past and I probably would again as long as the price was right and it was something I wanted.

You have to remember that now you’re in a buying position it has put you on the fence. When you come to sell someone will do exactly the same as you are now, it may prove troublesome to sell, it may reduce resale value and these things need to be considered.

I suppose this mileage discrepancy will not show on an mot history check? So it may be they know fully well what the case is or are totally unaware. It certainly needs to be pointed out to the seller. I looked at a fairly new Range Rover recently and it has a large mileage drop on the history. When I raised the issue with the seller he made a remark to the tone of “yes it has been wound back, and what of it?”. Thank you very much but I will buy else where.

Let us know what you decide.

[Dez]

People really need to loose this obsession with mileage when buying cars. Especially with anything over 5 years old.

Mileage is no indicator of condition. I can show you cars the same age, one with 75k that’s a wreck, and one with 300k that’s faultless.

Buy on condition not mileage.

[Midland Performance & Retro]

Mistakes happen all the time on these recorded mileages as well. Input errors are common, also the DVLA or whoever can collect data on cars via main dealers when they're booked in for servicing or other work. Sometimes a dealer will book a vehicle in without knowing the mileage, but would have to enter a figure. Now they could either guess the mileage, put an average in or something generic like 30000 or 111111 or 123456 etc. That raised a job card or whatever is required on their system, then it can be amended when the car comes in, but data may be sent off before this happens, so a discrepancy can be picked up.

That's only one of many scenarios which could lead to a discrepancy on the system.

But for 99% of 28 year old cars, I wouldn't be too bothered. If the car is good and priced accordingly, I can't see what difference it makes.

[Olddorg_Workshop]

what does mot history say?

[beefcake]

Thanks everyone for the responses so far, I don't have much experience buying cars so its really appreciated!

Checked out the MOT history and it backs up what the seller was saying (previous owner had it off the road for a few years and undertook a major renovation - it shows underneath to be fair)

[keithyboy]

Apr 18, 2019 11:39:07 GMT Dez said:

People really need to loose this obsession with mileage when buying cars. Especially with anything over 5 years old.

Mileage is no indicator of condition. I can show you cars the same age, one with 75k that’s a wreck, and one with 300k that’s faultless.

Buy on condition not mileage.

This every time.

My last 4 cars had racked up 600k between them and with all of them, the only issues have been to do with age rather than mileage.

I did buy one once with a mileage discrepancy that I only discovered after I bought it. It somehow managed to lose a few thousand miles between a failed MoT and a retest. It went from 87k to 81k or something like that. As I was really happy with it, I tried not to let it keep me awake at night.

The only caveat is that if it's something valuable it might make it hard to move on.

[melle]

I don't give a f*ck about mileage.

[andyborris]

I'd only ever buy on condition, but a mileage discrepancy would make me wonder if the car was "bent" in some way.

Guess it all depends on how much money you stand to lose....

[colnerov]

Hi, If it's had a major renovation then mileage is irrelevant.

Colin

[roccoguy]

I've had so many different sets of clocks in my polo that the mileage must be up and down like a yoyo on the mot history.


The only time I pay any attention to the mileage, is to see how over due the cam belt change that my daily isn't going to get is.

[rblote]

The whole mileage thing would not worry me to much. On average ( as I understand) 9000 mile per year is a normal thing. That
times 28 years...gives you 252.000 miles
A 28 year old "machine" even not used at all will need some work. Hoses, belts, fluids etc need replacing.
If you like the car, just get it.

[metalshapes]

Mileage on a 28 year old car doesn't mean much.

When I look at a car to buy it, I don't even glance at it.

( but to be honest, when I look at a car its probably a lot older and if it even has an engine I'm planning to put a bigger one in... )

[igor]

Is it possible that it went around the clock and the 42,000 is actually 142,000? Probably not given that it didn't have an mot for five years but worth consideration. Condition of other things like driver's seat, carpets and pedal rubbers may give some indication. Still not a huge mileage on a twenty-eight year old car. My own and my wife's cars are both twenty-nine years old with far higher mileage than that (295,943 km + 15 months daily use including a few long road trips with the odo not working and 437,900 odd km respectively) and they still go alright.

[MkX]

Apr 18, 2019 11:39:07 GMT Dez said:

People really need to loose this obsession with mileage when buying cars. Especially with anything over 5 years old.

Mileage is no indicator of condition. I can show you cars the same age, one with 75k that’s a wreck, and one with 300k that’s faultless.

Buy on condition not mileage.

This really does depend upon the make and era, for example some Alfa Romeos used balsa wood for main bearings and would be lucky to get anywhere near 75K miles whereas 300K is nicely run in for some of the VAG diesels or Volvo engines.

As people have pointed out above, it could have received a replacement (scrapyard) speedo - it does happen.

My Dad has had mileage entered incorrectly on an old MOT which provides an anomalous reading within his MOT history but it wouldn't have been entered incorrectly for several years on the trot.

Service history can be very helpful where available, is any available?

If someone in the past has done an Arfur Daley and added value by subtracting miles then it's possible that all sort of other botched jobs were carried out to save money, i.e. concealing problems rather than remedying them.

Is it a £300 banger or a £15K investment? If you're spending a lot of money and there are concerns, look elsewhere.

[60six]

Apr 18, 2019 14:32:43 GMT melle said:

I don't give a f*ck about mileage.

High Mileage cars are always top of my list - You even get that 'running on borrowed time feeling' as I had with my 900 - Whiney fourth gear. This lasted 10 years and as I expected to blow the gearbox up everyday it wasn't a surprise when it did, about 10 mins after this picture on a strong pull in fourth *KABOOM!* - AA bloke was lost as 'gearbox failure' was not on his tablet ...

[astranaut]

I prefer high mileage, as thenfella that does my work says it didnt get that high without being looked after. If it's a run of the mill car, it doesn't bother me. I tend to be a cars last owner anyway...

[sarkie83]

When I bought my motorbike the guy selling it had it listed as spares or repair because there was a mileage discrepancy (clocks switched from km’s-> miles and a confused mot between it being done).
However the condition was amazing - I still get people commenting on how good it looks/must have been looked after.