Views on mileage implications

[JonW]

All

I'm still fairly new to Maserati ownership, but it strikes me that selling these cars is closely linked to mileage.

When do people think the switch happens from low mileage to average to high? Also, is there a point when too low mileage would start to worry you?

For example, I bought my 2012 GTS with approx 28k miles on it. At the time I was pleased it that, thought it was lower than ever age, but not so low that it hadn't been used.

I've done 5k in the last 10 months (bit more than I expected, but it is my daily driver), so am now on 33,500, and am currently thinking I've maybe got two more years. This is based on wanting to sell the car before it gets to 50k, and thinking that if I can point to a spotless service history, etc... then the mileage shouldn't really be an issue.

Thoughts?

 

[CatmanV2]

50k. Above that the cars are worth nothing

C

 

[MrMickS]

50k. Above that the cars are worth nothing

C

Agreed. Though I'd be able to take it off your hands for a small fee once it goes over that, to dispose of it humanely you understand.

 

[JonW]

Agreed. Though I'd be able to take it off your hands for a small fee once it goes over that, to dispose of it humanely you understand.

This is what is great about this forum. Full of people who would do anything to help each other, irrespective of the cost, or personal sacrifice......

 

[allandwf]

A curious UK hangup. Personally I wouldn't buy or pay a premium for low mileage. If resale is a consideration, then avoid one that will hit 20, 40, or any other figure that a potential buyer will use as leverage.

 

[dannywooly]

i wasn't overly concerned when buying mine in June, but i didn't want over 50k on it. First i was looking at a 2008 with 47,000 but it had a lot of mechanical issues. So settled on a 2013 with 13,600. Planning on keeping it for around 6-12 months doing about 500 miles a month so i guess it will still be a low mileage example.

I guess the main thing people see high miles equals potentially high bills on the horizon, well i did anyway. But if the car has had some work done and an inspection shows nothing alarming a 4.7 V8 surely has a life after 50k?

 

[CatmanV2]

This is what is great about this forum. Full of people who would do anything to help each other, irrespective of the cost, or personal sacrifice......

It's the truth isn't it?

It's a really odd thing about the UK market. I get Ewan's (I think it was) point that he likes his cars to look like new cars (particularly inside) but my GT has (I think) 89k on it. The 4200 had over 90k. Still good solid cars, although both had some signs of wear (duh).

I would rather buy a reasonably priced, higher mileage car than a more expensive 'garage queen'

Of course, that's where it all goes wrong, and sellers try and price their 75k cars against 25k cars.....

C

 

[redsonnylee]

Mine had 74k miles when I bought it, it had been to main dealers prior and had a stack of documentation which showed the maintenance this was good enough for me. I had a few years of high bills even £7.5k one year, however they have got lower and lower. This year was £258.00 & am averaging £2.8k which as as expected.

I've never worried about mileage as long as the history stacks up, I bought an M5 a few years ago with 82,000 and sold it with 175,000. If they have been looked after mileage is nothing too worry about, it just means we can get some bargains once they go over 50,000 miles.

 

[JonW]

It's bizarre isn't it, and I agree that some of the German manufacturers don't seem to have anywhere near the same sensitivity to miles. For example, a BMW or a Mercedes with 60k+ would be seen as having loads of life left.

 

[zagatoes30]

I never worry about mileage, I buy cars to drive so expect them to go up. My SZ had 9k on when I bought it 2003, 18 months later it has 22k as it was my daily driver, since then it has slowed and now has 54k. The Spyder had 43k when I bought it and sold just over 3 years later with 63k but with a stack of documents to show regular ongoing maintenance. In my mind this is much more important that low miles.

Strangely my oldest car, the Giulietta, has only 43k from new which is pretty good for a 1982 car but even that doesn't stop me from using it.

 

[CatmanV2]

My Giulietta had 140k on it!

C

 

[Contigo]

I bought my GTS ar 44k miles on it and it is now on 52k miles, it's got better as I've driven it has had the variators done and a new clutch etc... I don't see it as an issue but will no doubt have to price it to sell when I do get rid of it.

 

[beau]

Some people care about mileage, some don't

I don't as mileage really doesn't matter what so ever, hence my 59 plate gts is on 73k and my 58 plate z4 is on 152k

 

[Vampyrebat]

Cars are for driving! As long as they are not too leggy in mileage and the SH is spot on with main dealer or specialist then I don't really have a problem. I bought mine on 58K and now has 63K with a full Maserati history and it feels fresher than some others I tried on 30K!
Condition is a big one for me also, it shows how well the car has been looked after.

 

[safrane]

When I sold my first 4200 with 72k on the clocks back in 2011 it was commented on the Maserati forums as being over the hill; this despite its full Main Dealer and Emblem service history each and eveey 12 months along with a inspection report and latest big service just completed.

Now as more members cars approach similar miles the comments are the polar opposite. ..funny that.

 

[philw696]

They get better with mileage in my opinion certainly quicker than the low mileage show Queen's and as I'm a driver I know what I want.

 

[highlander]

I'm not quite sure where the fascination in the UK re low mileage came from. Does not hold the same power over Europe where condition and history seem to be king, not low mileage.

 

[Felonious Crud]

An unused car which has sat idle will be a right bloody bast4rd, guaranteed. Get one with reasonable use / miles on it. I'd assume anywhere north of 2/3k per year is a minimum.

Mine is a 2009 car now on over 50k miles. I planned on selling pre-40, then pre-50, but the trouble is that I love it too much and nothing else will come close unless I spend 2-4x what I could sell mine for.

 

[Needamaser]

I'm not quite sure where the fascination in the UK re low mileage came from.

I find it interesting new members come on here looking for a car and happy to look at 80k upwards but we will put them off buying because of the mileage.
Whilst we all say the mileage issue should not be a factor, truthfully, what percentage of members here would go and buy a 80k car?
Yes I know there are a few here who have but the majority are dumping their cars before it gets to 50-60k. So are we perpetuating this fallacy?

 

[WLJayne]

From my limited experience, it seems like when I hear people complaining about a high mileage car it's often not because of anything mechanical, it's because of things like a worn driver side seat and such. I would quite happily buy a well sorted higher mileage car if I trust the history, because the money saved would more than pay for a trip to a quality upholsterer. I know that if I re trimmed the driver seat and put in new leather gaiters in my Landy (and indeed I will) I could easily ask another 800 quid for it. Paintwork and leather defects seem to be offer killers, even though they're really not that massive a deal to fix in most cases.

I could be wrong though, and it's probably different for exotics.