Why the obsession with low mileage?

JonW

JonW

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3,262
I suspect I’m the same as most, in that I would rather buy a car with fewer miles on it. For example, if there was one car with 50k miles, and another with 30k, then I would prefer the lower mileage car... this obviously assumes both cars have reasonably similar history.

The question then is how much more is the lower mileage car worth, and this is where I think sometimes the UK market is a bit silly, and either overprices low mileage or unfairly penalises good cars with higher mileage. This can lead to there being some real bargains out there, especially now that the engineering is so much better and lots of cars can do 200k+ if well looked after
 
V

Vince2

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192
If you keep your Maserati for 5 or 6 years and put loads of miles on it, the value MAY reduce say £5k more than a little used equivalent.
So what? It means you've enjoyed your passion and it cost you a grand a year. What else do you work for? Call it payback on all the work hours you put in.
I'd be devastated if I sold my car with low miles.
 
D Walker

D Walker

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9,827
Mines quite simple. I bought it to drive when I want to. The fact it had low miles is more a coincidence of it being the right colour. Hence it cost me more as was low miles. I drive it when I want but has to be a reason to get it out and enjoy it. I’ve done nearly 4000 miles in 2 years.
 
IanU

IanU

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rockits said:
I am not afraid of mileage at all and bought a fantastic condition XC90 V8 off the 1st owner at 9 years old and 190k miles. I had it 3 years sold it for what I paid for it and it never went wrong. Put a set of tyres and discs/pads on and 3 services. Brilliant car and purchase/sale.
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I've got a 54 plate XC90 - had it from new - currently 303k miles on it. It appreciates every time I fill it up, and then depreciates by roughly the same amount until I fill it up again. It's fair to say I think I've got my moneys worth out of it :p. It's been pretty much bomb proof.
Buy it to drive it I say ...
 
rockits

rockits

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9,172
Vince2 said:
If you keep your Maserati for 5 or 6 years and put loads of miles on it, the value MAY reduce say £5k more than a little used equivalent.
So what? It means you've enjoyed your passion and it cost you a grand a year. What else do you work for? Call it payback on all the work hours you put in.
I'd be devastated if I sold my car with low miles.
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I do agree but it depends on the car and market. As we all know....the market for a Maserati is small. The market for a mid miles Maserati is smaller and the market for a high miles Maserati is tiny. There in lies the issue.

It is not a case of only being able to sell it cheaper it is if you can sell it at all. You will do but at a much lower price than you may hope.

We have seen many higher miles Maserati's when not quite cheap enough although still cheap have been on the market for years not days, weeks or months.

I prefer to be sitting on cars that I could liquidise fairly quickly if I so needed.

I couldn't put any more miles on my 4200 anyway really as don't do enough driving and have other cars to put miles on that matter less and also are more suited to some journeys.
 
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Lozzer

Lozzer

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14k in the 32 over the last 2 and a bit years has knocked it up to 86k, don't suppose I need bother about it now ;)
 
safrane

safrane

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16,880
Interesting thread.

My fist 4200 had 72k on it in 2011 when I sold it (a late 2003 reg car). It was slated by many on here when they saw the advert despite it having a full MD and Specialist history, serviced annualy and three clutches...Sold for just under £13k back in May 2011.

Did more in that car than any of the subsequent 4200s, GS as I was not too bothered about the miles.

Current GS has been used too sparingly to keep the miles down and I often feel that the trips in the car are not worth it as I think about the miles rather than enjoying it.

So in summary £10k spent on depreciation in the first Maser, and the second has lost 0...but I think the £2k pa drop was worth every penny.
 
daverichardson

daverichardson

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6,001
I was thinking my next car would probably be my last due to my incredible age and so was looking for a low mileage one that would 'see me oui'
Lately though I am being tempted to just keep my QP!
Quandary - I am no longer good at making any sort of decision but that's another story...................
 
Wanderer

Wanderer

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5,791
So what do you say to yourself when you sell your garage queen? Wish I'd have not driven it more?
 
rockits

rockits

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Wanderer said:
So what do you say to yourself when you sell your garage queen? Wish I'd have not driven it more?
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It doesn't bother me or worry me about not driving it as much as I could now. It actually makes it more of an event also more special when I do use and drive it for this reason. So no bad thing really. In the 2nd year it did start to bother me but after adding a couple of other cars I also want to drive it now is not an issue. No regrets in buying it and also no regrets in not using it more.
 
whereskeith

whereskeith

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821
I just used my car whenever I could ... you never know what the future holds so I wanted to enjoy it.
If you have a collection it’s easier to manage miles, but most people don’t.
It does make it easier over here because the climate is better, no putting away for winter and no salt on the roads.
Hopefully soon I can bring the Datsun over
 
D Walker

D Walker

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9,827
Wanderer said:
So what do you say to yourself when you sell your garage queen? Wish I'd have not driven it more?
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What do they say, better to have loved and lost, than never having loved, btw, us Maserat owners arent unique, a guy where I store mine has 3 Porsche stored, one of them has only left storage for servicing and mot’s in the last 4 years. Admittedly it has 200k on clock tho. And, there 9 empty spaces that people are paying £100 a month for.......yep that’s correct, they are paying for empty space, fresh air....
 
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