Second hand Diesel Milage?

lastlaugh

Hi,

I'm looking at getting a '04/'05 Galaxay/Sharon and ideally would like to keep for the next 5yrs or more.

If it had it's timing belt done, had a service history, was in good condition and was good to drive, what would be the max milage you would accept on one?

Or is the milage not as important on a Diesel compared to a petrol engine.

On a good looked after Diesel, how many miles could you get out of one reliably or is that like the piece of string question?!

Cheers

challengemaster

There's a rather stupid thing in Ireland where people won't look at a car if it has >100k miles on it.

Go by the quality of the car and not the milage though, if it's looked after well it could have 300k miles on it and still be fine

mbiking123

How many miles would you expect to do in the next 5 years ?

Yes a diesel engine last longer in theory anyway, however alot of the components are the same as for a petrol car. Need to consider brake pads replacement, alternator replacement, alternator belt etc.

heate

They all share the 1.9 TDI pumps Duse engine which if properly maintained will do serious mileage.
It's worthwhile to consider that you are buying a family car that was expensive to purchase in the first place so it wouldn't be unreasonable to maybe assume that it will have been maintained and not thrashed as no boy racer would be seen in one!

vectra

Have a '01 Toledo and it has 190k miles on it. Going away fine.
Will always have oil and filter done at 5k miles.Whatever about anything else

George Dalton

When looking at a car of that age recent history (last 2 years or so) is far more important than mileage or main dealer service stamps from 2006 or 2007.

By history I mean proper detailed invoices not just service stamps, all a stamp proves is that the oil was changed, which despite what some people think is only a small part of car maintenance. Most modern engines will do massive mileage without any issues. It is the rest of the car that wears out so this is where you need to concentate on. The Galaxy/Sharan/Alhambra is a big heavy machine and is hard on brakes, steering and suspension parts. I would personally be looking for evidence of brake disc and pad changes, maybe wishbone bushes, anti roll bar links and bushes, track rods and ends, tyres, alignment, something that shows that the car was properly and regularly maintained. Mileage is a secondary consideration. To give you an example, I recently serviced 2 of these that are on our books. Both are reasonably clean and straight. One is a 03 with 160k miles on it that gets serviced on time and properly by ourselves. It didn't need much apart from an oil change and a pair of tyres. The other is a 04 with 98k on it, on the face of it a better proposition. But it hadn't been serviced in almost 2 years so when it came in it needed 4 tyres, all the fluids and filters, rear discs and pads, exhaust rear silencer, front anti roll bar links and bushes and 2 inner tie rods. The dual mass flywheel in the lower mileage car is also getting noisy whereas it has already been replaced in the other one.

So if those 2 cars were for sale a month ago (before the work was done) and you based your choice on mileage without looking at history you would have picked the wrong car.

So my advice is take each car on its merits and don't rule any car in or out purely because of mileage.

lastlaugh

George Dalton wrote: »

When looking at a car of that age recent history (last 2 years or so) is far more important than mileage or main dealer service stamps from 2006 or 2007.

By history I mean proper detailed invoices not just service stamps, all a stamp proves is that the oil was changed, which despite what some people think is only a small part of car maintenance. Most modern engines will do massive mileage without any issues. It is the rest of the car that wears out so this is where you need to concentate on. The Galaxy/Sharan/Alhambra is a big heavy machine and is hard on brakes, steering and suspension parts. I would personally be looking for evidence of brake disc and pad changes, maybe wishbone bushes, anti roll bar links and bushes, track rods and ends, tyres, alignment, something that shows that the car was properly and regularly maintained. Mileage is a secondary consideration. To give you an example, I recently serviced 2 of these that are on our books. Both are reasonably clean and straight. One is a 03 with 160k miles on it that gets serviced on time and properly by ourselves. It didn't need much apart from an oil change and a pair of tyres. The other is a 04 with 98k on it, on the face of it a better proposition. But it hadn't been serviced in almost 2 years so when it came in it needed 4 tyres, all the fluids and filters, rear discs and pads, exhaust rear silencer, front anti roll bar links and bushes and 2 inner tie rods. The dual mass flywheel in the lower mileage car is also getting noisy whereas it has already been replaced in the other one.

So if those 2 cars were for sale a month ago (before the work was done) and you based your choice on mileage without looking at history you would have picked the wrong car.

So my advice is take each car on its merits and don't rule any car in or out purely because of mileage.

That is the kind of advice I was looking for, thanks a lot. I'll look closer at the recent service history rather than mileage alone, thanks again.

lastlaugh

mbiking123 wrote: »

How many miles would you expect to do in the next 5 years ?

Yes a diesel engine last longer in theory anyway, however alot of the components are the same as for a petrol car. Need to consider brake pads replacement, alternator replacement, alternator belt etc.

Not that many, we have done about 25k miles in the last 5 years in the Scenic, I don't commute in it so it would mainly be for getting the kids around and stuff...

keithclancy

lastlaugh wrote: »

Not that many, we have done about 25k miles in the last 5 years in the Scenic, I don't commute in it so it would mainly be for getting the kids around and stuff...

I'd expect at least 100,000km, anything less and it's weird.

Diesels get wrecked from short runs, a well maintained one can last for at least 500,000km

As long as the price is right and the papers are in order i'd buy a 5 year old Diesel with 150k on it no bother.

On the other hand I wouldn't touch a 5 year old diesel with 50k on it as the flywheel is probably on the way out, or turbo is on its last legs from all the short runs, or its been clocked.

I know a few people that have made the mistake of getting a Diesel for short runs (and Cheap Tax) and have at least run into the problem of DPF Regeneration.

Nissan doctor

^^agreed.

@lastlaugh, if you've only done 25k in 5 years then your not in the market for a diesel. For only 5k a year the fuel savings will be very small, if buying pre 08, there will be no tax savings, and maintenance issues on low mileage/use diesels can very quickly and easily cancel any small savings made on daily running costs. especially when the mileage is mostly school runs/shopping etc. 1 replacement dual mass flywheel/clutch could cancel out a year or more's fuel savings!


I agree 100% with George about taking the condition and history of each vehicle into account more then mileage, but the truth is the vast majority of people don't take mechanics or anyone knowledgeable with them when buying a used car and wouldn't know a car with worn suspension/brake parts from one without as they will have very little experience of driving different cars. So these people will just listen to the spiel of the sales guys and will automatically assume that lower mileage is better.