Mileage or year - which would shade it for you?

smalltalker

I'm looking for a Ford C-Max and have had my eye on these two:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus-C-Max/C-MAX-ZE/713258611767650/advert?channel=CARS

and

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus-C-Max/1.6-acti/413258390008920/advert?channel=CARS

The first is 04 and has 25,000 miles on the clock; the second is 06 with a more "honest" 68k miles.

Assuming I know nothing about cars and have very little leeway in differentiating between them, other than plain common sense in terms of service history etc. (which is the case) - would you be swayed more by the miles or the extra couple of years?

My priority is something to hang on to for as long as possible, doing approx 5k miles per year.

Any comments or suggestions very welcome!

CharlieCroker

You do very little miles so the higher mileage car wouldn't frighten me off. The 06 is also better spec, as far as I can tell the 04 isn't actually a zetec at all, just an Lx with aircon (most likely an import but don't quote me) where as the Activ was an Irish spec that replaced Zetec. Has things like alloys, front fogs, rear tinted windows, nicer seat trim, trip computer and a few other bits.

If the 06 checks out with your mechanic and has a good warranty, that's where i'd put my money

smalltalker

Thanks for the info, very interesting - hard to dig this sort of information up independently, so I appreciate it!

bazz26

I'd go with which ever one of the two is in the best condition and has been looked after, ie regular services with receipts. 68k miles on a 6 year old car is not high mileage so I would not leave that be the reason to disgard it.

The thing with alot of low mileage cars is that their owner's seem to think because they are not used that much that they don't need an oil/filter change or service that regularly. The same oil sitting in the engine for 2 or 3 years can spell trouble for the next owner.

BTW the first one does look like a Zetec as it has it written on the bottom right corner of the boot lid. Strange that it doesn't have front fog lights though, could indicate that they were not standard at the time or the front bumper was replaced at some stage and they didn't replace them due to cost.

CharlieCroker

bazz26 wrote: »

BTW the first one does look like a Zetec as it has it written on the bottom right corner of the boot lid. Strange that it doesn't have front fog lights though, could indicate that they were not standard at the time or the front bumper was replaced at some stage and they didn't replace them due to cost.

A €15 badge is a lot cheaper than a €1500 upgrade!!!

VinnyTGM

As Bazz said I wouldn't make my decision based on the miles or the year of the car, what is more important is the service history of the car and the general condition of the car. Sometimes it can be very evident when a car has been mistreated.

Also, 25,000 miles on an eight year old car is very low.

bazz26

CharlieCroker wrote: »

A €15 badge is a lot cheaper than a €1500 upgrade!!!

Why would they bother on the likes of a C-Max though.

colm_mcm

The cartell check says its a zetec, weird theres no alloys either

smalltalker

Thanks again for the advice and interesting conspiracy theories... well, the 06 is now gone so I guess that "proves" which was the better deal

There is a gap of 3 years in the SH of the 04 (not sure of mileage done but obviously can't have been much). Has a couple of tiny parking dings on the back, nothing I'd be bothered about. I'm not put off yet...

166man

3 year gap in service history? :eek: Walk away I'd say, plenty more out there to choose from anyway.

smalltalker

166man wrote: »

3 year gap in service history? :eek: Walk away I'd say, plenty more out there to choose from anyway.

Is that really unusual in Ireland? I'm surprised! The way some people seem to treat cars I thought it would be a common enough occurence... Can that really store up hidden problems for a subsequent buyer though, if it's been serviced several times since?

Max Power1

166man wrote: »

3 year gap in service history? :eek: Walk away I'd say, plenty more out there to choose from anyway.

You wont be able to buy many cars in ireland with that attitude

darragh_haven

Max Power1 wrote: »

You wont be able to buy many cars in ireland with that attitude

Backing you upt here. There are loads of people that do the regular service on their own cars (oil, filter, etc) and it wont have the dealer stamp. I change the timing belt and kit on my VW golf..... so there hasnt been a dealer (or their stamp) near my car for 3 years:D

smalltalker

In fairness to 166man, this is not a car whose history suggests a competent owner!

Rang the garage that did the service after the 3 year gap, whaddya know, full body repair on the passenger side door. Although the woman on the phone said it was €1600 worth of a repair which "isn't that much because that's expensive work" :eek: News to me as I have been driving a Mk III Golf worth less than that for the past 6 years!

Waiting for the dealer to send OH the cartell report, but I am spooked.

Going to have a look at this tomorrow, WISH I had more time to make a decision but can't rattle around in my auntie's 97 polo for much longer

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Citroen/Xsara-Picasso/1.6-I-SX/213231618767050/advert?channel=CARS

questionquick

darragh_haven wrote: »

Backing you upt here. There are loads of people that do the regular service on their own cars (oil, filter, etc) and it wont have the dealer stamp. I change the timing belt and kit on my VW golf..... so there hasnt been a dealer (or their stamp) near my car for 3 years:D

You could make your your own stamp.. put your name on it.. Next owner would love it. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shiny-S-884-Self-Inking-Character-Height/dp/B003KGABY6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326908351&sr=8-1

Gumbo

darragh_haven wrote: »

Backing you upt here. There are loads of people that do the regular service on their own cars (oil, filter, etc) and it wont have the dealer stamp. I change the timing belt and kit on my VW golf..... so there hasnt been a dealer (or their stamp) near my car for 3 years:D

thats not a problem, but at least write it into the service book and stick the receipts for the parts in the leather wallet