Renault Clio 1.2 with high mileage?

mosi

After some other cars I was looking at turned out to be already sold, I've now been offered first refusal on a 2002 Renault Clio, sourced through a dealer who my family knows well. It has had two owners, was previously sold by the dealer in question and is a good bit cheaper than I had planned to spend. It passed it's NCT last week and sounds like it might be ideal...I'm still on my Learner Permit so am just looking to buy something to get me through my test, and to get me from A to B on short runs around town.
Only thing is...it has 135,000 miles (I'm assuming miles, as opposed to km) on the clock. I'm going to view it this week to see what it's like. However, a friend of mine is adamant that its mileage is too high and that I shouldn't even consider it. From looking at different websites, it seems that there is no real consensus on this and I'm quite confused now. A lot of people say condition, service history etc are more important than mileage. Any thoughts? If all seems good, should I consider it or focus on finding something with a lower mileage?

Mycroft H

Mileage is not too much of a concern. A car that age should be considered on condition. 135,000 miles being high is just pub talk.

For what it's worth, I had a 1.4 version of those Renaults. It's the same engine but just a longer stroke. Never gave any problems and I sold it with 170,000 miles.

Just ensure the basics have been done; timing belt and a service.

Good luck

colm_mcm

How cheap is it?

mosi

Mycroft H wrote: »

Mileage is not too much of a concern. A car that age should be considered on condition. 135,000 miles being high is just pub talk.

For what it's worth, I had a 1.4 version of those Renaults. It's the same engine but just a longer stroke. Never gave any problems and I sold it with 170,000 miles.

Just ensure the basics have been done; timing belt and a service.

Good luck

Funny, the conversation occurred in the pub!

colm_mcm wrote: »

How cheap is it?

It's €1750. While not cheap, cheap, I had been looking at a 2004 Clio with lower miles for €3000. The way I see it, I reckon I would probably be better off having the money put aside for maintenance instead of maxing out the budget on something that will still face similar age issues etc. at some point soon enough.

colm_mcm

That's not that cheap to be fair for a 13 year old Clio.

Mycroft H

You need to knock 300-400 off it. It's not a hugely off the mark if it's nice and has a fresh NCT

bazz26

Mileage is relative to the age of the car. 135000 is not high for a 13 year old car but it all depends on it's condition and how it was looked after over the years. I've seen cars of similar age with half the mileage and they are in bits.

Price is way too high though, here is one which is 2 years younger with a good bit of NCT on it for similar money:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2004-renault-clio-1-1-petrol-nct-26-02-2016/9300224?offset=7

browniepoints

Small cars if abused will drop dead at very low mileage

However well maintained they can sometimes go long mileage

For great many small cars the expensive problems start at about 150,000 miles

I know several Clios that were dead at about 200,000 kilometers that were maintained but had hard life on bog roads with pot holes .

I also Know one Clio that has 450,000 miles some 600,000 kilometers but mostly on good roads with the occasion trip into bog lands roads .

Any second hand car is a pig in poke buy .If it was badly maintained or used for cross country rally car it can look good but be thrashed and be bottomless pit to fix it

In car buying it is Buyer beware .

Certainly there probably no point to pay over the odds for that Clio with high milage and older age .

Jed