Used cars - picking age versus klms

Knitty on 22/08/2014 - 14:56

As per my recent message, I am looking to buy a used car (probably a Yaris on carsales.com). Once you know which model you want, how does everyone go about picking the cars that they think are the best to look at, especially with the age of a vehicle and how many klms its done. What's a reasonable amount of klms for the average city car to have done per year. For the Yaris I don't know whether to buy an older car with more klms and pay less or buy something a bit newer (and some of these have quite a few klms on them as wel1 - but you have a newer car)and pay more.

Hope this makes sense to everyone.

Automotive

Comments

  • ilostnemo on 22/08/2014 - 15:57

    Probably much of a muchness, ie services are based on kms and time.

  • roderigo on 22/08/2014 - 16:40
    +1

    1) 20,000 klms per year is about average
    2) go for the car with the best condition
    3) ensure the services noted in the book match up with the kilometres i.e. 10,000klm serice intervals should be spaced every 6 months for a 5 year!ld car that has 100,000 klms on the clock.
    4) I reckon you could get 300,000 klms out of a Yaris no worries at all 500k if you babied it - great cars!!

  • dbadcock on 22/08/2014 - 16:44
    +2

    The average registered vehicle in Australia drives 15,000km/Year. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics

    With that in mind, a four year old car would have 60,000km as an average. I would expect a four year old city car to have slightly less.

    As an example I would sooner buy a 2010 model car with 60,000 as opposed to a 2012 with 120,000. Assuming both cars were identical/same model/same price. That would be my Personal preference, although there are many more important factors that need to be considered in purchasing a vehicle.

  • roderigo on 22/08/2014 - 17:28
    +1

    "As an example I would sooner buy a 2010 model car with 60,000 as opposed to a 2012 with 120,000. "

    I agree

  • affable on 23/08/2014 - 07:51

    My 2c - km is what kills cars, age is only really an issue for the paint+rust if left on the street. A proper logbook service history is very important as missed oil changes = future grief.

    • MustResistPurchase on 23/08/2014 - 11:08
      +1

      Depends how those km were accumulated too. Highway driving is going to be a lot of km, but I rather that then buying a car from a revhead.

      • altomic on 24/08/2014 - 08:44

        Also a lot of highway k's may be better than a lower k city car due to wear on gearbox / clutch.

    • megadeth on 23/08/2014 - 13:40

      I've seen Falcons with 600,000km on odo running great… If properly serviced I think cars can run to a million km. To me a car with 50,000km with no verifiable service history will be questionable…

      OP, u should be able to tell the condition of the car by starting it… take a mechanic or a automotive-minded buddy with you if you are unsure…

      • altomic on 24/08/2014 - 08:45

        Taxi's

  • srhardy on 23/08/2014 - 09:30

    New gives you NEW car warranty, if you want that your going to pay for it! How much, well a 20k car cost about 25k drive away after DUTY, STAMP, GST, REGO and of course INSURANCE and any cost for the loan… So first bump as you leave you have lost 20% and then another deprecation of say another 5-10%…. 25% in 1 minute for a new car warranty… Your cars worth $17,500 and its still almost new…. The deprecation cost is from the 20k not the 25k, thats gov and it has nothing to do with the price you paid v's what its worth

    After 1 year and say 20,000km its worth $12-15k depending on options you might have paid for when new, being a sport version, lower km's ect…

    After 5 years your cars worth 7k traded, 10-12k private sale or yard (remember yards have costs, they pay interest on the cars they buy and even though they claim that back off the profits they need to pay for prime real-estate and a guy to sell it to you)

    @10 years, your cars not worth anything… But it is… its worth whatever you ask for it, but you won't get that. You will settle for $400-2k or just give to away.

  • srhardy on 23/08/2014 - 09:36

    Best car, bang for buck is a used HOLDEN CRUZE. Search for TURBO (1.4T, 1.6T, 2.0TD) so you get rid of the basic 1.8 engine. They sell for 8k and up… You won't get the new 1.6T (petrol) cheap and it demands premium fuel but the 1.4T is a great drive, very frugal and best in class at a bargain price. Same goes for the 2.0TD. The newer version is a twin cam and has a metal timing chain (saves on services at 90k)

    Its bit bigger than a yarris. Also checkout the t.corolla

  • Euphemistic on 23/08/2014 - 20:14

    I'd say up to 100,000km with a service history there is not much difference. Fr me the overall condition of the car would be more important. Does it LOOK like it's been looked after?

    I'd guess for a yaris or similar car, lower avge kms <15k/yr is possibly retiree type. Higher avge km >15k/yr would be more likely to be a p plater, and we all know how they drive. I'd be aiming for the retiree car.

  • adn on 23/08/2014 - 22:32

    i begin with a budget. Find a suitable car/year for that budget. Then get best condition/kms i can find

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