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At what mileage does this become risky?

When we buy second-hand, we often set a budget, we choose a few models from the short-list, but also, we often set a maximum mileage, beyond which we will not buy. But is it relevant? And at what mileage does it really become risky? This is the opportunity question of the week.

Common misconceptions about mileage

You have certainly already heard it around you, or have already uttered these sentences yourself: โ€œOh no, I will never buy a second-hand vehicle that has more than 200,000 kmโ€, or โ€œnever more than 100,000 kmโ€. On the contrary, some say: โ€œThe best deals are above 200,000 km!โ€ “.

What is it really? Is there a mileage limit beyond which it clearly becomes risky to buy? As you can imagine, the answer to this question is complex. Depending on the make, model and history of a car, the answer can vary greatly.

Models known for their reliability

For brands and models with recognized reliability, for example Japanese in general, hybrids, older generations of Mercedes or Volkswagen, or even Peugeot or Renault, the mileage from which it becomes risky is very high.

A Mercedes C, E or S Class from the 80s or 90s can be bought with your eyes closed at 200,000 km, as long as the maintenance has been well followed. And even at 300,000 km, we can still take the plunge. A Renault 21 from the 90s is indestructible on diesel, and even on gasoline. A Peugeot 406 HDI can cover 400,000 km without incident. So buying them at 200,000 km is risk-free.

Models to avoid

But for other models, known for their poor reliability, such as Renault, Peugeot, Mercedes, Volkswagen from 2001/2002 to 2007/2008, or certain models equipped with particularly poor engines (1.4 TSI Volkswagen engines, DSG gearboxes, 1.2 TCe Renault or 1.2 Puretech PSA engines, but also the 2.0 BMW N47 diesels, among other examples), it becomes risky to buy, even well before 100,000 km!

This is why you should always, before buying a second-hand car, find out about the reliability of the models you are looking for. Caradisiac's reliability sheets can help you, those of our colleagues too, or our forum, which is full of information.

Generic rules to follow

There are always more or less โ€œgenericโ€ rules, which can define a degree of risk. First, more than the mileage, it is the care taken in maintenance which can define the risk. If you are going to test drive a car and the seller is unable to provide you with a maintenance history or invoices, regardless of the mileage, the purchase becomes riskier.

If we focus purely on mileage, we can actually set a threshold at 200,000 km. Quite simply because it is, on average of course, the mileage from which the largest components of a car begin to require replacement. This implies a greater risk of breaking down. Clutch, gearbox, shock absorbers (they can wear out much more quickly), timing belt, alternator, starter, all these parts are likely to give up the ghost from this mileage, without this being possible. considered abnormal.

Price negotiation

So unless all of this has already been replaced on the model you went to try, yes, the risk greatly increases of having to incur large costs. So either we assume this risk, or we must negotiate the price accordingly, to cover any eventuality.

Moreover, as we see in advertisements, all models with more than 200,000 km, with the exception of those which have the reputation of being indestructible, suffer a big discount, because they have more difficulty selling. You must therefore buy a car with more than 200,000 km knowingly.

Know the exceptions

And this is the mileage that we set as the one from which it becomes risky. All with nuance, you understand, for the unreliable models which must be avoided well before this term, and for those, deemed hyper reliable, for which we raise the ceiling up to 300,000 km. All this, conditioned on rigorous maintenance, otherwise, you have to flee, whatever the number written on the meter.

In summary, although buying a used car can involve risks, they can be minimized by carefully inquiring about the reliability of the models and rigorously checking the maintenance history. With these precautions, even cars with high mileage can offer good deals.

https://www.sfsm.info/des-vagues-mysterieuses-sur-une-lune-de-saturne-une-enigme-que-personnel-ne-peut-exposition/

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