A Used Car WWYD?

[Binkandabee]

DH is looking at two used cars. All other things being equal, which would you choose an older car with 30,000 miles or a car that is 6 years newer with 60,000 miles? Just not sure which is more important...age or miles?

[twowhat?]

Depends completely on the make/model if you want to share those! For example I'd choose an older Honda any day over a newer Chevy.

[Binkandabee]

Same exact car...one is just a 1994 model and one is a 2000 model...that's what makes it so tough. The only difference is the year and mileage. They have the same options even.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Safety features equivilant?

[twowhat?]

Same exact car...one is just a 1994 model and one is a 2000 model...that's what makes it so tough. The only difference is the year and mileage. They have the same options even.

Hmmm though now that I think about it I think the make/model still matters. A reliable make I might choose the older car with fewer miles because that's what puts wear and tear on the engine...a less reliable make I might choose the newer car with more miles (and therefore more opportunity for any problems to "crop up" and be already taken care of).

[Binkandabee]

Both have dual front air bags.

[lhafer]

If safety features are the same as well, I would probably go with the fewer miles.

[Aishe]

I'd probably go with the one with fewer miles, but I'd also research the models to see if there were any significant problems with one particular year.

[marymoo86]

What is the part availability like for the 1994? I would worry about an 18 year old car with only 30k miles. A 2000 MY with 60k is virtually underheard of as well. I would suspect it would be easier to get needed parts at a reasonable price for the 2000 MY.

I ask as I had a friend who purchased a early 1990s car with extremely low miles well taken care of but when he priced out upcoming repairs he was floored due to the cost.

[wellyes]

1994 is pretty old. You'll need 4 new tires at least - even unworn tires don't last 15+ years. Plus, safety features are more than just air bags, it's often structural. I'd get the 2000.

[BabbyO]

I think there is a place - maybe Consumer reports....where you can look up the reliability of cars based on the model year....some years are better/worst than others even on the same model.

I'd try to find that info then re-evaluate. Right now I might be inclined to go with the 2000, for some of the reasons stated in PPs

[crl]

I'd go newer.

Catherine

[twowhat?]

I just did a quick mental calculation and I change my answer...60K miles in 12 years (for the 2000) is SUPER LOW. Get the 2000.

[wendmatt]

I'd go newer.

Catherine

I would too, there is still wear and tear on the body of an older car and that's quite a bit older. Could you wait for a newer model with fewer miles or does he need the car now?

[katydid1971]

I wonder why an 18 year old car has so few miles. I'm betting it has issues of some sort that made the driver not like driving it. I would get the newer one. Either way I would have them looked at by a mechanic before I bought either of them.

[wellyes]

I wonder why an 18 year old car has so few miles. I'm betting it has issues of some sort that made the driver not like driving it. I would get the newer one. Either way I would have them looked at by a mechanic before I bought either of them.
In cases like that I always assume it is an elderly owner who barely drove - 4 miles to the grocery store and back once a week, 8 miles to the hair salon once a month. Not great for the car. The alternative is that it was in storage for several years, which is obviously worse for the car.

[Binkandabee]

Thank you ladies! Think we're going to go with the newer one. That was my initial gut feeling as it just seems like the better buy. It has twice the miles, but still very, very low miles and its 6 years newer.

There isn't any worry on why these cars have low miles....lots of them have very low miles. We even looked at a 2000 with less than 10,000 miles. It's a two seater convertible, so not real practical as a daily driver. Just something that DH has wanted for decades and I'm finally giving in.

[katydid1971]

Thank you ladies! Think we're going to go with the newer one. That was my initial gut feeling as it just seems like the better buy. It has twice the miles, but still very, very low miles and its 6 years newer.

There isn't any worry on why these cars have low miles....lots of them have very low miles. We even looked at a 2000 with less than 10,000 miles. It's a two seater convertible, so not real practical as a daily driver. Just something that DH has wanted for decades and I'm finally giving in.
What car? I had a mazda miata before DC and I LOVED it!!! I commuted 40 miles everyday in it and it got pretty good gas mileage.

[wellyes]

I was guessing Miata too. My husband always wanted one. If that is the case, older might not be worse. There are tons of Miata car clubs out there, plenty of folks in them prefer 'vintage' models.