Mileage

[Rich B]

From

[Rich B]

Nathan

[Rich B]

Thanks.

[GG.]

GG mentions motorway miles but more importantly, if you’re buying around London, avoid the cars which clearly never go outside the M25. I saw a few Grand Vitaras advertised with temptingly low mileages (30k in 10yrs, for example) but when I spotted that they were being sold by traders in Willesden and Romford I knew they’d be London cars, with crap bodywork and buggered suspension.

Yes I thought I was safe buying the 911 from Dorset but it turned out once I had the V5 in my hands that it was a London and then Birmingham car. Doh!

[drcarlos]

Cylinder heads, cracked pistons and stretched chains mostly.

Chains seemed like they were the answer to everyone's maintenance prayers but it seems that they make things worse. At least with a belt you know it has to be changed fairly regularly and can plan it in, if you don't and it breaks then you only have yourself to blame. Chains are supposed to be lifetime items (or at least 150k's worth of life) but lots stretch or break a lot earlier and they are a lot more expensive to replace, not just in parts but in labour too as the work involved is usually massive as they are not designed with maintenance in mind.

@Jobbo - I never bother going to see anything anymore advertised in London, too many wasted journey's to see things that looked like someone attacked it with a hammer. Usually having 'clean bodywork' in the ad. Probably means they washed it though.

[drcarlos]

NATHAN HAS SPOKEN.

And yet managed to deftly avoid divulging any information whatsoever. Class act.

At least I gave an example and I still got shit for it!

[Coaster1]

It is also hugely influenced by whether those are motorway miles or around town miles and age of the car. 6 years should be fine but if its a small citycar (which I presume it is) that's lived in town all its life and done 90k stop start and over speedbumps then it is clearly a different proposition to a 5 series that has been up and down the M-way for most of its life.

My GT3 racked up an astonishing 26k miles in the first 10 months! (And 35k miles in the first 20 months)

Since then it has taken almost 12 years to add another 30k miles

[Nathan]

Cylinder heads, cracked pistons and stretched chains mostly.

Chains seemed like they were the answer to everyone's maintenance prayers but it seems that they make things worse...

The other thing with these engines is that VAG knew this was a problem and kept updating ECUs to widen the parameters to prevent engine check codes and consequently valves would get burnt out.

Just horrible engines that cause problems from 40k >

Upside down oil filter too IIRC

[JLv3.0]

NATHAN HAS SPOKEN.

And yet managed to deftly avoid divulging any information whatsoever. Class act.

At least I gave an example and I still got shit for it!

This place can be such a joy, can't it

You ARE the world's unluckiest car owner though, this is undisputed.

[V8Granite]

Cylinder heads, cracked pistons and stretched chains mostly.

Chains seemed like they were the answer to everyone's maintenance prayers but it seems that they make things worse...

The other thing with these engines is that VAG knew this was a problem and kept updating ECUs to widen the parameters to prevent engine check codes and consequently valves would get burnt out.

Just horrible engines that cause problems from 40k >

Upside down oil filter too IIRC

The upside down oil filter isn't a problem, The XU Peugeot engines had it aswell and a genuine filter had a 1 way valve in.

Completely buy on condition, a little warmth in the engine and a service when specified is good. An oil change is not a service though remember.

I have a 236,000 mile car, a 112,000 mile car, a 140,000 mile car and a 155,000 mile car (I think) and all are running nicely.

Dave!

[Nathan]

Can everyone stop jutting in about how their completely different cars are ok at 150k miles

[Rich B]

Yeah, this is Nathan’s thread - interruptions will not be tolerated.

[Jobbo]

GG mentions motorway miles but more importantly, if you’re buying around London, avoid the cars which clearly never go outside the M25. I saw a few Grand Vitaras advertised with temptingly low mileages (30k in 10yrs, for example) but when I spotted that they were being sold by traders in Willesden and Romford I knew they’d be London cars, with crap bodywork and buggered suspension.

Yes I thought I was safe buying the 911 from Dorset but it turned out once I had the V5 in my hands that it was a London and then Birmingham car. Doh!

I haven’t got the new V5 through for the Grand Vitara yet, but I believe they no longer have previous owners’ details on

I’d never go into Birmingham to look at a used car; I’ve broken this rule a couple of times which just reinforces it. Last time I was nearly assaulted when the I pointed out to the seller that the air-con wasn’t getting cold on his blatant ex-taxi

[Nathan]

Yeah, this is Nathan’s thread - interruptions will not be tolerated.

No, but someone has to point out the facts. There are some ridiculous comparisons in this thread.

[JLv3.0]

Go back and read the closing question in the opening post, Nathan. Advice on a specific model was never requested - in fact beyond it being a VW, we weren't told what car it was at all. Lighten up a bit, eh.

[Nathan]

Go back and read the closing question in the opening post, Nathan. Advice on a specific model was never requested - in fact beyond it being a VW, we weren't told what car it wad at all. Lighten up a bit, eh.

I asked what model he was looking at and politely suggested he avoid a particular engine.

[JLv3.0]

Yes, I remember that happening. Shall we get back to discussing matters pertaining to the actual question asked now?

[Nathan]

My advice is pertinent to the OP. I was asked to expand, and I did.

[JLv3.0]

I would suggest that it is only partially relevant and not actually in line with the question asked. That being said, how would you feel about other people continuing posting up their answers to this question even if it's about different cars? Would that be OK with you??

FFS

[JLv3.0]

Ok guys I think it's safe