Buying a used car with low mileage - is it such a good idea?

You may have heard this before, or maybe you haven't, but many mechanics and car owners believe that buying a used car with low mileage is not necessarily the best idea. Just because it has not been driven as much, does not necessarily mean you will be buying in to a reliable, well cared for car.

A lot of people will believe they have found the 'holy grail' when they find a very low mileage car but others will know better. There is a perception that the lower the miles and kilometres on the odometer, the better the car will perform and last.

Consider you buy the low mileage car off the little old lady in your village who only ever used the car for church on Sunday morning and to pop to the supermarket once a week. She has racked up a whole 5000miles on the car since this time. BARGAIN you think! However do you think it is doing the car any good sitting in storage for extended periods of time or not being used? Just letting a car sit outside your house or in your garage will not do the engine any good, even if you do take it out for short trips every few days. Cars that have not been used as much suffer a whole wrath of problems.

For a start, the engine in the car never has chance to properly warm up. This results in water condensing in the crankcase from the condensation and humidity from outside which touches the cold engine metal.  Next, because the trips in the car are so short, the engine and its oil never fully warm and heat up to boil off or evaporate the resulting water and liquid that sits in the engine oil. Hence the engine is not properly lubricated. Each time the engine starts in this cold condition it's like starting a warm engine many times.  Higher viscosity oil at lower temperatures thickens up, it’s not until the engine warms up that this thick oil flows, spreads and lubricates the engine and its vital components.

The other thing to mention is that cars that sit without use may have components deteriorate due to lack of use. Rubber over time deteriorates – not only tires but seals along door frames and even in the engine. Hence that low mileage car may need replacement tires and door rubber seal and tubing replacements. Figure these in as part of your overall costs and charges for that premium low mileage car.

Lastly if the car is left out in the sun –  remember the little old lady from the village example - take time to examine the automobiles’ body finish for tarnish. The paint may seem fine until you conduct a thorough cleaning and polish.