Mileage v.s. Year

lifeonthehill · December 2014

So hopefully we will have 12k saved for a car by May of 2016. So we will most likely be looking for a 2014/2015 Ford Focus hatchback. Based on the prices in our area now 12k get us a low mileage (20k) 2013 or a high mileage (70k) 2014. I am hoping this price will hold for next year.

Since we moved to the private school we work, eat, and live in buildings that are within 3 minutes walking distance. We have driven about 20k miles in the last 18 months. This includes trips to visit family, college, and whatever other driving we do .

Would you use the money to buy a lower mileage, older car or a high mileage, newer car?

noffgurl · December 2014

There is only a year difference so I wouldn't worry too much there (parts and labor for one will not be substantially higher than the other). With as little as you drive you could get away with a higher mileage no problem, you are not going to run into a super lot of problems until your mileage is over 150,000 as long as you take care of it. Personally, H and I drive a lot so we would probably go with the lower mileage.

CuriousKiddosMama · December 2014

Low mileage for sure. That is practically a new car that will last you for a really long time! And honestly the 13 and 14 could have been sold in the same calendar year- you are just paying more for the newer model. A car that is that high mileage (70k in a year is insane!) means the car has probably been beat to heck on the inside and not taken care of. It was a commercial vehicle, or was used by a road warrior who drives for a living, which is not a car I would want.

hoffse · December 2014

vikingsfan711 said:

Low mileage for sure. That is practically a new car that will last you for a really long time! And honestly the 13 and 14 could have been sold in the same calendar year- you are just paying more for the newer model. A car that is that high mileage (70k in a year is insane!) means the car has probably been beat to heck on the inside and not taken care of. It was a commercial vehicle, or was used by a road warrior who drives for a living, which is not a car I would want.

This. It sounds like you guys are sharing a car? If so, many insurance companies figure you will average about 10K miles per year unless you have a major commute or you travel frequently for business. My husband and I each average about 10K miles per year - but we have two cars. It sounds like you guys are doing that together, but if you share a car then you are really driving it about as much as most people drive their separate vehicles.

I would go for the lower mileage car that's a year older. Having 70K miles on a 2014 is crazy, and I agree there's a strong chance it's been really beat up. Figure you might average 10-15K miles per year and then think about how long you want it to last. Honestly, after 125K-150K miles I get hinky and start thinking about selling cars. There are always people who have stories of their 1980-whatever car with 300K+ miles on it, but at a certain point you start to risk it breaking down on you in a way that could be dangerous. My husband used to drive his mom's old minivan in high school - that thing had over 200K miles on it. It literally just shut itself off a couple times in the middle of the I-75/I-85 interchange in mid-town Atlanta - no explanation, it just happened. There are like 7 or 8 lanes of traffic each direction in that part of the city, and it was incredibly dangerous. Then another time his breaks went out when he was on I-75. Again, no explanation, but he was forced to coast to a stop on the side of the interstate in the middle of Atlanta traffic. After those experiences, we just don't drive cars with high mileage, even if our model is "reliable." We would rather sell it to get whatever equity is left in it before it starts to get finicky on us.

Anyway I would take the lower mileage car in a heartbeat because I would get several more years out of it before I would start to feel like it was time to sell.

missmiss307 · December 2014

Unless there's been some sort of revamp of the car's design between those two years, go with the lower mileage.

Xstatic3333 · December 2014

Team low mileage!

70K in a year is truly impressive. Even when I had my 1.5 hour each way commute I only hit 40K. That car must have belonged to a traveling salesman or something.

formerlyGDaisy09 · December 2014

another vote for low mileage!

70K in a year is crazy!

brij2006 · December 2014

If you plan to keep the car for a long time, then I would go with the one a year older and with lower mileage.

Also, at that point I would keep a look out for that type of a vehicle in a private party sale. The Focus is an entry level car, and many people buy them right out of college. Unfortunately, many of those people get about 1-2 years into them and realize the payment was more than they bargained for, and try to get out from underneath it.

Erikan73 · December 2014

Another low mileage vote.

lifeonthehill · December 2014

brij2006 said:

If you plan to keep the car for a long time, then I would go with the one a year older and with lower mileage.

Also, at that point I would keep a look out for that type of a vehicle in a private party sale. The Focus is an entry level car, and many people buy them right out of college. Unfortunately, many of those people get about 1-2 years into them and realize the payment was more than they bargained for, and try to get out from underneath it.

Not much room for private sales here. I have been following them for 6+ months and there is only one ford focus and it is older than the one we have now. The hope was to drive back to my moms and stay two or three days and get a new car while we were there so I am following that dealership closely.

Thanks for reaffirming my thoughts everyone! The vain side of me wants a newer model but it just doesn't make as much MM sense.

vlagrl29 · December 2014

low mileage all the way! I have a 2003 ford focus that still works really well - they are great cars. Mine is also a hatchback, but I have a 2 door - wasn't thinking of kids 10 years ago

sure beats a car payment though.

ETA - I'm surprised you can't get it for cheaper though. I bought mine brand new 11 years ago and it was $15,000-ish

dragonstarjk · December 2014

Another vote for low mileage! Plus, depending on what the warranty situation is like, you might still get some warranty with the lower mileage, older vehicle. Most are 36 months or 36,000 miles. If you got a 2013 with under 36K miles, you'd probably have a few months of warranty left. However, if you bought a 2014 with 70K miles, the warranty would be expired.