I do usually always prefer a lower milage car, but if a higher ileage car has been maintained well then they make good buys.
However, low mileage cars which have been used once a week for a long drive and low mileage cars whcih have been daily transport around a town doing very few miles are totally different things.
A car which sits and is then used for a longer drive will be in better condition than one whcih has been used daily for short trips. Short trips do the car no favours, rarely reaching full running temperature, a lot of clutch use and suspension wear from city roads. The interior will have a good ammount of wear from people getting in and out, loading things every day etc. The exterior probably shows a good few crazes and scratches from parking incedents and always being in a supermarket car park etc.
We bought our late 1995 2.1TD Xm estate in September 2009 with 58K miles. It was a Citroen demo car in the first few months, then ownered by the same owner for a good few years and the person we bought it off had it for one year - covering 10K miles in that time. Obviously with its age it has been through spheres, etc. A cambelt was needed straight away after we got it as that was original, a service followed and general checking of the car revealed it to be in excellent order. The interior shows no sign of wear and tear and it drives superbly, feeling tight and with no knocking noises ect, just as you would expect a very good Xm to be.
I got my 56 reg C5 HDi in Jan this year with 12K miles on the clock, I couldnt quite believe my luck coming across such a low mileage diesel C5. I did have a worry than maybe it had been used around town every day, this could effect such things as the FAP system if that never has had a chance to work, etc. But on first sight it was obvious it had been a cherished car by its one owner, there are no bumper marks, no door dings no marks on the wheels. The interior is as new. It even has its original Michelin tyres whcih are in excellent condition, no aging or cracking on them, which leads me to believe its been a garaged car. As i know these particular Pilots dont age too well, many C6 owners report to having to change their tyres early due to age cracks, as the cars have stood around in a field before they were regsitered. Little things like that. My C5 is pretty much as new condition, i know the brakes will be good for years and years, the cambelt will be good for a good number of years as its 10 years or 150K. Its now done 15500 miles and its been perfect, not one ounce of a proble, i love it and could never find a better one.
So if you come up against a good car whcih has been well looked after and not used daily, then id certainly go for a lower mileage car. But if it has been used for small journeys almost daily then wear will be quite high anyway, so you might be better off with a higher mileage car.
In 2009 we got a 1994 S2 Xm 2.0 16v which had done 30K miles, quite unreal as to its condition. It had been dry stored for a number of years, prior to which it was in limited use as its owner had a few cars to choose from. The underside was as new, no a hint or rust anyway, pipes were all fantastic and the interior even smelled quite new!
I do like low mileage cars very much, but as ever it depends how they have been looked after. You will find higher mileage cars with appear to be in excellent condition and lower mileage ones whcih are about knackered. Just depends on the car and how its been used and cared for.
Our 52 C5 has done 130K almost, and it looks and drives as if its done less than half that. No faults that I can report on it, it just goes on and on. I know its original owner who really looked after the car and it shows.
Ive just done about 30 miles in a S1 Xm with 94K miles, it feels like its about to give up on life. Just about to go and see if i can do anything to help its issues!
