How many miles/year is average on a used car?

It varies so much by make and model that I couldn't even take a stab at this. Obviously you want to look for lower mileage vehicles for any given model year, but at the same time, this could be an indication of a fault. If a car doesn't run you can't put miles on it. They could also be stop & go miles, which are harder on the car.

Best bet is to find a car you like in your price range and have a qualified, neutral mechanic check it over.

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Co-worker said 10K-15K per year is the average. I will, of course, have a mechanic check out what I buy.

<Off to look at a lemon law site I remember Phoenix submitting to the portal>

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15,000 miles per year is the benchmark used for leasing purposes.

Higher mileage than that is considered 'high mileage'. Shocked

:wink:

Most new car manufacturers' warranties allow 12,000 miles a year (as well as some leases) but this is considered lower than normal use for establishing the value of a pre-owned auto.

Having said that, there's no standard for mileage among makes and models that would enable you to determine whether it's a good car or not.

It depends on many variables; how well its owner(s) maintained it in the past would be one.

I can advise you that you'll avoid some problems if you find a car you like that is 4 years old or less and has less than 60K miles on it. It may be hard to find one, given the amount of capital you've previously indicated you had to invest.

Consumer Reports provides a listing of the best used cars annually (you'll have to pay for an online subscription or pick up the magazine).

Once you have educated yourself with that, go to an import dealer (cannot stress this enough; telephoning only lends frustration, and you don't want the domestic dealers' trades) and ask them about their trade-ins in your price range. Some will tell you they are all wholesaled; some will retail them. You may have to make 4 or 5 visits.

Be patient. Good luck.

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I know I have to look into each car, but those general specifics are useful (e.g. so that I don't waste time checking out cars with 100,000 miles on em per year or somesuch).

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Don't bother with any car more than 5 or 6 years old and with more than 75-80K miles on it, if you can help it.

The possibility that it will cost you repair $$$ is too great and it won't have much more than a year's worth of life left in it.

People will tell you that you can drive something for 200,000 miles, C, but I wouldn't take them up on it if I were you.

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That's more or less in line with what I've been thinking.

2000 +/- 1 year for 5K to 6K.

Thanks!

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Craven- Check this out:

Link to Edmunds

Also, check this out:

http://www.kbb.com/

In Kelley, you can get a good idea of what is a reasonable price for a particular car.

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Yep, I've had those bookmarked since you've mentioned them.

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If you're looking for a 1999-2001 car for under $7K, you'll most likely never get a good import(honda, toyota, nissan) in that price range. They just hold their value too much. You can find a lower mileage Cavalier, Ford Focus, ect(stay the hell away from Neons!) for pretty cheap, and they're not necessarily bad cars. For a low mileage car in that price range, a domestic is probably a better bet for you. How much driving are you going to be doing, by the way? Like mentioned before, 15K a year is pretty average.

I could go on forever with this stuff....why don't you post what cars you've seen in that price range, and I'll let you know what I think of them.

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Yugo?

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If you get a Yugo, you have to get the convertible, so biznatchez can see you pimpin' it.

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I thought all Yugos were covertibles, you just use the key from a can of sardines to open the top.

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Slappy Doo Hoo wrote:

If you're looking for a 1999-2001 car for under $7K, you'll most likely never get a good import(honda, toyota, nissan) in that price range.

I was discovering all that this afternoon. All the Japanese cars I was looking at were above 10K.

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You can find a lower mileage Cavalier, Ford Focus, ect(stay the hell away from Neons!) for pretty cheap, and they're not necessarily bad cars. For a low mileage car in that price range, a domestic is probably a better bet for you.

I might just have to settle for a domestic. Which I don't mind but I'm not into cars so I'm wary of maintenance issues.

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How much driving are you going to be doing, by the way?

Probably about 15,000 a year.

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I could go on forever with this stuff....why don't you post what cars you've seen in that price range, and I'll let you know what I think of them.

All the car models have different names here in the states so I'm having a hard time searching.

I did an earlier search and found very few of the makes that I was looking for in my price range. I'll copy the results of a wider search here:

$7,495, Maroon 4-door FWD Sedan, 37672 miles, AUTO, 1.8L I4. Stock# 931. Features: Tilt Wheel, Cruise Control, AM/FM Stereo, Cassette, Dual Front Air Bags. ...

$6,900, TOYOTA 1999 Camry, 5spd, 47K, PW/L, AC, alloys, xlnt cond.

$6,800, NISSAN 2001 SENTRA 45,000 mi, $6800, Burg, Sedan, 4Cyl 2WD, Auto

$5,000, FORD 2001 Escort SE auto all pwr 23,000 mi,$5000

$6,990, CHEVY 2002 Cavalier LS, 26kmi, loaded, 1 owner, fact. warr.

$6,990, CHEVY 2002 Cavalier LS, 27kmi, 1 owner, loaded, fact. warr.

$6,350, HYUNDAI 2002 Elantra GLS. 4-Dr, auto, all power, tan, 27K

$3,900, HYUNDAI 2001 Accent 32kmi 100kmi fac warr good cond

$4,990, MITSUBI 2001 Mirage ES, auto, air, all pwr, CD, 39K, xlnt gas mi, wrnty, must sell $4990

$5,500, 1999 Ford Cobra Mustang engine, 4.6 liter w/gear driven blower, fully chromed & polished, $20+ invested, yours for $5500

$6,350, HYUNDAI 2002 Elantra GLS. 4-Dr, auto, all power, tan, 27K, $6350

$6,490, FORD 2001 Taurus, loaded, like new, 1owner, corp lease rtrn $6490

$6,800, NISSAN 2001 SENTRA 45,000 mi, $6800, Burg, Sedan, 4Cyl 2WD, Auto

$6,900, HONDA 1999 Civic LX loaded 77k mi, auto, aqua green, 4dr

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That Camry is a good deal, if it's a clean title...luckily, because most Americans drive automatics, in a "plain-jane" sedan like that, the car being stick makes it cheaper. The Sentras are excellent cars, too. Those two would be at the top of my list.

You realize you've got a Mustang engine listed? You gonna strap a seat and a wheel on it?

I don't understand the 2001 Ford Escort..I don't think they made an Escort that year, the Focus took it's place.

The Hyundais, from what I've heard, aren't bad cars anymore. The Accent is a tiny, tin can though. Cross that off your list. The Cavaliers are decent, they're small light cars, but I think they're average reliability. Mitsubishi Mirage...a slight step up over a Hyundai Accent, in terms of being size and reliable.

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Slappy Doo Hoo wrote:

That Camry is a good deal, if it's a clean title...luckily, because most Americans drive automatics, in a "plain-jane" sedan like that, the car being stick makes it cheaper. The Sentras are excellent cars, too. Those two would be at the top of my list.

Woops, I don't want a stick. I'd probably prefer it but my cousin's a girl (and I wanna be able to let her take it where she wants so that I don't have to go).

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You realize you've got a Mustang engine listed? You gonna strap a seat and a wheel on it?

LOL, that one slipped through too. Even if it wern't just an engine I'd avoid it (because of insurance).

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I don't understand the 2001 Ford Escort..I don't think they made an Escort that year, the Focus took it's place.

<shrugs> I wouldn't know.

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The Hyundais, from what I've heard, aren't bad cars anymore.

I see new Hyundais advertised for about 8K. I was wondering if I should skip the used altogether and go for one of those. It might help my peace of mind.

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The Accent is a tiny, tin can though. Cross that off your list.

k

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The Cavaliers are decent, they're small light cars, but I think they're average reliability.

I have no idea why but I have a bad impression of these cars.

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Mitsubishi Mirage...a slight step up over a Hyundai Accent, in terms of being size and reliable.

I like Mitsubishis a lot.

Hmm, I just found a 99 Nissan Sentra for 3.5K (59k mi)

What models do you think I should look for? I like the idea of going for a Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi or Nissan and am looking for an economical sedan.

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That 99 Sentra you just listed sounds too cheap. If it's a clean title/history though, that's a great deal if it's in good shape.
The Mitsubishis are just OK. They're on the same level as a domestic. The V6 models are plain crap. I had a Diamante that the engine and tranny blew..my roomate bought a Montero, and the engine popped too. I've sold plenty of the 4 cyl ones(eclipse, galant) without any major problems though.
Those Hyundais for $8k new, most likely is a "stripper" model...5-spd, no a/c, and is probably the lowest model, which are the Accents. They pretty much suck. I would never buy a Hyundai new, because they depreciate so fast, you're better off getting one a year or two old.

If you're finding Sentras in that price range, that's a good car to look for. They're very reliable, but cheaper than Hondas and Toyotas. Another decent car is the Mazda Protege. They're actually pretty fun to drive for an economical sedan, and more reliable in my opinion then Mitsubishi. So I think you should look for Sentras, Proteges, and if you can find a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic(but unlikely).

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PDiddie wrote:

Don't bother with any car more than 5 or 6 years old and with more than 75-80K miles on it, if you can help it.

The possibility that it will cost you repair $$$ is too great and it won't have much more than a year's worth of life left in it.

People will tell you that you can drive something for 200,000 miles, C, but I wouldn't take them up on it if I were you.

Why not? Looking in my driveway, I see nothing with less than 100,000 miles. I see 2 vehicles with over 300,000 miles (353,000 on my 1992 Ford F-350, just short of 500,000 on my wife's 1986 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer). I see 2 between 100,000 & 200,000 (1986 Caprice: 125K, 1986 K-5 Blazer diesel: 165K).

I see a car at work (police Crown Vic , now a taxi) regularly that is still going strong at over 310,000 (original engine). Take care of a car & it will last forever.

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Except most banks won't finance a high mileage car like that...

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Slap's given you good advice. Nothing to add except if you manage a new Hyundai, then yes, you'd be fine. Even if it breaks they have good warranties.

Jar, Craven's buying a small used car with a (relatively) small amount of money. All your cars and trucks you bought new (or close to new, I'm guessing).

What do you suppose someone would pay for your Caprice, or Jeep? I can assure you it's not nearly as much as you think. Or close to what you would take for it.

The point is (and I'm agreeing with you here) if you buy a work or farm truck or car that you intend to last you 10 or 15 years, then take very good care of it and mile that mutha out. Drive it until it rusts right through.

But understand that's not what Craven needs...

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How many miles/year is average on a used car?

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