Car Miles – What You Need to Know
If you’re considering buying a used car, two of the main issues to think about are the amount of miles on
the vehicle and its age. Newer vehicles typically cost more than similar older
ones, as they usually have less wear and tear. And cars with lower mileage
usually cost more than similar ones with higher mileage.
Makes sense,
right? But in some cases, a newer car can have more miles than a comparable car
that is significantly older. Additionally, some miles are harder on a car than
others. For example, if a vehicle has been through a lot of city driving (stop
and go), it’s bound to have more wear and tear on components such as brakes and
transmissions than vehicles that have seen mostly highway driving.
So which factor is more important: age or the number on the
odometer?
Let’s explore.
What is Good Miles for a Used Car?
What determines whether a vehicle would be deemed “high-mileage”
for its age? While there’s no hard and fast rule, it’s fair to say that average
annual miles on most vehicles is about 12,000. So for a car that’s four years
old, you might reasonably expect it to have around 48,000 miles. But once
again, it’s important to consider what type of miles the car has been driven
(city, highway or a mix) and how well it was taken care of.
Are Some Cars Better than Others with a Lot of Miles?
Some auto brands (such as Honda and Toyota) have gained a
reputation for being more reliable over the long haul than others. And Jeeps,
while not always scoring near the top of reliability ratings, seem to have a loyal following of motorists who keep them for an
extended period. But that doesn’t mean that every model from the higher rated
brands will always outperform those from its competitors.
“How well a car has been taken care of and how it’s been used can
go a long way in determining its life expectancy,” said Sean Pour, an
automotive analyst with a car-buying firm.
Again, a vehicle with a lot of less-taxing highway mileage is
probably going to have more life left in it than one with heavy city miles that
age a car more quickly.
Age of a Car: What You Need to Know
Mileage on a vehicle is an important factor to consider when
purchasing, but age also merits serious consideration. Used vehicles that are
newer and have low mileage (at or below the 12,000 mile per year gauge
mentioned above) might be well-positioned to provide long-lasting, reliable
service. But, Pour said, “reviewing its service history and getting an idea of
how the vehicle was used is always a good idea when possible.” A vehicle used
for short- to medium-length commutes in stop-and-go traffic is bound to have
taken on more wear than one that accumulated most of its miles on long highway
trips. And cars with detailed service records showing that routine maintenance
was followed religiously have an advantage over those that don’t show such
care.
Safety Features
to Consider
Another factor to consider is the number of safety features on the
vehicle. As technology has advanced over the years, safety features have
improved. That would tend to favor newer models.
“Features like lane-departure warning, which tells you when you
are veering out of your lane, and blind-spot monitoring, which warns you when a
car is approaching in an area outside your viewpoint, help avoid collisions
that can cause longer-term damage,” Pour said.
Other safety features that have become more common in recent
years, such as backup cameras and automatic collision-avoidance braking, also
help prevent accidents that can damage a vehicle and reduce its lifespan.
Maintenance Considerations
How well a car has been taken care of is essential to its
longevity. Just as humans tend to live longer when they eat right, exercise and
get good medical care, cars usually last longer when they get proper routine maintenance.
That maintenance includes changing your oil and filter on a
regular basis, replacing the air filter every few months, making sure fluid
levels are where they need to be and examining belts and hoses for wear and
tear.
“If you neglect the basics of vehicle maintenance, that’s the
quickest way to ensure you’ll have problems with the car in the future,” said Anthony
Wright, a service manager with Pep Boys. “On the other hand, if you keep up
with everything that’s recommended in your owner’s manual, you’ll probably have
good luck with keeping the car on the road for a long while.”
What We
Think
While it’s a good idea to consider the age of a vehicle and the
number on its odometer, it’s more important to look at how it’s been
maintained. A car that is 10 years old and has 100,000 miles on it may have gotten
more TLC than a five-year-old model with 50,000 miles. Other important factors
to consider are the type of usage the car has had (less demanding highway mileage
vs. stop-and-go city driving) and the type of vehicle (how a model stacks up in
reliability rankings). So before buying, it’s always a good idea to have a car
checked out as thoroughly as possible to ensure it’s in good condition.
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