Many may hesitate before buying a used car that has 100,000 kilometers or more on the clock. But think twice, because a higher mileage is not necessarily bad news, says a German automobile association.
Instead, if you’re considering an older car that appears to have seen noticeably little use, take a closer look so you don’t fall into the gauge pitfall.
According to the German ADAC club, the general condition of the car and previous use are decisive.
Consider a long-distance car that is started once in the morning and then driven for five hours at optimum operating temperature. It may be in better condition than a family car that has only driven two miles to the bakery or school and has therefore had many unhealthy cold starts.
To get an objective picture of the vehicle you’re looking at, you need to look beyond the odometer and the age of the car.
Often, depending on where you live, there is a local garage that can assess the vehicle for you. The cost varies of course, but can be around $100.
Research has shown that batteries, alternators and coil springs are the most common parts that break down in a car. Furthermore, the rapid development of electronics has increased the chance of more complicated and expensive failures.
If you buy an electric car, you should also take a good look at the battery status. Test driving the car for a few hours to see how quickly the battery drains is probably not an option. To have a specialist determine the so-called State of Health (SoH), an independent battery check with certificate may be your best option.
