Mileage is usually the first thing that used car buyers look for when considering a potential purchase. However, it’s not only a matter of picking the car with the fewest miles on board, as there are several other factors to consider before deciding that a car has good mileage.
Why Is Mileage Important?
Considering a car or truck’s mileage before buying it is a crucial step because most of a vehicle’s wear and tear is done while driving it. The engine has many moving parts that interact with each other repeatedly and even the slightest deviation can cause unnecessary friction. This can make a tiny issue quickly turn into a big one. The car’s wheels, brakes, and steering also take a constant beating from dealing with bumps in the road and the forces of physics, making them less effective as the miles roll by.
So, although many other aspects are used to determine whether a certain vehicle is good or not, the number of miles a car has been driven is still the most relevant indication regarding its overall condition.
What Is Generally Considered To Be Good Mileage?
As a general rule of thumb, cars are driven around 12,000 miles per year on average, meaning that a five-year-old vehicle with 60,000 miles can generally be seen as a good buy. Cars with significantly higher or lower mileage than this average should raise questions. A low average may mean that the car hasn’t been driven enough. This can be a problem because certain parts tend to dry up over long periods of non-usage. On the other hand, higher than average mileage may indicate that the car has been used as a taxi or for other forms of passenger transportation.
Factors That Influence a Car’s Condition
Using the 12,000 miles per year rule of thumb is a good way to start evaluating a pre-owned vehicle, but there are many other things to consider before deciding if its mileage is good or not. Make sure to get the car’s full history report. Some of these factors are:
- The number of owners: The more previous owners a car had, the greater the odds that at least one of them didn’t take care of it correctly. A 5-year-old car with 40,000 miles may seem like a great deal, but if it’s had three different owners there’s a strong chance that, at some point during those years, it may not have been properly driven and maintained. If a car only had one owner, you may want to consider it. Even if it has more miles than it should, this is an indication that the owner probably took good care of it.
- How the car was used: The same number of miles can produce different levels of wear and tear, depending on how they were accumulated. Cars that were mostly used for short trips around town have a higher chance of deterioration because the engine oil needs a little time to warm up and reach peak lubricating efficiency. Cars that were mostly used for long trips and commutes are usually better buys. Once the oil warms up, everything runs smoothly and there’s a significantly lower chance of various engine parts deteriorating over time.
- The owner’s geographical location: Cars deteriorate at different rates depending on the climate where they’re driven. Cars that were used in dry weather are generally in better shape than those driven in humid conditions because air humidity makes the air less oxygenated and requires the engine to work harder to produce the combustion needed for propulsion. Also, cars that have been regularly kept in a garage are usually in better condition, as they didn’t have to face various weather phenomena, like extreme temperatures or precipitation.
- The car’s overall wear and tear: No matter how well a car apparently looks and drives, it is always a good idea to have it inspected by a mechanic before buying it. They will thoroughly check things like the engine and transmission, the braking and steering systems, signs of leaks, air filters and valves, signs of body rust, and other signs that may indicate poor overall condition. Even if a car has seemingly good mileage and checks all the boxes, it can still be in worse shape than it seems.
Should I Buy a Car or Truck With High Mileage?
Although the overall perception is that older cars are more prone to various issues, modern cars are built to last a long time when maintained properly. A car with 100,000 miles on the odometer was considered very old a while ago, but newer models can easily reach 200,000 and even 300,000 miles. From a financial standpoint, buying an older car can prove to be a great deal because you will be buying it well after it reached the peak of its depreciation curve. This means that, unlike a new or slightly used car, it won’t quickly start losing its value.
Generally speaking, a car’s deterioration is avoidable and fixable. This means that a car that has been properly maintained throughout its lifetime and that had various faulty parts quickly changed can last for decades. The best way to make sure that this has been the case is to ask the seller for proof that the car’s regular maintenance was always done according to the manufacturer’s schedule. After buying it, you should stick to that schedule. Regularly rotating tires and changing the oil and other liquids will keep your car running longer.
Buy a High Quality Used Car in Grand Forks
Good mileage used to be the most important factor when buying a pre-owned vehicle, but newer cars or trucks made with better technologies are slowly changing that perception. Although checking the mileage is still a crucial step when buying a used car, finding out how and where the car was driven and how it was maintained throughout its lifetime is arguably more important nowadays.
Luckily, dealers like Rydell Outlet in Grand Forks make it easy to find a wide selection of well-maintained vehicles, even for first time buyers or tight budgets, so all you have to do is choose the one that suits you best. Contact us online to learn more, or call us at 701-757-6140.
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