Is it dumb to buy a used car with more than 120,000 mileage on it?

[Anonymous]

I totaled my car and have been even more broke because of it. Now im just trying to look for a very cheap used car but one that is still practical and a good investment at least. Any advice on what to avoid?

[stepyo99]

Unfortunately used cars are stupidly overpriced these days so you probably don't have much of a choice if you want cheap. If you want practical and reliable, I would stick to a Honda/Toyota/Mazda/Subaru/Scion sedan. Use Kelley Blue Book to make sure the car is appropriately priced for its trim level and condition. Make sure to test drive it thoroughly. There are guides you can find online that are more detailed but take your time and be meticulous inspecting the car. Don't let the dealer or owner rush you or pressure you. Look at exterior dings, rust, scratches, panel gaps. Listen to the engine run, test all the electronics, look for leaks, see how it brakes and accelerates and shifts. If there's minor things wrong, use them to negotiate for a lower price. If there's major things wrong, walk away.

[OlderAndWiser]

1. To determine whether a car is potentially a good buy, you would first want to obtain a CarFax report and find the history of accidents with the car.

2. Next, you would check an online valuator to get an idea of fair market value for the car. You can find these valuators at Kelley Blue Book, NADA, and Edmunds.

3. Next, you need to consider the likely remaining life expectancy of the car and detemine how much it will cost you per year of remaining useful service. Used cars are generally a better value than new cars, but whether it is a good value is based on the age, condition, and price.

4. Finally, have a mechanic check out the vehicle for you. Many mechanics will do this for $50-75 .

[Jazzy54]

You’d probably have more issues with a vehicle with 120,000 miles on it. Before I got my current car, my parents advised me to get a car with a max of 50,000 miles on it. In other words, the higher the mileage, the more issues you might encounter.

[Anonymous]

Cars last forever nowadays, Hondas and Toyotas have always lasted forever, a mechanic will check out a car before you buy it for a few hundred dollars.

[jshm2]

Buy South Korean or Japanese in high mileage if you have have to- those fuckers run forever.

Avoid all American brands. European brands, avoid Audi and Mercedes in high mileage.

In your research you're looking for cars with high reliability over time.

[CloudScraper]

You do what you can afford. If Uber is in your area it’s a good backup plan if it has issues.

I like to pay cash, buy new, and private party sell them at 8 years or 150,000 miles. But that’s not always an option. I’d rather buy used and pay cash then save for a new vehicle.

[exitseven]

It depends. I have usually bought full size American made vehicles and keep them maintained. I have gotten 250,000 miles out of them.

[jahaims]

Probably a bad idea if you don't know what to look for and don't know how to work on it.