Doing smallish annual mileage..time for a rethink?

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Sat 16 Mar 2013 11:07
Doing smallish annual mileage..time for a rethink? - barney100

Many motorists who do high mileages have to opt for economic fuel consumption but people who do low annual miles may be better with a much larger car. The bigger engined machines tend to last longer and there are some real bargains about....BMWS, Mercs, Volvos etc. On 5k a year thats a hundred gallons @ 50mpg and 200 @ 25mpg, say £600. An older larger car can be a bargain and last you years with tlc. I'm on my 4th year with a3.2 petrol and it cost very little to buy.

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Sat 16 Mar 2013 11:20
Doing smallish annual mileage..time for a rethink? - Andrew-T

Many motorists who do high mileages have to opt for economic fuel consumption but people who do low annual miles may be better with a much larger car. The bigger engined machines tend to last longer ....

Not sure how you define 'better' ? I have always been biased towards smaller cars, provided they do what I require - i.e carrying the loads I occasionally need to shift. I have spent most of my motoring life with a succession of 1100s, Maxis, 205s and 306s, with a Cavalier estate and a Prairie while the daughters were at uni. Now with a diesel 207 SW which does all the business.

Bigger-engined machines probably do last longer, but if one only does low annual miles that doesn't seem to matter much? Maxis and 1100s didn't last without lots of Ziebart, but all the 205s I have had could last 20 years + as long as they didn't get bent.

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Sat 16 Mar 2013 11:55
Doing smallish annual mileage..time for a rethink? - RT

An older premium car still has premium cost parts if/when anything fails.

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Sat 16 Mar 2013 12:31
Doing smallish annual mileage..time for a rethink? - 72 dudes

An older premium car still has premium cost parts if/when anything fails.

I too like the idea of a bigger petrol car for low mileages.

However, it doesn't really stack up. In addition to RT's response, you have to factor in higher road tax, higher insurance costs and depreciation.

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Sat 16 Mar 2013 13:06
Doing smallish annual mileage..time for a rethink? - RT
However, it doesn't really stack up. In addition to RT's response, you have to factor in higher road tax, higher insurance costs and depreciation.

Depreciation isn't an issue with an older premium car - someone else has taken that hit.

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Sat 16 Mar 2013 13:08
Doing smallish annual mileage..time for a rethink? - Engineer Andy

An older premium car still has premium cost parts if/when anything fails.

I too like the idea of a bigger petrol car for low mileages.

However, it doesn't really stack up. In addition to RT's response, you have to factor in higher road tax, higher insurance costs and depreciation.

Plus much higher servicing costs. Worth going for a petrol engined car if you don't do mileages over 20-25k annually though, whatever the car you go for. Some cars also appear to be more hardy when it comes to the type of low-mileage driving you do - i.e. the difference between lots of short trips to the shops (not warmed up) and a few longer trips (which is what I'm doing currently). My main concern is keeping the battery in good order (using it at least once a fortnight for a 25 mile round trip to shop in another town) and keeping all the mechanicals/brakes from seizing up due to lack of use/cold and damp conditions.

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Sat 16 Mar 2013 14:12
Doing smallish annual mileage..time for a rethink? - unthrottled

A bigger car can certainly make economic sense for low mileage use. However, my personal preference would be for a smaller engine for short mileage trips. They just warm up that much faster.

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