My father was an instructor for 25 years and he did about 30,000 a year, changing his car every 3 years. I bought one off him after two years which went on to do almost 150,000 miles.

Not all the miles are teaching. Instructors have to get from home to their pupils and home again and lessons were everything from 20 limits to motorways, dual carriageways and country routes.

However over 150,000 miles is high for any vehicle so it would have to be priced right.

Ex-UK driving instructor here.

As it's an owner-driver car, and an automatic as well, so no clutch/gearbox abuse possible, I don't see a problem with buying it for what it is - a well maintained used secondhand car.

As opposed to a school owned car which if damaged gets replaced within 24 hours.

Don't forget, an instructor's car on a driving test has to be 100% viable and working, examiners usually do a walk around inspection before getting in.

As regards the "banging into kerbs" remark. My 2007 Honda Civic did two years with me as an independent instructor and had no damage to wheels from kerbing. It's up to the individual instructor to be alert, teach the correct methods to stay away from kerbs and to guide the pupil's steering if necessary.

My advice is to go and have a look at it, test drive it, if it feels ok and doesn't knock rattle or smoke, buy it - as you would any other car.

Edited by focussed on 23/02/2021 at 10:41

Driving instructor’s car.

and

apparently immaculate.

will never be true.

There are plenty of low mileage small cars around without taking a risk on this one and then adding in the extra risk of a high mileage hybrid.

Wait until travel restrictions end, only a month away (fingers crossed). Then she will be able to look at cars and make a much better decision.

>>>>>>>>I have a normal 1.4CVT Jazz of 2012. They are very robust cars.

Although....
My daughter has a 2007 Jazz 1.4 CVT and its just had a saga with a crash sensor that has come out at £430 altogether.

The sensor itself was £166 + VAT for what is essentially a 3 inch by 2 inch bit of plastic with a connector at one end. Bearing in mind a crash sensor is a fairly simple device from what I've read, how on earth Honda get to that price is beyond me.

I've kept the failed one and will be opening it up to see just what her £166 has bought.

Apart from that, it went through its MOT on Saturday with one advise for wishbone bushes which is symptomatic of our rubbish roads I suspect, We'll investigate the cost of this once her bank balance has recovered from the crash sensor shock

So yes, generally reliable cars but if you do need parts, it seems Honda do load the prices somewhat.