Question of the week: Should I buy a high mileage ex-private hire car?

Dear Honest John,

"I have been looking for a car to buy for a while. I would like it to be cheap, reliable and able to sleep in the back of it occasionally.

I also want to let friends use it and not worry about little dents, being ULEZ compliant and economical is important.

I've been looking at a 2015 Toyota Auris hybrid estate which is within budget at £2200 but very high mileage (239k) as used for private hire vehicle since 2018. I've heard they can go up to 300k though.

Is this a good avenue to follow? And do you have any advice on what to look out for in these cars when buying used?"

- SF

Dear SF,

If you are buying on a budget then an ex-taxi can be a good option, particularly if you don't mind a few scratches and plenty of wear and tear inside.

A high mileage car is not necessarily something to be avoided, as long as the service history is in line with the mileage. A car covering 20,000 miles or more a year may require more than one service a year, so we would suggest looking closely at the service history and also the MoT history alongside this to ensure that it has been serviced when required.

It is also important to compare this example with others for sale – as this is above average mileage for its age we would expect the price to reflect this.

When buying a high-mileage hybrid, the biggest risk is the hybrid battery and cooling fan, so you should always check for receipts to see if the traction battery has ever been replaced or refurbished. It is important to inspect the small hybrid battery air vent located next to the rear seats because ex-taxis are notorious for getting these vents blocked with dust and pet hair, which overheats and ultimately kills the battery.

You also need to look out for symptoms of head gasket failure, which is a well-known weak point on the 1.8-litre engine found in the 2015 Auris due to a clogging Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve. Start the car from completely cold and listen closely for a loud, violent knocking or rattling sound during the first 30 seconds, while also checking inside the oil filler cap for any milky, mayonnaise-like sludge.

Checking the operation of the inverter pump is crucial for protecting the expensive hybrid electronics. With the car turned on to 'Ready' mode, open the bonnet and look at the hybrid inverter fluid reservoir on the left to ensure the pink coolant is swirling smoothly. If the fluid is completely still, the electric water pump is dead and the system will quickly overheat.

You can read our review of this car here https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/toyota/auris/touring-sports/history# and this contains issues that other owners have experienced which is a good checklist of points to look closely at.