Mileage?!?!

[Jay666d]

While I'm still looking to by a Patrol, I'm coming across some vehicles with what I'd consider Low Mileage. (04's with less than 90K)

It still feels high, but have to consider they're 12 years old! I've just about got my head around this, as previously I'd like to buy lower milage vehicles.

I have also found a slightly newer vehicle, 55 plate... The updated shape/Interior. This however has nearly 115K on the clock. Now this feels like high milage to me. I know its well below what would be considered average milage at only 10,500 miles per year... But I'm struggling!

I'm sure that all parts of the Patrol are up to the job, but is there anything I should look out for when looking at cars with this kind of milage?

And out of interest, lets say there's two vehicles... Both about the same price. Both about the same condition... Good for their age. Both SVE spec.

You have the choice of an 04 with Sub 90K (Just) or the slightly new 55 with almost 115K... Which do you go for?

[terranosaurusdoug]

Personally I would go for the higher mileage one, but the key is servicing mate!!
If you found a 55 plate with 50k on the clock but with no service history that vehicle could have potentially done 50k without an oil change.
Find a well maintained one, one with four matching tyres and all the books, spare keys and a good history and it will last forever, my tezza is going strong and I'm not even sure how many miles it has, I know it's over 160k though. I took it to wiltshire meet, 5 hour drive with a caravan on the back, running around etc. while I was there then a day green laning, 5 hours back then home, it NEVER skipped a beat, man I love my truck

[terranosaurusdoug]

Also I realise you are looking for a patrol not a terrano, out of the two vehicles which one would you say had the best reputation?, my tezza is awesome so the patrol must be better eh?
The patrol is supposed to be bomb proof, every car had its faults, like the 3.0 engine gets a bad rap but it must be good if they used it for so long, and remember, it's a Nissan, whats the worst that could happen

[Barrbeast]

Tbh bud you're only talking about a year's difference in age and neither are massive mileages so I would be concentrating on other factors like service history, no. of owners, condition of the vehicle, what one you prefer (since one is facelift)

Also the 3.0 engines changed from DI to CRD shortly after the facelift. 55 plate is probably still DI but something else to check and think about

[Jay666d]

Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it.

The 55 I'm looking at is still the Di engine.

I've seen these vehicles in action all over the world, and I'm very confident in them... Sometimes you just get a flutter when it's time to stump up the cash!

It's just a shame I'm having to travel so far to see them.

[jims-terrano]

My opinion is not to worry too much about mileage as the engines are so big they don't have to work very hard generally. As said service history too is an important aspect.

[macabethiel]

One of the worst cars I ever bought was a 10 year old Opel Ascona 1.6 S it had 8,000 miles on the clock (ex-Farmers car one owner). It was serviced every year and the car was used just to go to Church in on a Sunday as it was a 4 door and the other car was a 2 door.

It was only £150 and I sorted out a pair of new front wings and had the inner wheel arches re-built.
I put standard Lucas headlights out of a Hillman Imp in her and spent hours cutting out the front grille to a bigger round shape.

Then it started to make some odd noises on cold start up so ended up removing the rocker cover to look at the tappets. It was solid with black coal like gunk with a groove where the rockers moved. The top of the head was also solid. I spent half a day removing all the tar like gunk. In those days closed circuit breathing systems were not common. All of that was solid.

After about 18 months of this strange engine noise I got rid. I declared the noise to the new buyer who seemed unconcerned with the strange clonking noise (probably little ends). He then rang me about six weeks later as his garage had taken the head off and he said the car must have been round the clock twice based on the bore wear alone. Luckily I had kept all the old Mot's that came with the motor when I bought it and most of the actual service receipts not just the stamps in the book that I had passed on.

He said his Garage would speak to me so I copied the history and posted it to him. The bloke at the Garage did ring me so I asked him if he knew what sump dilution was especially on a vehicle with a water heated cold start mechanism.

The buyer then came back to me a few weeks later and threatened legal action if I did not refund him his money / return the vehicle. I said I would see him in court. Never heard another thing. I felt quite guilty about the whole transaction but I was not in a financial position to buy the car back or I would have done just for peace of mind.

What I did learn is that low mileage can wear out engine faster than big mileage so have avoided ultra low vehicles ever since.

[jims-terrano]

If you were open to him and had a copy of the history then there was nothing to be guilty about and it's buyer beware isn't it.

I think engines and cars as a whole are better being used.

[Jay666d]

Originally Posted by macabethiel

One of the worst cars I ever bought was a 10 year old Opel Ascona 1.6 S it had 8,000 miles on the clock (ex-Farmers car one owner). It was serviced every year and the car was used just to go to Church in on a Sunday as it was a 4 door and the other car was a 2 door.

It was only £150 and I sorted out a pair of new front wings and had the inner wheel arches re-built.
I put standard Lucas headlights out of a Hillman Imp in her and spent hours cutting out the front grille to a bigger round shape.

Then it started to make some odd noises on cold start up so ended up removing the rocker cover to look at the tappets. It was solid with black coal like gunk with a groove where the rockers moved. The top of the head was also solid. I spent half a day removing all the tar like gunk. In those days closed circuit breathing systems were not common. All of that was solid.

After about 18 months of this strange engine noise I got rid. I declared the noise to the new buyer who seemed unconcerned with the strange clonking noise (probably little ends). He then rang me about six weeks later as his garage had taken the head off and he said the car must have been round the clock twice based on the bore wear alone. Luckily I had kept all the old Mot's that came with the motor when I bought it and most of the actual service receipts not just the stamps in the book that I had passed on.

He said his Garage would speak to me so I copied the history and posted it to him. The bloke at the Garage did ring me so I asked him if he knew what sump dilution was especially on a vehicle with a water heated cold start mechanism.

The buyer then came back to me a few weeks later and threatened legal action if I did not refund him his money / return the vehicle. I said I would see him in court. Never heard another thing. I felt quite guilty about the whole transaction but I was not in a financial position to buy the car back or I would have done just for peace of mind.

What I did learn is that low mileage can wear out engine faster than big mileage so have avoided ultra low vehicles ever since.

Funny, (Not Funny) My Dad has just told me a very similar story... Less the vexed new owner and court action!