There are numerous factors that affect the price of a used car. There is the engine, the equipment, the age, the general condition, and, of course, the mileage. But is a car with 100,000 miles really worse than one with 50,000 miles?
For all of you who don’t like reading, I’ll say right from the start, “No!” Because not all mileages are the same.
Main Point: Buying a used car is not easy. There are many factors involved as we explain below. However, if you buy your car from a reputable dealer such as LA City Cars, you don’t have to worry about these factors. LA City Cars inspects the cars and provide you with ample warranties. But it is worth reading this article to see why you need LA City Cars.
Let’s start with what mileage could have a negative effect. On the one hand, of course, is the interior. The more mileage the car has put on, the more time the previous owners have spent inside the car. The more time you spend inside the car, the more worn-out the seats are; the more worn-out, perhaps the mustier the smell. This is the rule, but there are also exceptions. A car with a high mileage that is well-maintained and consistently have been cleaned may have fewer signs of wear in the interior than one with a lower mileage.
Technology is perhaps the main reason why many people shy away from cars with high mileage. But here too, not all mileages are the same. Let’s focus on what primarily causes wear on an engine. If the engine oil is well maintained and everything is perfectly lubricated, wear is extremely limited, even when driving hard. In other words, a car with 100,000 miles with perfect oil changes and trips to the bakery or the grocery store is better than one with 50,000 miles that has had very few oil changes.
When buying a used car, mileage is usually of secondary importance. Rather, you should pay attention to the mileage in relation to how the car has been kept. In other words, the condition of care and the maintenance history are crucial. Only a reputable dealer such as LA City Cars can provide with such peace of mind.
Let me give you an example. I have a car (Mitsubishi Convertible GTS, 6-cylinder) that is more than 20 years old. It has 235,000 miles on it. I personally have changed the oil and the oil filter in my car every 2,500 miles with Mobile One Synthetic Oil. The engine runs like the first day I bought the car, or frankly, even better acceleration, which I cannot explain why. I have also changed the transmission oil every 60,000 miles. However, recently I had to do a transmission overhaul. I have been told that perhaps it was a mistake to change transmission oil often. I have been told that you cannot change transmission oil in a new Mercedes. The cost of the transmission overhaul was $5000, while I was told the car is worth only $3,000. So why did I spent $5,000 on transmission when the car is only worth $3,000? The reason is that I believe my car is worth way more than $3,000. Yes, a car like mine might be worth $3000, but I believe since I change the oil every 2,500 miles and the engine runs like brand new, the car must be worth at least $20,000 to me. I paid $36,000 in 2004.
