How Many Kilometres Is Too Many to Buy a Used Car?
Maintenance Counts More Than Mileage
Shopping for a reliable used car requires holding several thoughts in your head at the same time. Auto Depot Sudbury customers are often looking for a balance between buying the latest model possible with as few kilometres on the odometer as possible. However, the question remains: How many kilometres is too many to buy a used car? We polled our experienced team, and the consensus was that vehicles over 250,000 km should be viewed with caution. However, that isn’t the whole story.
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Modern Used Cars Are More Reliable
Huge leaps have been made in automotive reliability. Those advancements have changed the way people shop for pre-owned cars, trucks and SUVs. Certainly, the number of kilometres an automobile has travelled needs to be considered; the level of care or maintenance it received is often a better indicator.
It might be worth taking a closer look at a vehicle with a few more kilometres if the maintenance records are complete than something with fewer kilometres and a spotty service history.
Mileage Benchmarks to Consider
Keeping in mind the importance of a solid maintenance history, having a framework to consider the recorded kilometres is also helpful. The breakdown looks like this:
- Under 100,000 km: Low risk, likely very reliable and has a lot of life left.
- 100,000 km to 160,000 km: Still has a lot of value to offer. Be sure to check on brakes, belts and hoses.
- 160,000 km to 240,000 km: Probably affordable, but many parts will need to be replaced. Check service history closely.
- More than 250,000 km: Be very cautious. Only worth buying if maintenance records are immaculate.
Every vehicle for sale at Auto Depot Sudbury is thoroughly inspected before it arrives at our facility. Additionally, every vehicle comes with a comprehensive vehicle history report. Make an appointment with one of our product experts today if you would like to see what we have available.