1st Nov 2017, 23:22
Thanks for the update, Steven. I'm sure you have a more complete and global view of the situation. There is indeed a small fraction of people that will always be more partisan and perhaps less objective in these reviews.
17th Jan 2018, 20:18
I agree with the comments above. If a car owner is writing a review and thinks that the Faults section only means "broken engine", or "broken transmission" or "the car left him stranded", he will say that the car never had a single problem. Then a single mother of two that struggles to make the ends meet, will read that comment and think she will buy that model with 100000 miles on it, and she won't need any money for repairs, so it's a safe purchase.
18th Jan 2018, 13:19
Anyone who thinks that ANY car with 100,000 miles on it won't need any repairs, should not be buying a car on their own anyway. No offense to struggling mothers.
18th Jan 2018, 13:50
I almost always buy new. Then care for the vehicle the way I like. People often sell to get away from trouble. Not always, but I do not want it either. Time is valuable to me, both working and personal. Loss of use negates the value of whatever cost savings there are on a 100,000 miles or more vehicle. A lot of damage can occur, even in a single day by rough driving and abuse. I typically go to the dealer at 7 am to get out quick. It’s always been wiser for my wife and daughter to have new wheels. They can’t fix them. And cell or no cell, it’s dangerous today on the side of the road. Our reviews as one owners, adhering to service intervals, may be more realistic than others. Buying used is often a crap shoot. Some guys only give a 30 day warranty. There may be warranty remaining, but without proof of maintenance performed, often it’s turned down. Good Luck!
18th Jan 2018, 15:29
As others have already alluded to, no one is saying a 100,000 mile car is perfect. And anyone who buys a used car is advised to have someone with at least a little mechanical knowledge with them to check it out before hand. 1 year old with 8000 miles or 10 years old with 150,000 miles, does not matter, a used car is a used car.
Anyone who buys an old high mileage car on the strength of one positive review on here and expects no problems probably has a lot more "struggles" in their life, and a car will be the least of their worries (no offense to women or anyone who is not a mechanic). When looking at an review, you look at multiple (positive and negative), not just one.
At the end of the day, reviews are meant to help people decide. Sure it may be a waste buying a high mileage old car if things go wrong, but at the same time it's also a waste to buy a new car every year when a looked after older one will do just fine, and you save in the long run.
1st Nov 2017, 22:06
Steven, I like the site and I agree it's fine as it is. I think what's happened here though and happens in a few other comment sections are people commenting or reviewers sometimes not being quite clear what they mean.
I'm the guy that had a comment or two defending high mileage cars. In regards to why I think this is possible, I'd like to clarify a few things;
Maintenance - Oil changes, cam belt changes, bulbs, etc.
Wear and Tear - Any suspension part, tyres, exhaust, battery, etc.
Faults/Major failures - Head gaskets (debatable, could be wear and tear on very high mileage cars, but definitely an unexpected fault on a low mileage car), any major gearbox trouble, sudden engine failure, recurring electrical faults, etc.
A mechanic or anyone that has had cars for many years will likely tell you the same. My list is by no means exhaustive, but if you ever did change the fault section Steven, maybe the above as a template and a general guide would be a nice idea before a reviewer enters such details. Also since most people buy and review used cars, I think that's another reason why you might see a review with a high mileage car and they only list the faults and wear and tear while they have had the car, not knowing its previous history of repairs.
Anyways, keep the reviews and comments coming, that's what it's all about - sharing ideas/reviews and general car talk, I still think this is one of the best car review sites out there.