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reaglestone

Hi,
I'm looking to buy a 7 seater and like the look of the above car. Fuel economy appears good at 4-4.5 stars. A lot appear to be ex-lease, (read other article on this site which recommended getting as lower mileage as possible), if looking at a relatively high mileage 200K plus - how high is too high? Is there any mechanical expenses to expect after a certain mileage? Anything else to beware of?
Also, looking at cars on trade-me. As live in Hawkes Bay and majority of vehicles are in Auckland, any tips for looking from out-of-town?
Is there anywhere free that you can find out car values for the prospective purchase and whether trade-in value is reasonable?
Thanks
Rebecca (who knows nothing about cars)

Anon

The 200,000kms is too high and I would suggest that you look for a vehicle with under 150,000kms. An older vehicle with lower mileage will be better than a newer vehicle with high mileage.

Mechanical parts do wear and the higher the mileages the more risk there is of a major mechanical failure that will set you back a few thousand dollars.

You should get an AA pre-purchase inspection carried out on the vehicle you are interested in to ensure you are not buying a lemon as it will give you a good idea of the condition of the vehicle at the time of inspection - but nobody has a crystal ball so you should also look for a vehicle with a full service history as it will help in the long run.

AA Members can contact the advice team on 0800 500 333 option 2 for a verbal idea of the vehicles value.