How many miles are "too many" when buying a car?

Kamaro Killer · 11-11-2002, 02:24 PM

I want to buy a foxbody stang with around 50-80k miles wheter it's rebuilt or not. I am having a hard time finding this and was wondering how many miles are "too many" when buying a car? How many were on your mustang when you bought it? Thanks, Keith

MidNiteBlu 5.0 · 11-11-2002, 03:10 PM

There were 92k on mine when i bought it a year ago. it now has like 102k. Still runs fine except for an oil leak hehe. I think it will be pretty hard to find one with 50-80k miles.

DAN-MAN · 11-11-2002, 03:47 PM

If you can find one with 50-85,000k miles then go for it! You can't find one with that kind of mileage anymore.

I don't think much of mileage as a concern. It really depends on how the car was driven. When I look at them I usually check for oil spots, loose lines, wires, etc. I also ask if it was wrecked or damaged in any way.

Daniel.

PKRWUD · 11-11-2002, 04:46 PM

Dan is correct. If you found a 10 year old car with less than 40k miles on it, the engine would probably need to be rebuilt, whereas one with 200k miles on it would probably be fine. High mileage is usually a sign of freeway miles, which are like orgasms for engines. Low mileage is usually a sign of in-town, stop and go driving, which kills engines if they aren't religiously maintained.

Take care,
~Chris

Capri306 · 11-11-2002, 05:38 PM

Too many miles is when you whomp on it, and it blows blue smoke out the tailpipe, or it makes ungodly sounds when driving down the road (clunking, etc)...or in the case of automatics extreme slippage between gear changes.

I dunno, it's kinda like women: every single one is different. I have 150k on mine, and I only bought it like 2or 3 years ago with about 92k on it.

When I think about it, and how well it runs now (I think it's even better than when I first got it, to tell ya the truth, and the compression numbers prove it!), I just love telling people about it. That's why I laugh when people tell me that their cars are like only 3 or 4 years old and they blow blue smoke or go through a quart a week.

Gimmie a good ol' 5.0 any day....

82 GT · 11-11-2002, 06:50 PM

I bought my '88GT two years ago with 72K miles. It now has 84K miles. The previous owner never drove it in the winter and I don't either. I also live two blocks from where I work so I walk to work everyday. The only time I use my car is when my g/f isn't home with her car and when I don't want to be embarrassed showing up somewhere in her crappy looking Taurus........

I guess I have that rare car you're looking for.....

PKRWUD · 11-11-2002, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Capri306
I dunno, it's kinda like women: every single one is different. I have 150k on mine, and I only bought it like 2or 3 years ago with about 92k on it.

You put a lot of milage on your women, don't you!

Take care,
~Chris

VeNuM · 11-11-2002, 11:30 PM

Mine had 74k on it when I bought it this past June. It had a leaking waterpump, rear main, and valve covers. With some minor fixes it's in great mechanical shape. ~Brian

11-11-2002, 02:24 PM	#1
Kamaro Killer Mustang Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 528	How many miles are "too many" when buying a car? I want to buy a foxbody stang with around 50-80k miles wheter it's rebuilt or not. I am having a hard time finding this and was wondering how many miles are "too many" when buying a car? How many were on your mustang when you bought it? Thanks, Keith __________________ 1993 GT 5.0-My Stang Rice Hater's Club Member 22

11-11-2002, 03:10 PM	#2
MidNiteBlu 5.0 I got something to say Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,557	There were 92k on mine when i bought it a year ago. it now has like 102k. Still runs fine except for an oil leak hehe. I think it will be pretty hard to find one with 50-80k miles. __________________ 91 LX Hatch 5.0 - made for the twisties 89 LX Hatchback 5.0 5spd. stolen/stripped 4/7/05 http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/...splay.cgi?3494 1987 Toyota Pickup Ricer Haters Club Member #33 Want a custom gauge cluster for your Vintage Mustang? www.jmeenterprises.com

11-11-2002, 03:47 PM	#3
DAN-MAN Confederate Cowboy Join Date: May 2002 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 546	If you can find one with 50-85,000k miles then go for it! You can't find one with that kind of mileage anymore. I don't think much of mileage as a concern. It really depends on how the car was driven. When I look at them I usually check for oil spots, loose lines, wires, etc. I also ask if it was wrecked or damaged in any way. Daniel. __________________ DAN-MAN RHC MEMBER #25

11-11-2002, 04:46 PM	#4
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Dan is correct. If you found a 10 year old car with less than 40k miles on it, the engine would probably need to be rebuilt, whereas one with 200k miles on it would probably be fine. High mileage is usually a sign of freeway miles, which are like orgasms for engines. Low mileage is usually a sign of in-town, stop and go driving, which kills engines if they aren't religiously maintained. Take care, ~Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

11-11-2002, 05:38 PM	#5
Capri306 Moderator Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA Posts: 1,001	Too many miles is when you whomp on it, and it blows blue smoke out the tailpipe, or it makes ungodly sounds when driving down the road (clunking, etc)...or in the case of automatics extreme slippage between gear changes. I dunno, it's kinda like women: every single one is different. I have 150k on mine, and I only bought it like 2or 3 years ago with about 92k on it. When I think about it, and how well it runs now (I think it's even better than when I first got it, to tell ya the truth, and the compression numbers prove it!), I just love telling people about it. That's why I laugh when people tell me that their cars are like only 3 or 4 years old and they blow blue smoke or go through a quart a week. Gimmie a good ol' 5.0 any day.... __________________ Capri306, Moderator The Mustang Works Online 1979 Mercury Capri 1987 5.0L Mustang LX Notchback 1993 5.8L Eddie Bauer Bronco

11-11-2002, 06:50 PM	#6
82 GT Import Slayer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 2,241	I bought my '88GT two years ago with 72K miles. It now has 84K miles. The previous owner never drove it in the winter and I don't either. I also live two blocks from where I work so I walk to work everyday. The only time I use my car is when my g/f isn't home with her car and when I don't want to be embarrassed showing up somewhere in her crappy looking Taurus........ I guess I have that rare car you're looking for..... __________________ '82 GT 351W (.060)Comp Cams 274* Extreme Energy cam, ported & polished heads w/ 1.94/1.60 valves 10.3:1 flat top pistons,stealth intake, Mallory dizzy,Holley 750dp carb, BBK shorties,Flowmaster exhaust,C-4 with 3700 stall converter, B&M pro shifter,8.8 rear, 4:10's, subframes, electric fan, powermaster alternator, 4 core radiator.

11-11-2002, 11:30 PM	#8
VeNuM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 464	Mine had 74k on it when I bought it this past June. It had a leaking waterpump, rear main, and valve covers. With some minor fixes it's in great mechanical shape. ~Brian __________________ 1989 Black Mustang GT Hatchback, Underdrive Pulles, Electric Fan, Cold Air Intake, Headers, Offroad H-Pipe, Magnaflow catback, Steeda Tri-Ax, Fluidyne Aluminum Radiator, Timing at 14*, 3.73's Coming not so soon: 408w Ricer Hater's Club Member #59

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