Is it OK to Buy a Car with Over 100k Miles?

I’ve really wanted a C4 Cactus for a long time, but unfortunately, most within my budget have high mileage. My partner says not to buy anything with over 100k miles, but I’ve seen taxis with 200k before, so surely if it’s well looked after, it’ll be fine?

Modern vehicles can easily reach 150k - 200k miles if properly maintained. The Citroën C4 Cactus should be fine as long as it’s been well taken care of. Ask for service records and get a pre-purchase inspection. If they don’t have records or refuse an inspection, look elsewhere.

@jeff
Thanks! I’ve wanted this car since I passed my test, so I’m going to make sure everything is as good as possible before purchasing.

Yes, it’s definitely okay to buy a car with over 100k miles, but it depends on the model’s reputation and the vehicle’s service history. Make sure the car is in good condition.

Nathan said:
Yes, it’s definitely okay to buy a car with over 100k miles, but it depends on the model’s reputation and the vehicle’s service history. Make sure the car is in good condition.

Am I able to ask a dealership to allow me to take the car to a garage for a full inspection before purchasing?

If it has maintenance records, sure. Newer cars are fine over 100k. The C4 Cactus is a European model, right? Is it the diesel or the 1.2L inline 3? Look up engine-specific issues for that year and see if any of them have been addressed. The inline 3 has a wet timing belt, which can be unreliable.

@Gabriel
Would the diesel engine be better in the long run?

Citroën’s petrol engines aren’t known for their durability. Google ‘1.2 PureTech wet belt’ and you’ll see the issues.

Howard said:
Citroën’s petrol engines aren’t known for their durability. Google ‘1.2 PureTech wet belt’ and you’ll see the issues.

Would you recommend going with diesel, then?

Randy said:

Howard said:
Citroën’s petrol engines aren’t known for their durability. Google ‘1.2 PureTech wet belt’ and you’ll see the issues.

Would you recommend going with diesel, then?

It depends on your driving habits. Modern diesel engines can break down with short-distance driving. If you drive long distances (40 km or more each way), diesel could be a good choice.

@Howard
Short distances are my usual driving pattern.

Randy said:
@Howard
Short distances are my usual driving pattern.

In that case, avoid diesel. You might want to look at more reliable petrol options from other models.

As long as it’s priced fairly, sure!

I bought my car at around 100k miles, and after two years and 40k more miles, it’s running well. The key is staying on top of maintenance. Keep some funds aside for repairs—mechanical parts will wear out eventually. Don’t ignore small leaks or unusual noises, and address them promptly.

@Ronald
Good advice. I’ll make sure to have a decent repair budget ready, just in case.

Yes, it’s fine to buy a car with over 100k miles, but I wouldn’t do it in today’s used car market. Prices are higher than they used to be, so you may not get as much of a discount as in the past.

Connie said:
Yes, it’s fine to buy a car with over 100k miles, but I wouldn’t do it in today’s used car market. Prices are higher than they used to be, so you may not get as much of a discount as in the past.

It’s something I’m considering for a few months down the line, so I’m just doing my research early.

If it’s a 1.2L PureTech or 1.6L THP petrol engine, don’t walk away—run away! There’s a good chance the engine won’t last much longer. Diesel, however, can be more reliable, so if the inspection looks good, a diesel could last you another 50k-100k miles.