used car choice ... older low mileage vs newer high mileage

[SC Maintenance]

All things being equal - I prefer newer vs low miles. High miles wears out maintenance parts and can be expected (bearings, brakes, etc). High mile cars often spend much of their life at operating temp - which doesn't wear things out like short trips.

Plastic / rubber degrades over time driven or not. Parts get higher to find.

I am assuming vehicles that have history of lasting a long time. Both of the above options look like they have potential, probably boils down to condition on inspection.

 

[Hohn]

Drool at the Accord wagon, what a find!

 

[ctechbob]

I'm unfamiliar with Honda rotors. Are they square or something?

Others have already replied, but they're bang on. Has to be in the top 5 dumbest front rotors designs ever, and I will generally defend the side of Honda. Not this time, they were smoking crack when they did that.

 

[PF52]

Others have already replied, but they're bang on. Has to be in the top 5 dumbest front rotors designs ever, and I will generally defend the side of Honda. Not this time, they were smoking crack when they did that.

Worse than those JIS set screws they put on the rotors, that always strip out perhaps.

 

[ctechbob]

Worse than those JIS set screws they put on the rotors, that always strip out perhaps.

Ohh way worse. You just drill those out and chunk them in the trash.

 

[Jerrysends]

Low miles, older luxury cars are where my money goes. You just need to be able to maintain them yourself.

 

[supton]

Love the idea of the wagon, but sourcing parts for older cars, plus it sounds like issues were already identified as problem areas. Too bad you couldn't buy both...

The Prius C will need things. Well both will need things... but Prius C is up there. Thing is, it should have really good parts support I'd think. And most anyone can repair. I think it's the better bet between the two. Condition being good, although worn parts shouldn't deter too much, as long as it's factored into the cost (and even if it has no problems, make sure you have a repair fund).

 

[brages]

Others have already replied, but they're bang on. Has to be in the top 5 dumbest front rotors designs ever, and I will generally defend the side of Honda. Not this time, they were smoking crack when they did that.

Top 5 maybe, but Audi UFO rotors would probably be #1:

 

[fdcg27]

This was a really good generation of the Accord and the wagon is both rare and attractive.
I sold a '96 Accord LX 4dr with around 135K about two years ago that had basically sat for four years.
I used to jump start it just to move it around as needed.
It remains in daily use as a delivery vehicle and has needed only a brake light switch.
I'd personally go for the Accord.

 

[daves87rs]

Honda hands down. wagons are cool…..

 

[GR_CoB]

The Prius wins this one, although I still may grab the Honda too, if it doesn't sell soon.

Prius guy wanted $3500. Turns out he forgot to mention a few things, so I haggled down to $2200.
Drove around town (extended test drive) for more than 2 hours and all was mostly good. Nice cold AC, touch screen navigation, great engine and transmission, 45-55MPG indicated that whole time, etc. Then hybrid system started complaining, and I haggled it down to $1500. At that price I couldn't say no, so took it home.
Of course that was too good to be true though. (Note: Still no regrets on my end.)
40 miles into the trip the little Prius lost all power and lit up the Christmas tree on dash. I let the momentum roll me off the exit, and towed the Prius home on U-Haul dolly the remaining 50 miles. Found quite a few remanufactured & upgraded batteries with good warranties, decently priced. So hopefully soon this little Prius purrs back to life. All-in I should still end up under $3k. I'm okay with that.

 

[cptbarkey]

Prius for safety reasons. My sister has one and I drove it from DC to Miami for her as she had broke her ankle on some ice, excellent mpg and it drove fine.

That Accord probably doesn’t remotely compare in a front end collision.

 

[Elkins45]

The only way I would buy a car with 300k miles is in a life or death emergency. Honda wins by default.

 

[GR_CoB]

The only way I would buy a car with 300k miles is in a life or death emergency. Honda wins by default.

Normally - yes. But this is a proven and unkillable Toyota 1NZ engine. Connected to a proper planetary gear CVT, where there is quite literally nothing to break (looking at you Nissan & Mitsubishi). And I found a ton of these at even much higher mileage, 400k+ isn't uncommon. Plus before it died - it was getting 50MPG and engine/transmission worked great. For $1500 - it's cheaper than every single GEO Metro in my area, which is the only other car that's this efficient.
It's definitely not for everyone, but it sure does "tickle my pickle". I like wrenching on small stuff like this, while being able to daily it.
And apparently Ed Bolian also likes $1500 cars, I'll admit - his is cooler. But in his own words: "Mechanically totalled just for the fluids it needs"

 

[cammyfive79]

I bought a '14 TSX 3 months ago that had 25K miles on it at the time. I wouldn't have minded a higher mileage example but I'm more picky about condition of the cosmetics and what not that I always find myself buying something absurdly low miles so satisfy my standards. In theory, if someone had kept one as perfect as this one with 150K miles, I wouldn't have hesitated to buy it either. Of course with an older/low mileage car you need to budget for some TLC love/maintenance if it sat for a while.

 

[zzyzzx]

The only way I would buy a car with 300k miles is in a life or death emergency. Honda wins by default.

The only way I would buy a car with 300K miles, or more is if I paid scrap value for it.

 

[Hohn]

Worse than those JIS set screws they put on the rotors, that always strip out perhaps.

Those screws are a nothingburger. I just did brakes last weekend for a friend's Hyundai which had the exact same rotor screw setup.

Get the right tool:
https://www.vesseltools.com/handtools/screwdrivers/megadora/9802sc-detail

Put the screwdriver on the screw. Whack it with a 2# sledge. Unscrew and make that guy next to you with the EZ Outs and drill look like an idiot.

Seriously, it's like 2 solid blows and it comes loose. The car I did needed a couple more blows on one wheel because it was badly rusted.

Still got the screws out in perfect condition and was able to reuse them, even though the screws are not needed because they are only there for the factory to hold the rotors on as it goes down the line. They serve no purpose once the car is built and can be omitted in all future rotor swaps.

I screw them back in anyway (just lightly snugged) since they are held in by the wheel, there's no risk of them falling out or such.

 

[Elkins45]

Adding the qualifier “before it died” doesn’t help convince me you made the right choice.

I don’t have an issue buying junk and wrenching on it for fun (I’ve done it) but choosing the right junk is important. Maybe the Honda would have survived the drive home.

 

[crashz]

I'm not sure if rust is an issue in your area, but I would have been very careful with a 30+ year old Honda that has been sitting. I had a similar Civic that was nice on the exterior that nearly crumpled on lift due to undercarriage rust.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

the newer car is the better choice and will have less rust on it

The high miles in a a short time are likely to be highway miles that are easier on the car.

The old Accord has that hub over rotor, so brake pads are difficult job on that car.