High mileage bargain or rip-off? | Ford Fiesta News & FAQs

Hi there,

I've found a really good Ford Fiesta but I'm thinking maybe it's too good for its price. It's a 1.4 TDCI 3dr style, 2006 reg and priced at £3,500.

The mileage on the car is 112,000 but has only had one previous keeper and the service history can be tracked down since it was on finance.

I took it for a test drive and it drives perfectly. I'm kind of dubious since I've been looking around for a car for quite a while now and never come across anything like it.

I don't know any mechanics that I could take with me to view the car. I've put a refundable deposit on the car until I get some advice on it.

What's your take on it?

Is it too good to be true?

Thanks for your help.

Hi

Well, as you will know from our Ford Fiesta price pages or magazine, the market value for a 4 year old1.4 TDCI 3dr is  £5,500 - but then the real average mileage is also only 43,000.

Even cars that are 8 years old, i.e. some of the first off the production line, only have a average of 75,000 miles. And their market value is about £3,500.

So, if it were me, I would be inclined to look for an 8 year old car with 35,000 miles less on the clock and a full service history for the same money.

Diesel engines work under huge pressue and something with 112,000 miles, no matter how much it has been serviced and no matter how carefully it has been driven, has a greater chance of breaking down.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news