Buying cars with a lot of k's

[slutvs]

Hey guys. I'm selling my commodore ute due to it being really impractical and doesn't suit my lifestyle. Plus the fuel it guzzles is stupid. I've got my eye on a small vitara in amazing condition with a lot of extras and
12 months rego etc but has done 320 000ks. It's selling really cheap as well but don't know if I trust buying a car with that many on it. Although he says it's always serviced and has never had major engine problems etc. is it safe to buy a car with that many ks? Or has anyone bought something similar

[HSV5L]

He says he has allways serviced it and never had major problems.. Dont believe that. Ks are high for a 4 cylinder. Dont beleve what they say like one owner etc. Dont trust anyone ftw..

[HSV5L]

How much is cheap i would not pay anymore than $500 with good rego but i wouldnt buy it. Holdens and fords are the best imo.

[calais24/7]

i dont know anything about vitara's or how well/shit they are built. either way that is fairly high kms, and i probably wouldnt touch it. a link to the car would be good

[wraith]

If he has proof of a good servicing history then it may be fine. How ever I wouldn't just go off what the seller tells you. Also it's not as easy as Holden and Ford good rest bad. Simplistic view is simplistic.

[steve44]

suzuki's are a good little car! my mums got a sierra with 320 000 kms on it and still running (good for a 1.3 litre),
has the vitara motor had a rebuild or replace?

[ephect]

U need to do ur research properly, if ur really keen on the vitara, ring Suzuki and speak to the service team, rattle their brains, they should be able to give u some pointers to help make ur decision. they built, service them so they can help.

It may be fine and only be half way through it's normal life, or on it's last legs.

[ozrockracing]

You dont say how old the Vitara is, if it has hone 320 000 and it is only 5 years old, that is a lot of milage, it it is 10 years old, the milage is still high but a lot more acceptable.
In most cases, 15 000 to 20 000 k's per year is the accepted average, but you might want to get a mechanical inspection done by a good reliable mechanic, they will check compression and engine condition and report back to you with their findings, it is a small price to pay if it saves you buying a car that the motor is shagged in.
Does the owner have the log books all filled out? If there are no log books and no bucket load of receipts, I would be very wary, your bargain car could turn into a Hemoraging wallet very quickly.
New motor for one of those little Suzuki's could cost you a few thousand, a new gearbox is also expensive and will make your little bargain a little nightmare.

If you are looking for a cheap run-about, there are some good reports on the new Cherry brand vehicles, and they are only $17 990 for the Rav 4 looking one, probably not as good, but for the price, worth a look and a bit of research.

[m1lky]

Mechanics will only ever remember that one bad one, rather than the hundreds of good ones.

Almost a of the vitaras I see have done over 250k and seem fine. Keep it serviced and should be fine.

[VYMAD]

Personal opinion; No I wouldn't buy ANY car with that many k's. But, just my opinion. Maybe it's a good car, but like already said, pay a few bucks for a reliable mechanic to check it over and compression test it.

[The_Captain]

High k's I agree! If you're not mechanically minded why not opt for a check from a qualified mechanic/racv?

Ask for a compression test etc

Do a search for what to look for as there have been plenty of posts on this subject

Best of luck but be careful

Cheers !

[slutvs]

thanks for the feedback guys really appreciate the help. ive asked for the phone number and adress of the mechanic he goes to aand am gonna go sus out everything about it through the week and he agreed to let me take it there on my own and get it checked so he hasnt got much to hide by the sounds of it (so i hope) and its a 93 model. so for 19 years old cant expect anything better

[steve44]

suzuki's are a good little car! my mums got a sierra with 320 000 kms on it and still running (good for a 1.3 litre),
has the vitara motor had a rebuild or replace?

sorry, it's got 383000 kms. just caught up with mumsy 2day.
a few things have f#cked up on it but nothing major, its full of rust but my gramps keeps up with mechanical maintance

[ozrockracing]

For a 19 year old car the K's are sounding a lot better than I first thought, I would still be getting an independant mechanical assessment on the car.

His mechanic has a fiduciary responsibility to his client, so he is unlikely to offer up any known problems, whereas an independant mechanic is working for you, and putting his name to the fitness of the vehicle, giving you an oportunity to come back at him in down the track if anything that he should have discovered and missed, turns up in the immediate future.

[ari666]

vitaras rust like crazy (rwc item)
vitaras tip over
vitaras failed most crash tests, why they were ever allowed in aus is beyond me.
suzuki make engine that last almost as long as toyota.
suzuki parts are not cheap but there are heaps of spares.
vitaras are ugly and make you seem like a homosexual.

4 nei, 2 yea

[someguy360]

I bought both of my last 2 cars with over 300,000km on them.

My subaru I managed to rack up 450,000 before I did any work on the engine and the commodore I just did gaskets etc to keep it healthy.

Aslong as you know what your looking for and can see the cars past then you should be right.

Mileage doesn't mean much to me anymore, I buy a car on the condition and history of the car, not the mileage

[slutvs]

vitaras rust like crazy (rwc item)
vitaras tip over
vitaras failed most crash tests, why they were ever allowed in aus is beyond me.
suzuki make engine that last almost as long as toyota.
suzuki parts are not cheap but there are heaps of spares.
vitaras are ugly and make you seem like a homosexual.

4 nei, 2 yea

As long as the engine lasts long Im happy. And in saying thatbid rather drive a homosexual car than spend my whole weeks pay filling up my commodore haha.

[slutvs]

I bought both of my last 2 cars with over 300,000km on them.

My subaru I managed to rack up 450,000 before I did any work on the engine and the commodore I just did gaskets etc to keep it healthy.

Aslong as you know what your looking for and can see the cars past then you should be right.

Mileage doesn't mean much to me anymore, I buy a car on the condition and history of the car, not the mileage

I'm honestly in the same boat. It's not like I'm gonna have it for 10 years I just want a cheap runabout that's good on fuel and can take me On the beach and bush

[m1lky]

Mileage doesn't mean much to me anymore, I buy a car on the condition and history of the car, not the mileage

This man hit the nail on the head. Would you rather a car with 100k, serviced twice in its life and had the shit raped out of it. Or a car with 300k that's well serviced and looked after?

[slutvs]

This man hit the nail on the head. Would you rather a car with 100k, serviced twice in its life and had the shit raped out of it. Or a car with 300k that's well serviced and looked after?

THAAAAAAAAAAANKYOU! ive been thinking that the whole time. just another update, the dude who owns it is 55 which is a positive! ive been talking to him, am going to drive it next week and take it to my mechanic which he agreed to let me do. will let youse all know how i go

[wraith]

THAAAAAAAAAAANKYOU! ive been thinking that the whole time. just another update, the dude who owns it is 55 which is a positive! ive been talking to him, am going to drive it next week and take it to my mechanic which he agreed to let me do. will let youse all know how i go

Excellent outcome mate. Fingers crossed.