It can be very difficult to answer the question “What mileage will be normal for a car?”, since the condition vehicle does not always depend on the number of kilometers left behind. However, on secondary market this indicator is very much manipulated, and if the car has low mileage, then its price can be like a new one. Below we will try to figure out what mileage a used car should have, how this can be reflected in its condition, and what the “twisting” of mileage indicators leads to.
Is it possible to clearly answer the question, what does the “norm” depend on? How to approximately calculate normal mileage when buying a car? How to determine real mileage car? Does the condition of the car depend only on the mileage?
Is it possible to clearly answer the question, what determines the "norm"?
The concept of “normal mileage” for a car is very vague, since it is very difficult to determine what mileage is considered high for a foreign car. The difficulty arises due to the following factors:
Important! The mileage of a car is determined not by the speedometer (the phrase “twisted speedometer” is popularly used), but by the odometer. After all, the speedometer determines the speed of the car, but on the odometer, which can be located directly near the arrow of the speedometer, kilometers are credited.
Where was the car running? If abroad, where the roads are of relatively high quality, and car owners take good care of the car and replace all consumables on time, then even if the car wound 20 thousand km every year, this will not affect its general condition. But if we are talking about a foreign car that left the salon for domestic roads, then even if average mileage car for the year will be 2 thousand km., this cannot promise excellent condition such a car.
How old is the car? The older the car, and the greater its mileage, the lower it will cost, as these indicators indicate the wear and tear of the car and its parts. However, even a very old car can have very low mileage.
About what type car is coming speech? If it's small passenger car for a city, then it can run about 20-30 thousand kilometers per year, if an SUV used exclusively for traveling out of town - it is unlikely that it will be able to wind up ten thousand in a year, and if a heavy-duty car that was in permanent operation, then it can wind 10 thousand km even within 1 month.
Thus, the normal mileage for a car should be calculated as a mathematical formula, in which, in addition to the mileage, it is worth correlating the origin of the car, its age, the number of owners, the presence of accidents, the type of car and its general state.
Did you know? When determining the mileage of a car, you need to take the indicator on its odometer, and divide by the age of the car (or the time it was owned by the seller).
In fact, the concept of high / low mileage appeared in car markets, where it is beneficial for owners of cars with low mileage to focus on this, trying to prove to buyers that their car is as new as possible and has hardly been used. But if you are going to buy a used car, you should not pay special attention to all these stories about the “norm” of mileage.
What average mileage per year is considered normal?
The average car mileage per year and its norm, again, are rather vague concepts. The optimal mileage for a used car should be approximately 20-30 thousand km per year, and then if the car has been regularly used. If it was used occasionally, many drivers wind up no more than 5 thousand km a year.
In any case, when buying a car, you should ask the seller as detailed as possible about the car and how he used it, and then correlate these data with the indicators on the odometer. If, in general, the picture looks logical and you have no doubts about the presence of deception, then you have a really normal mileage.
As for how much mileage a car is considered to have, it is impossible to give an exact answer to this question for the reasons described in the previous section. For each type of car, its own mileage is calculated, and, for example, in the case of heavy vehicles, even 200 thousand km per year will not be considered excessively high mileage.
But if you are going to sell your passenger car, then a car with a mileage of more than 30 thousand km per year will be offered at a lower price, since such a mileage is quite large for it. If, for example, we are talking about a five-year-old city car, then it should have an indicator on the odometer from 80 to 120 thousand km. The greater the mileage of such a car, the lower its price will be.
When determining the mileage of a car, it is worth objectively assessing the condition of the car. If it looks fairly used and the mileage is minimal, you should have additional questions for the seller: “Does the odometer show the correct mileage?”, “Is the seller the original owner of this car?”, “Has the car been in an accident, and what Did she endure the renovation?
To roughly calculate what mileage will be normal for specific vehicle, you should ask the seller for the following information: “How old is the car?” and “How intensively was it exploited?”.
For example, if a taxi driver sells a car, then even a 5-year-old foreign car can have a mileage of more than 200,000 km. And this figure for this car will be normal. If the car is sold by a married couple who used it only for rare trips to their summer cottage, then even for a 20-year-old car, the mileage of only 100 thousand km will not be surprising.
It is also worth understanding that in order to increase the value of their car on the market, many motorists resort to illegal manipulations, such as twisting odometer readings. Unfortunately, it is possible to falsify indicators both on mechanical device, as well as electronically. If you have any doubts about the veracity of the mileage claimed by the seller, it will not be superfluous to check it.
How to determine the actual mileage of a car?
In order to “get to the bottom of the truth” and find out how much the car offered to you for purchase actually ran, first of all, it is worth checking the odometer for interference.
If we are talking about a mechanical device, then you can see signs of interference with its integrity by the state of the speedometer drive cable, which is attached to the gearbox. If it is noticeable that it has recently been dismantled and re-screwed, you can bring reasonable charges of fraud to the seller.
Another clue is the position of the numbers on the odometer. If they are set exactly in one lane, they were most likely twisted, because if the device really counted kilometers, the numbers would appear on the dial gradually.
Calculate cheat on electronic odometer much more difficult, since tampering with the car's ECU is very difficult to determine. At a minimum, you will have to contact a service center where specialists can do this with the help of special equipment.
Did you know? In America, for trying to deceive the buyer and twist the odometer, the car owner can be sentenced to criminal punishment.
The service workers who last changed the oil on the car can also tell you the real mileage of the car (unless, of course, former owner contacted the service center). According to existing rules, the masters must leave a sticker on the car with the date of the last replacement and the mileage that the car had at that moment.
A hint that the car is really old, no matter what mileage it has on the odometer, will also be the condition of the interior. Why salon? Because, often, during repairs, it is the body that is restored - to give it newness, you can simply repaint it and the buyer is unlikely to guess that the car was in a serious accident. But the interior is usually given less attention, so its condition can tell you a lot about how the former owner treated his “four-wheeled friend” and how long he will last. In particular:
See how the hinges on the car doors work - whether they sag and whether backlash is created when opened.
Assess the condition of the driver's seat. With a run of 100 thousand km., You will 100% see a worn seat. If the mileage exceeded 200 thousand km, then the skin on driver's seat it will certainly be covered with cracks, if it is fabric - it may already be completely torn.
The timing belt is another, very true indicator of mileage. If a very insignificant number is shown on the odometer, and when dismantling the belt you see that it is already very worn out, most likely the numbers were twisted. But if the belt is completely new, then the mileage of the car is so high that the owner has already had to change it. Inspect also the radiator from its frontal part. If the car has a mileage of more than 100 thousand km, then it will have multiple damage from impacts of stones and sand.
Important! You can find out the real mileage of a car that was brought into the country from abroad using special questionnaires on car sales services. If the car "arrived" from Japan, you can find it at one of the auctions, where they will definitely be present auction sheets. If it's about american car, try to find the car in the Autochesk or Carfax database.
How more mileage, the more it will change its color and exhaust pipe becoming more and more red. There is no such sign only if the car has a mileage of up to 50 thousand km. Pay attention to color too exhaust gas. If it is gray or black, then there are problems with the engine, which in turn indicates a high mileage.
Another way to find out about the real mileage is to contact the official service center. But again, this option is only possible if we are talking about a foreign car that the driver serviced under warranty.
Important! If you do not know the reliable mileage of the car, you will not be able to timely replace Supplies which in turn can lead to an accident.
And, finally, compare the indicator on the odometer with the state car protectors. If the cars were really driven a lot, they will be heavily erased, although often, before selling, many car owners put new protectors on the car (it is clear that this is done solely in order to sell the car at a higher price).
Does the condition of the car depend only on the mileage?
In fact, no, and the answer to the question, “What mileage is critical for a car?”, In each individual case, can be different. A car, even with the lowest mileage, can be so worn out that after leaving the parking lot it will crumble into pieces. Often this is due to driving style, and driving conditions - off-road always leaves an imprint on the car.
But if the owner resorted to service maintenance in time, and changed all worn out parts only to originals, then even the largest mileage indicator will not be able to tell about the real state of the car.
Therefore, when buying a used car, always pay attention to its technical condition, and if possible, arrange with the seller to conduct independent expertise V service center or any station. So you can find out not only how much the car has already traveled, but also to guess how much it can actually travel and whether it is worth buying.
Thus, the indicator on the odometer should not be treated as the final verdict of the condition of the car. This indicator is only relevant in the implementation after-sales service, which is recommended to be carried out after a certain number of wound kilometers.
A vehicle's mileage is the total number of kilometers that the vehicle has traveled on the road since it left the manufacturer's assembly line. In order to measure mileage, special sensors are installed in each car, the readings of which are displayed on dashboard cars.To measure these readings, the car has a special device - an odometer: its scale is usually built into another apparatus, called a speedometer, which serves to determine the speed of a moving car. Therefore, in order to find out what is the total mileage of the vehicle you are interested in, you should pay attention to the odometer scale. In most cases, it is located directly below or above the place where the speedometer needle is attached.
Significance of mileage
The importance of car mileage when buying a used vehicle can hardly be overestimated. The fact is that mileage is the main indicator that affects the wear of all car systems, so in most cases it can be said with certainty that the greater the car’s mileage, the older it is, and its systems are worn out.Knowing this, often car owners, when selling a used car, tend to pass it off as more new car by lowering the odometer reading: this action is very common on an unofficial automotive market and even acquired a special name - “twist the mileage”.
Nevertheless, it is still possible to establish the real mileage of the car with a sufficient degree of probability even in this case. Firstly, it is worth taking into account the average mileage during the standard mode of operation of the vehicle in the city. Experts say that the use of the car in the "home-work" mode on weekdays and the implementation of relatively close, within 50 kilometers one way, weekend trips in total provides the car with about 10 thousand kilometers per year. Therefore, if you see a ten-year-old car in front of you, the total mileage of which is about 30 thousand, it is highly likely that it has undergone an adjustment.
However, it should be borne in mind that the mileage is only one of the indicators that allow you to assess the margin of safety of a car. In addition, you should pay attention to the general condition of the car, which is usually quite expressive evidence of the intensity of its operation. So, the degree of wear of the main components of the engine can show how high the level of depreciation of the machine is, and what is the expected period during which it can serve you without any problems.
Autoworld lives by its own laws, sometimes not entirely clear to ordinary buyers. Price tags in car dealerships are often surprising, and sometimes just shocking. Meanwhile, these figures almost always have a more serious reason than the dealer's greed. We list the main factors that play a role in pricing in the new car market.
The first principle is “Size matters”
Size matters
How more car the more expensive it is? But lately, the rule has acquired so many exceptions that it has almost lost its relevance.
In the twentieth century, it did not work only when premium cars were compared with the usual "consumer goods". BMW 3 Series or Mercedes C-class were expectedly more expensive than similar-sized Fords and Opels (often the price difference was symbolic).
Today, this rule is preserved: for the cost of a premium hatchback, you can afford a sedan of a higher class.
For example:
But the twenty-first century brought a phenomenon called "new budget car", and one of the first of these was Renault Logan- a sedan of a very solid size, noticeably inferior in price Renault hatchback Clio and even the baby Nissan Micra who had with him common platform. The Logan experience was quickly picked up by other manufacturers, and today the most available models in salons Russian dealers Volkswagen, Nissan, Hyundai are exactly budget sedans.
In most cases, such cars are replacing small, but not so cheap models from the line.
Ford Fiesta, one of the best-selling cars in Europe, has been retired in favor of Ford Focus.
Volkswagen Polo, the award-winning European hatchback, was withdrawn from sales in Russia so as not to interfere with Volkswagen Polo sedan.
Renault Clio could not compete with Renault Logan/Sandero.
The Hyundai i20 offered in Europe was significantly inferior in Russia and is no longer offered.
We mention the feature Russian market— Epic love for sedans. On the one hand, sales statistics seem to confirm this love, just look at the list above.
On the other hand, there is reason to believe that it is inflated by marketers and is supported exclusively by pricing policy. In cases where one model is available with several body styles, with rare exceptions, the lowest base price(and what are buyers more interested in?) has a sedan. Sometimes this is justified by a more complex design - for example, a hatchback backseat it is regulated in the longitudinal direction, while in the sedan it is fixed rigidly - but most often the difference in price is either purely fashion-forward or due to rich equipment.
Station wagons and coupes are the most expensive, although in the latter case design changes are significant (for example, the front suspension of Opel Astra GTC).
Last but not least, the price is affected by the technical "stuffing"
The price is also affected by the technical "stuffing"
More powerful engine, automatic transmission gears, four-wheel drive (when possible) - everything costs extra money, and a lot of it. Therefore, by the way, front-wheel drive pseudo-crossovers are very popular with us, outwardly indistinguishable from “real ones”, but more modest both in technical terms and in terms of equipment. For many models, especially Asian brands, one thing is inextricably linked with the other: a smaller engine with "mechanics" usually cannot be obtained in rich performance, and a top power unit, on the contrary, is not available with an "empty" configuration.
This can be illustrated by a list of modifications and configurations. Mitsubishi ASX. Four-wheel drive can only be obtained with the "older" two-liter engine. And a 1.6-liter engine cannot be bought with a CVT or in a good configuration.
And you also need to be prepared for the fact that an initially inexpensive car, even in the top version, will not show you technical miracles: if it has a classic “automatic”, it will most likely be a four-speed (although recently there have been many exceptions with modern automatic transmissions: Volkswagen polo sedan, Kia Rio, Hyundai Solaris), robotic box will “slow down” and twitch, and the variator and center clutch (for crossovers) can quickly overheat. The point is that in modern cars a lot depends on the precise operation of electronics, and manufacturers, at every opportunity, save not only on hardware, but also on software.
For the "convenience" in the form of additional options you have to pay on top
Continuing the topic of equipment, it is impossible not to mention that promotional materials always indicate the minimum price of the car. It's called "price from". The difference in cost can be significant, from 30 to 50 percent or even higher.
Let's illustrate on the example of several popular models:
But such a wide range of prices is due not only to configurations, but also to different “techniques” - more powerful motors, automatic transmission, all-wheel drive.
How big is the variation in prices within one modification? Less, about 20-30 percent.
But there are also options that are recruited separately, in addition to package configurations. As a result, the final cost of the car can easily grow by another 10-20 percent against the declared one. Dial options one at a time are usually offered European manufacturers. On the one hand, this approach can be considered more flexible - the buyer orders what he really needs. On the other hand, the same “Koreans” or “Japanese”, whom we often reproach for inflating prices to the level of more eminent competitors, are still a little more honest in this regard.
However, equipping cars with a sufficient package of options is already in basic configuration becomes a rule of good taste in the premium segment. For example, Mercedes-Benz sells many of its models in " Special Series”, where the most popular options are already available, and such machines are somewhat cheaper than similar options with the same set of options ordered separately. BMW does the same with cars. Kaliningrad assembly. But they have more package options.
At all-wheel drive BMW 320d xDrive "packages" three:
And the petrol 320i has two (not counting basic version), and with other names:
For the prestige of the brand, you also need to pay extra
Hardly anyone doubts this, although there are brands today with a very blurry image. Let's say Chevrolet is and:
tiny budget Spark from Korea,
Russian Niva;
European sedan And cruze hatchback;
real American supercar Corvette Stingray.
IN similar cases sometimes you can talk about the birth of sub-brands. So, the budget sedan Volkswagen Polo sedan, nicknamed "semi-sedan", is considered by many to be not quite a real "Volkswagen". A representative Kia Quoris the manufacturer is trying in every possible way to distance himself from the "plebeian" Rio and Picanto.
In addition, it is customary for the people to separate cars of the same brand and even models, but produced at different factories: for example, at the beginning of sales of the current Toyota Camry it was fashionable to chase more expensive copies Japanese assembly, preferring them to sedans produced in St. Petersburg. However, this difference is not due to best quality, but by the fact that in Russia the most popular and mass-produced versions of a particular model are usually assembled, and “piece goods” are imported from abroad.
In principle, any brand, even the most democratic, can be overvalued, which was shown by Ford, which lost 40 percent in the first half of 2014. Russian sales compared to the same period in 2013.
Summary
For simplicity, we summarize our reasoning as follows. The price of a car is increased by 4 main factors: dimensions, technical "stuffing", level of equipment and prestige of the brand. What you are willing to give up when choosing is up to you. Or open next material We'll show you how you can save money.
The price tag for a used car depends on its appearance, technical condition, model popularity, brand prestige. Of course, the greed of the owner also contributes. But we will focus on the main points that affect the cost of a car in the secondary market.
Mileage
Simple truth: what more car"run", the lower its value falls. Here there is a conflict between the seller and the buyer. The first wants to sell more expensive, the second wants to buy cheaper. Therefore, a “compromise” was found, so to speak. On almost every used car, this very mileage is twisted to a psychologically acceptable level.
Therefore, you can easily find an advertisement for the sale of a conditional Passat B6 2010 with a figure of 50-60 thousand kilometers on the odometer, and an obligatory postscript: “the third car in the family, they practically didn’t drive.” And the potential buyer has a so-called sense of false calmness. But if he decides to carry out the maximum diagnostics of the car, experts will quickly find inconsistencies with the "legend": the technical condition of the car will give it away.
This applies to almost all cars on the secondary market: 9 out of 10 of them have real mileage that does not match the odometer reading. You can even find a 20 or 30 year old Mercedes with less than 100,000 miles on it. Well, they allegedly didn’t drive it all these years - and that’s it.
Visual component
Particularly negligent sellers do not even try to make any marafet. This is usually explained by the phrase: "I have nothing to be ashamed of, let them think what they want."
At the same time, scratches, traces of rust, chips or dents on the body are not an argument for them in favor of reducing the cost of the car - "the car was driving." The same applies to any damage to the glass. In fact, such "jambs" greatly affect the resale value of the car. Therefore, an experienced buyer with eloquence can knock out a solid discount from the seller.
Affects the price, of course, and the condition of the cabin. If the chairs are heavily worn, or sewn up in some places, and some light bulbs do not work, this is A good reason start trading. The same applies to foreign odors. The "spirit" of cigarettes or something even more specific hits the price tag hard.
But, as a rule, sellers polish up so that the car looks like a new one. Spend pre-sale preparation, hide scratches and chips, update the interior. As a result, the car is in the category of "sit down and go." And this quite ordinary trick can work for someone.
By the way, in order not to get into a mess, you should take a closer look at the steering wheel and gearshift lever. Scuffs and scratches on them are more difficult to hide.
"Filling"
And here is the most interesting. Any deviation from the norm entails a reduction in the price tag. Be it extraneous noise, oil smudges, twitches, squeaks, etc.
Engage in serious repairs, for example, the "seventh" BMW start 2000s before the sale, no one will. Because it will result in a fantastic amount. And as soon as something went wrong with the "German", they try to get rid of him. Therefore, the price tag of 700 thousand rubles, or even 600 thousand, should not please, but alert. Yes, the car will run. And, quite possibly, some problem will come out after a certain time, but it will definitely come out. Moreover, the first one is really serious breakdown is able to return to the mortal earth the most careless and arrogant person.
Influence the price and checks / orders / waybills on the work performed. When the service history of a used car is transparent, then the price tag, accordingly, does not decrease much. Everyone wins, however. The seller will receive the right amount, and the buyer may not be afraid to run into "pitfalls".
If everything is not going smoothly with the history of the car, you need to spare no expense and conduct the most thorough inspection. try on paintwork thickness gauge, check the condition of the suspension, motor and box. Most likely, the money spent can be beaten off at the expense of the seller's discount.
Rust
Everything is clear here. A self-respecting motorist should not have rust on a car. But sometimes its occurrence cannot be prevented. This is especially true after winter season. It just so happened that the Russian winter is now severe not with frost, but with reagents, from which, first of all, cars suffer. And if the rust is superficial, it can be quickly and efficiently removed. And if it's running...
There are two ways. First, sell the car with rust, dropping the price. Secondly, try to eliminate rust and hide the "traces of the crime." But then to say that the car was not painted is stupid: a painted element will easily reveal a thickness gauge.
Color and tuning
Here, too, everything is quite interesting. Classics, as you know, never get old. Therefore, the price of cars in black, silver or white will always be higher than those painted in red, green or yellow.
In addition, a car in non-standard colors is always sold worse. The same applies to various car "tattoos". Not everyone wants to see on their "steel horse" the image of some animal or mythical creature.
Tuning is also not easy. That garage "pumping", that "pumping" of qualified craftsmen is estimated by sellers, oddly enough, almost always the same. And the cost of the car, of course, in this case will be overestimated.
Geography and demand
Everyone knows that the larger the city, the cheaper cars are there. Therefore, buyers are drawn in strings from conditional Tambov, Lipetsk, Bryansk and other regions to Moscow or St. Petersburg. After all, the difference in cost can be quite substantial.
Affects the price tag for resale and the need of the population for this brand, its prevalence. It is clear that a car from any limited series will cost more than their usual "brothers". On the other side, popular crossovers- same Renault Duster- do not lose much during resale precisely because of the demand.
Those who are going to buy a car, it will be useful to know what factors affect its value. Suppose you see that the car has passed anti-corrosion treatment, an alarm system is installed on it, the seller offers a set as a bonus winter tires– is this a reason to pay more?
Factors that increase the cost of a car
- Multifunctional alarm.
- Expensive tires good condition.
- A set of new seasonal tires.
- Salon tuning. This refers to functional tuning, not related to beauty guidance. Like new seats.
Factors that do not affect the cost of the car
- Anti-corrosion coating.
- Normal alarm.
- The presence of an acoustic system.
- Availability of a second-hand seasonal set of tires.
- Fresh paint.
Factors that reduce the cost of a car
- Tuning. First, the tuning was carried out in accordance with the tastes previous owner, and not the fact that innovations will add comfort to you. Secondly, some upgrades, if they are not carried out by the most competent specialist, may carry risks, for example, changes in the brake system.
- If the car had more than 2 owners. Let's say the car is in good condition, but every now and then it is resold. There are likely reasons for this. Perhaps the fuel consumption is too high, or it is difficult to get spare parts for this model, or the machine has defects that are detected directly during operation. You can ask the seller about this, but he is unlikely to give a truthful answer. So carefully weigh the pros and cons before you decide to buy.
- The discrepancy between the age of the car and the mileage. If the car is more than 10 years old, and the mileage is up to 50 thousand km, this is a warning sign. Either the odometer reading is twisted or the car long periods time stood in the garage. In the second case, you are most likely guaranteed to repair the engine and chassis, because when idle they become unusable Rubber products and the car is susceptible to corrosion. Consider buying a used car if it costs half its price to repair.
- Modernized fuel system. If you also see additional devices on the panel, lowered suspension, it can be assumed that the owner of the car was trying to play the role of a racer. And, therefore, the car was exploited mercilessly, and you will hardly get satisfaction from buying it.
How more factors you will take into account, evaluating the adequacy of the seller's requests, the more profitable the transaction will be. If you really want to buy this particular model and have doubts, ask an expert from among your friends for help, invite him to participate in the inspection - thus you will avoid unnecessary expenses.
