Buying advice needed!

[capt jack]

Please could I ask for some advice and comments? Early in the new year I need to source a car for a new job. A company car is on offer, but I'm not entirely taken with the choices offered. I'm Volvo through and through, and much prefer to drive an automatic, neither of which feature in the company choices on offer.

So I'm thinking of a V40 or V40 Cross Country, or maybe an S60.

I've owned all sorts of Volvos, from an 1800ES, through 200, 300, 700 and 900-series cars, several p1 S and V70s, and my current chariot (which I'll be keeping) a 1997 S90 3-litre auto.

My choice of new car must be less than 5 years old and dish out not more than 140g/km CO emissions. Other than that I want an auto, petrol or diesel, with leather seats.

Now there are cars around with up to around 35k miles with ticket prices of up to £12k, and there are also cars at 95k miles for around £8k.

So, should I go for a car that has a lower mileage and pay the the premium, or should I give serious consideration to a high-miler? I'm expecting to do 25k miles a year, and so the idea appeals of getting perhaps a higher mileage car and keeping it for say 18-24 months - just too be sure that the new job works out OK.

On the other hand is it daft to expect a 90k miler to be good for another 50k miles?

I'm not frightened by higher mileages on cars that have been properly maintained. My record is 300k in a p1 V70, but I've nudged 150k in both a 740 and a 940, and our S70 is currently on 205,000.

Adding say 50k to a well-maintained 90k miler should be relatively pain free - shouldn't it?

Thoughts welcome!

Cheers

Jack

[Fantastic]

Depends what you need the 'company car' for... S60 offers bigger boot if you need space for 'stuff' and a bit more comfort. V40 and V40CC small boot but maybe a bit more driving fun.

As for mileage, maybe just me, but adding 50k to a 35k must be better than adding 50k to a 90k, as you won't really know how each has been treated by probably the 'one careful owner' 😀.

[Thassos]

Cars approaching 80-90k will probably need a new clutch (plus maybe DMF if they have had a hard life) and youll be approaching some major services like cambelt/aux etc, the cost of those together could be adding £1400-2K depending on what needs doing and who you get to do it, so adding that into the mix, might make the lower milage cars seem more attractive, also depends how long you have to find your perfect car.. S60s seem to be less attractive than V40s based on prices ive seen so perhaps a low miler S60 would be a good option? although the newer S60 seems to have internal hinges which makes its box shifting capabilities even more limited A credible service history is a must, have seen some ex lease/company cars with no oil changes for 40k miles..