If you are going to use as dd, and put like 15k miles/year, then no point in spending more for low miles, as you ae going to quickly eat away and cause much depreciation very quickly (even if you aren't going to sell, if there is an accident or something, you could lose a lot).

If it were me, I'd look for something in the 70k mile range. You won't be depreciating much as you rack up miles. Plus, if you keep it a long time, real long time, the difference between say 230k miles and 290k isn't going to be such a big deal (comparing buying @ 30k vs 70k, then racking up 200k miles.)

 

I would still go for the one with the lowest mileage if it is cleaner than a 70k car and has been taken care of, depreciation be damned. Yes, you can find 100k plus examples that are still clean and cared for, this is true. I've owned 4 S' now and the one I now daily only had ~54k on it when I got it, now at 73k in less than 8 months, and still looks brand new (never saw rain prior to my ownership). My first S had more miles on it when I bought it and had been winter driven, had surface rust that had to be neutralized and then protected from, calipers seized, etc. The other two both had 40-47k on them. Buying the near-showroom spotless one I have now allowed me to do a lot of preventative maintenance now and not have to worry about things in the future, like the top tearing (still original with no tears and now lined with rubber inserts to prevent tears), all bushings/bolts/fasteners removed and coated/lubricated, reinstalled (ease of removal in the future, no worries about seizing), a-arms and exposed metal underbody treated/painted. The 40+ hours of work invested in the first week of ownership will keep the car like new for many years to come. These kinds of things may not be important to some people, but I intend to DD my S indefinitely and want it to be as trouble-free an experience as possible. I would also like the body to outlast more than one drivetrain lifespan, given that the car doesn't get wrecked.

 

I'm the third owner on mine. The next guy who buys this car will have a mint 100k+ car with zero problems.

These internet rules of miles to owners seems silly. Down right dumb.

 

I agree, they are, the "rules"... But you know as well as I know that cars trading hands every 10-30k miles aren't generally cared for in the same sense that a long termer is, the 3-5+ owner cars being the example. There are exceptions, like yourself. There aren't many exceptions though... And the next owner, should you sell your car, will appreciate that very much. I'm the same way, and have no issues selling cars with 100k+ miles for 30%+ more than the alternatives.

 

I don't have proof of that.

Actually all that I know is the opposite. I pick up a killer deal on a great condition S2000, last owner had it for a year. Drove 10k. Could have done so on no oil change without issue, but he didn't.

Then I've got a friend who changes cars regularly because he likes to drive something different. He's always taking good care of them.

I'm more concerned with one owner who's had the car for 5-6 years and puts no miles on it. Normally they forget about the 'time' aspect on service and you get into problems. Since my S2000 sits and is rarely driven it's why I'm selling mine. I'll buy back into one when my lifestyle changes. Don't even drive in a few times a month anymore, though since I'm anal service schedules are still followed.

Again, dots shouldn't always be connected.

 

I do have proof of it: all the S' I passed on in the search for a pristine example. I drove thousands of miles for no reason for weeks until I came across a near-perfect car. AP1s are hard to come by in good condition, even with low miles. Pictures and descriptions don't cut it. I've seen too many in person to think otherwise.

 

I dunno if I'd buy one this high, but I own one with over 290K miles. The Bruised Banana has been and continues to be the best performing vehicle I have ever owned. This past weekend I laid to rest its original [mostly driven hard; never driven abusively] AP1 motor & tranny, replacing them with a minty-fresh [absurdly low ] low 35K miles JDM AP1 pair.

I'm ready and willing to shoot for 300K on this donor motor...and 600K miles on The Bruised Banana's chassis thank you very much

 

Bad. Ass . Was the original power/drivetrain still in good working order when you pulled it, or?

 

I think I spun a bearing,but the tranny and clutch are still in perfect order.

 

Wow. Things like this and slalom44's car make me wanna put more miles on mine lol