Advice from Greg

High-Mileage Vehicles - Are you willing to take a chance to save yourself many thousands of dollars? Safety-conscious people on a budget might want to consider late-model cars with high miles. I have sold and driven 1- and 2-year-old cars with high (50,000 - 75,000) mileage almost exclusively for the past four years and haven't experienced any more maintenance expenses than with a typical average (15,000 - 30,000) mileage 1- or 2-year-old-car. The more miles a vehicle has on it the shorter its functional life will be no matter how well cared for it was, but since an average car lasts for 145,000 miles, a vehicle with 60,000 miles can still give you six or seven years of useful transportation, if you drive 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year. The big advantage is driving new technology while paying for old. For example, a 2-year-old 1998 Ford Taurus GL with 65,000 miles in excellent condition would cost about $7500. A 5-year-old 1995 Taurus GL in the same shape with only 30,000 miles on it would cost you about the same. While the '95 Taurus was a safe car in its day, the '98 version is a very safe, totally modern car with dual airbags, antilock brakes, remote locks, and the best cup holders in the business. If you are on a limited budget and willing to take a chance, a 1 or 2-year-old high mileage full or mid-sized domestic sedan is one of the best used car values.