What Matters The Most? Kilometres or Age | Used Car Buying Guide

If you're looking to buy a new car, one question that always tends to hound you is whether to go for a car that has run fewer kilometres or one that's newer in terms of age. It's confusing to choose between the two because both these factors are given a bit too much attention. And frankly, you can opt for either of the two types and get a really good deal or a bad one. That means there are a few other factors that you must consider before you come to the kilometres vs age factor. Let us tell you what they are.

Engine health

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Since the engine is the heart of the car, it eschews the kilometres vs age debate. If the engine is healthy, it doesn't matter whether the car has been driven more or is a bit older than what you'd like. To check the engine's health, make sure to open the hood and listen to its sound while the car is on. Try to spot any unwanted noise or vibration. Also, check its belts and other components for any damage.

Suspension

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Believe it or not, a weakened suspension takes a lot away from the driving experience. Not just on bumpy surfaces but even on regular roads, a good suspension gives your car its much-needed balance and reduces the fatigue that you tend to feel after long rides. Since the suspension of a car can wither with age, this is one aspect where the scale tilts in the favour of age, as the newer the car the better.

Body damage

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This factor may not have anything to do with age or kilometres. The bodywork on a vehicle is dependent on how the vehicle is used. Careless driving will lead to scrapes and bumps appearing on the car's body easily. So if you're looking to buy a used car, take a good hard look at its body and examine it for scratches, bumper replacements, repaints, and more.

Tyres

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Tyres wear out due to age. A car may not have been driven much, but bearing the entire weight of the vehicle all the time is enough to wear them out. Hence, this is one department where the age of the vehicle is important to consider more than how many kilometres it has been driven.

Steering wheel

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The steering wheel on an old car that hasn't been used very well will immediately be noticeable. Proper oil changes are necessary for the steering system to keep working properly. And people usually stop doing those as their vehicle gets older. That's why, the more the age of the car, the worse its steering wheel performance tends to be.

As you can see, there's no certain answer as to whether you should look at age or kilometres when buying a used car. It's, hence, imperative that you check all these factors individually before making your decision.