Nervous about buying a car that's done 200,000 km
Quote from anitakowalczyk on February 25, 2026, 7:03 amI'm finally ready to buy my first car, but my budget only stretches to older models with really high mileage, like 200,000 km or more. I keep going back and forth in my mind about whether this is a smart move or a future money pit. I've been trying to research things to know about cars with higher kilometers to prepare myself. I understand from what I've read that parts like the suspension, cooling system, and transmission are the ones that usually need extra attention at this stage, especially with our Sharjah roads and heat. But I'm also learning that a well maintained high mileage car can still be reliable. I'm planning to get a full inspection before buying anything. Does anyone here have experience buying a car with this kind of mileage? What should I be most focused on during the check?
I'm finally ready to buy my first car, but my budget only stretches to older models with really high mileage, like 200,000 km or more. I keep going back and forth in my mind about whether this is a smart move or a future money pit. I've been trying to research things to know about cars with higher kilometers to prepare myself. I understand from what I've read that parts like the suspension, cooling system, and transmission are the ones that usually need extra attention at this stage, especially with our Sharjah roads and heat. But I'm also learning that a well maintained high mileage car can still be reliable. I'm planning to get a full inspection before buying anything. Does anyone here have experience buying a car with this kind of mileage? What should I be most focused on during the check?