# Buying a used car **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mazda3, mazda\ **Created:** [January 5, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/41888 "2010-01-05T02:54:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jayjayando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jayjayando](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jayjayando)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/41888/1 "2010-01-05T02:54:24Z")
In general, would it be better to buy a 2006 Mazda3 with 25k miles or a 2008 with 49k miles, all other things being equal. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/41888/2 "2010-01-05T03:00:50Z")
How much do the sellers want for them? If one is overpriced, the other looks a lot better. Assuming that they are in excellent shape and have been maintained well. ---
**Author:** ![jayjayando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jayjayando](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jayjayando)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/41888/3 "2010-01-05T03:04:35Z")
Actually, they both pretty much priced close to KBB and Edmunds estimates. Just didn’t know if buying the newer car, even with more miles, made more sense. Both cars look well-maintained. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/41888/4 "2010-01-05T03:07:52Z")
If you live in the rust belt and this is where the cars are from it’s a no brainer, buy the newer one. ---
**Author:** ![GSN\_fan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@GSN\_fan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GSN_fan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/41888/5 "2010-01-05T03:28:22Z")
Whichever one has a more detailed maintenance history. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/41888/6 "2010-01-05T04:37:52Z")
You might inspect things like the rubber on the pedals, the ignition switch face, driver’s door lock, shifter handle, and things like that. A car which shows a lot of scuffing and marks could mean it has seen a lot of short hop driving, numerous key cycles, lot of city driving, etc. and that is rougher on a car than one which has seen mostly highway driving and longer trips. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 11:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/41888/7 "2010-01-05T11:24:32Z")
Cars with low mileage generally have had lots of short trips (hard on a car) while a newer car with more miles likely put on more highway miles which is easier on a car. So based on only that go for the newer car. However, miles are far less important IMO than the maintenance received. You want a car that has had all the recommended maintenance. That said, I would not worry about it. Have YOUR mechanic check out whichever one you like best and don’t over think the process. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 12:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/41888/8 "2010-01-05T12:13:55Z")
All other things are NEVER equal. There’s not enough information here to make a call. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 12:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/41888/9 "2010-01-05T12:52:47Z")
What is the price difference? If the same go with the 2008.