I have posted on 6speed also. Trying to decide btwn an 01 tt with 5600 miles and an 03 X50 with 28,000 miles. The 01 is seal gray and the 03 is midnight blue. Any opinions

 

I'd take the 03 every day of the week and twice on Sunday

A 10 year old car with 5K miles scares the crap out of me. You are just asking for a money pit.

 

I'm with LVDell. That 01 has too few miles on it, has covered too few miles over the span of years, for my peace of mind.

My 03 Turbo bought a bit over a year ago with around 9500 miles on developed a transmssion (6-speed) oil leak at 34K miles, along with a noisy idler bearing and a non-working radiator fan. All taken care of -- including a new/replacement transmission -- under CPO warranty. Had the CPO warranty not be in place I could have been facing a $12K or higher repair bill.

Now not every car experiences these kinds of problems. My 02 Boxster bought new in 02 required just a rear main seal at around 25K miles and nothing else between when I bought it to nearly 80K miles later.

The 01 car might be acceptable if you go in with knowing that the car might develop a serious -- but fixable -- problem that is really a new car problem but appears after 10+ years simply because the car has received so little use.

Problems appear from miles covered, not time sitting unused, at least problems that don't arise from lack of use. Lack of use over a long time introduces its own set of problems to the car and its subsystems.

With these low miles I bet the car has not had annual oil/filter services, or brake fluid flush/bleeds. Tires are probably past their use by date (if original tires) and due to be replaced even if they have plenty of tread life left.

As you put miles on the car you are essentially driving a new car with all that entails concerning the risk of new car problems apppearing, without the benefit of a new car warranty.

Also, if you pay a premium for the low miles, as you drive the car the premium you paid evaporates and you end up experiencing a bigger depreciation loss on the car than you would had you bought a car with no premium attached to its price for its low miles.

Sincerely,

Macster.

 

What are the prices? Any service history? Both original owners? Evidence of track use?
I don't know that 5,000 miles in 9 years is any different than 22,000 miles in 3 years, then zero for 6 years.
Would have the DME read for Type 2 overrevs.
The X50 is the better car, if all else is equal (I have an 02 with 70,000 miles, and it has been great). No matter which you buy, there will be problems like battery, clutch/hydraulics, and sometimes the wing. So, you need to expect something. AS

 

The X50 has two issues clutch accumulator and front rotors. Around 50k both. Reprtrd to have no track use. No noe issues with the 01

 

i like seal gray over midnight blue and if both cars are the same price, i would take the 01 if it passes a ppi.

 

Not to thread jack, but you could save yourself 10k and buy my car and not worry about all of the maintenance because I have done it all:
http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/a...-included.html

Enough shameless self-promotion though... All of the things that Macster said are pretty accurate though. These cars have issues that come up due to mileage usually, and a car that's that old with that little mileage is concerning. It means it sat around a lot of the time instead of getting used, and these cars do a lot better when they are used, not collecting dust. Chances are you can find a good example with good mileage for less than both of these cars and the owners will have taken care of the maintenance issues you'll be running into with both of the cars you have mentioned. Good luck in your search, and if you're interested feel free to contact me.

 

Buy the newest car you can afford...

 

Another vote for X50. Love midnight blue. As always, get an independent inspection.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-...US_Cars_Trucks

If this is the '03, he's a board member here. The car is more than just an X-50, it has some tasty Ruf mods and has a good service history.

IMHO, the car is more than fairly priced.

 

If I had not just bought, I would have been all over this car.

 

^ +1
It is generally agreed to buy the newest model you can afford.

OK, so someone please tell me what is wrong with my 01 garage queen with 5600 miles on it?
What am I missing?

 

driving enjoyment

 

Not to mention also a lot of money if you bought it new. I bought my 2001 for$36,500 with 41k miles on it this past Feb and now it has over 50,000 miles and can probably get more than my money back and have enjoyed it very much. Track days included.

Please don't get me wrong, I really appreciated that there are people that garage queeen their cars so I can buy them later and enjoy them for them and save a lot of money in the preocess.

Please drive your car more, I may pass on buying it in the future if it has too few miles and use. Don't want the issues that should have been shaken out come around to me.

Tytus

 

Yes, it was purchased new.
No, I don't think about the depreciation since it won't be sold. It will be given to my son someday.
As for driving enjoyment, I suppose the excuse 'absense makes the heart grow fonder' wouldn't apply.

I'm just curious as to what is the 'magic number' regarding 'low mileage issues'.
For instance, it was stated in this thread that 5K miles in ~10 years is an issue.
Would 10K miles in 10 years be an issue? Is that considered low mileage?
Would 20K miles in 10 years be an issue? Is that considered low mileage?