Age or Mileage

[Notty]

My car has gone to the repairers after my small mishap. Its likely to be written off as uneconomical to repair - trade price is £8.5K - sad - its a 2013 VW Tiguan, 180 Bhp 4x4 Diesel with dsg gearbox and FSH from VW - new mot, new tyres, new brake discs, new cam belt 65K on the clock.
So I have GAP insurance so I get the difference from What I paid (£24.5K) and what the insurance settlement is . should be enough to buy a replacement - my question is should I buy one with just 4K on the clock and 2.5 years old or one with 18K and 10 months old?
thoughts would be welcome 

[seth]

I can't believe they wrote it off  for that .
I'd go for low mileage over age every time with cars .

[ARH]

If it's a replacement Tiguan I would go for the newer model... better spec car (I have a 2017 R line and love it...it's a good bit bigger than the previous model).

[Andre]

Depends on how the cars were driven! 4k in 2.5 years makes me suspicious that it was mostly used for very short trips. Not a good thing in my view.

[Sweaty]

If the specs & features were similar, I would go the low kms (very low for 2.5 years old though?)
I'm sure the newer model is far better & still 18,000 kms is nothing, so would go for that.

[Will14]

Although I generally prefer lower mileage in this case I may opt for the 10 month old vehicle, 18K in 10 months makes me think that it may have been a company vehicle so potentially all motorway miles and any servicing (if any due) shouldn't have been skimped on but most of all you should get the balance of the manufacturers warranty. If you don't do big mileage annually then it will so balance out - but these are just my thoughts 

[KiwiCol]

Hot miles cause bugger all wear, cold miles do.     Ask the Grog for his opnion

[VladTepes]

Neither age nor kms.
Go for condition and service history.
Also take into account the newer one will be under warranty for longer for you.

[MarkN]

I would agree with Vlad but would ask if you had considered petrol instead of diesel. New MOT regulations introduced in May have made it more difficult for diesels to get through, at least according to guy who does the bikes for me.
I have a 3 litre A5 but it will be the last diesel I buy which is a shame cos it's as fast as f@ck

[Mick_J]

Assuming they are both in good nick I would always choose the newer car, mileage doesn't matter these days as most cars should cover 150,000 miles with ease.

[Andre]

Col, love that Packard. Straight 8, amazing motors. I wont comment on cars, i have to deal with the bloody things all day, everyday. Maybe why i like to talk bikes after work. Of course a hot run motor, taxis etc, will run a lot further.example, old Ford Falcon taxis, usually around 700 th ks before head off, same car in private use, usually around 100th ks. Of course there are exceptions but this is usually the difference.

[grog]

Thanks Andre, guess i posted in wrong area, again.