Under the Hood: Take High-Mileage Car Over One That's Worn

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Question: I'm looking for a used car for my daughter. Most of the cars we've looked at have an alarmingly high number of miles on the odometer. Which is the better buy -- a really clean car with 120,000 miles or another with 75,000 that isn't quite as nice? How far will a typical 10-year-old car go before it becomes a nightmare? -- Rocky

Answer: That's a great question, Rocky, and one I'll surely take some heat for how I answer it. Given two identical used cars -- one that's super clean with high mileage and the other with lower mileage that's a bit rougher -- I'll take the high-mileage car every time.

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Under the Hood: Take High-Mileage Car Over One That's Worn

My thought is that a car has many more items of concern besides the powertrain. The condition of the body, paint and upholstery; how well the windows roll up and down; the completeness of the trunk trim ...

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