Used Car, Age or Mileage?

Hi, looking to buy a used car, no more than £1000… Would I be better going for an older yet less mileage car or younger car with more mileage.

For example, found ford fusion which is now 13years old, only 52,000 miles and has been owned only by one elderly man. It's been well looked after and the car looks immaculate. Barley even a scratch on it. My main worry with this one is the age and potential corrosion?

The other one found is a Citroën C3, 10years old, 70,000miles… Appears to have been services regularly but does have a couple scrapes and scratches. Owned by a few owners in its life.

Both selling for around the 900 mark. Both had timing belt changed and both have full year MOT.

If it was you which would you go for? And what woukd you be looking for while checking over a car of those ages?

As mentioned I just need something to last me a couple.of years ideally.

Whichever you go for, get it AA or RAC checked.

I would go for the Ford assuming full service history. Modern cars are slow to rust and three years age difference is not really significant. Low miles and one owner is always preferable.

Of those two the age difference is not significant and well-maintained modern cars usually cope easily with those years and mileages.

Citroen don't have a great reputation for reliability, Ford didn't either but hugely improved things.

There's no universally correct answer to your question but cars which have just two cold starts a day and excellent maintenance last far better than those which only get used occasionally for short journeys, or worse still get used for short shopping and school runs where they get many starts a day and rarely get to full operating temperature. Cars with multiple previous owners are more likely to have been neglected.

Of the two I'd go for the single owner Ford which has been well maintained despite only doing 4000 miles annually, but would still get it carefully inspected by someone who knows what to look for but check that it has a FSH, and not just a fully stamped book. That means supporting invoices at the right time and mileage intervals.

Mileage is a more accurate factor in determining how much use a car has undergone.

Parts don't wear out because of age, they wear out from use. Over use in particular.

Always go for lower miles over age.

I would have to road test the 2 cars and give them a thorough examination before being able to decide.

Ford because it is more common and easier to get repaired. Citroën only if you want to buy Lemons.

Neither. Go for condition and service history.
You're not going to get much for £1,000.

Condition, condition, and condition is the most important, and in that order.