New car - dodgy mileage?

Gordon Brown · 2 Apr 2023

Hi All,

I am in the process of buying a new (to me) car. I did an AA vehicle check on it that flagged up that there were inconsistencies with the recorded mileage of the vehicle. Images below. Is there any valid reason for these discrepancies or is it as I think at the moment a red flag - walk away situation?

Thanks in advance.

freddiemercurystwin · 2 Apr 2023

At what stage in the process are you? Private or dealer? I would walk away, plenty of other cars to choose from, no need to not choose one with issues.

Gordon Brown · 2 Apr 2023

freddiemercurystwin said:
At what stage in the process are you? Private or dealer? I would walk away, plenty of other cars to choose from, no need to not choose one with no issues.

I've just put down a small refundable deposit, it's from an authorised dealer, not that that makes a difference. There aren't too many of this vehicle around, so I'm prepared to put a little work into getting to the bottom of this, i.e. I'm prepared to let the dealer explain the discrepancy, but it'll have to be a very good explanation, plus they'll have to fix the register.

The car has also had 2 private plates registered to it so something might have happened there.... I'm not prepared to put to much effort in before walking away, so I'll see what the dealer says, as I said it'll have to be a very good explanation.

DiyNutJob · 2 Apr 2023

Could be a bad odometer since the readings are going up and down through out its history. How many previous owners?

Mottie · 2 Apr 2023

Gordon Brown said:
Is there any valid reason for these discrepancies

Typo by the mot tester when entering the details on the database?

Gordon Brown · 2 Apr 2023

DiyNutJob said:
Could be a bad odometer since the readings are going up and down through out its history. How many previous owners?

just the one. Two different private plates though hmm.....

Gordon Brown · 2 Apr 2023

Mottie said:
Typo by the mot tester when entering the details on the database?

But why no entry on or near the 15th of Sept 2022 when it was MOT'ed?

freddiemercurystwin · 2 Apr 2023

It's not just one reading though, there are three inconsistent ones then the fourth is showing the car apparently only traveled one mile in a year?

DiyNutJob · 2 Apr 2023

The guy just likes private plates. I don't think it has significance. The up and down meter is an ongoing issue though.

Gordon Brown · 2 Apr 2023

And then of course, it jumps up 4000 miles in less than a month from 3/2/2023 then down 100 in 2 weeks in March ????

Oh, and ~16k 26/8/2021 and then ~12k on 9/9/2021 - all over the place!!

freddiemercurystwin · 2 Apr 2023

The very last mileage reading is also inconsistent.

Gordon Brown · 2 Apr 2023

freddiemercurystwin said:
It's not just one reading though, there are three inconsistent ones then the fourth is showing the car apparently only traveled one mile in a year?

The 1 mile was 1 day not 1 year.

bernardgreen · 2 Apr 2023

DiyNutJob said:
The up and down meter is an ongoing issue though.

Maybe he just did a lot of driving in reverse gear

freddiemercurystwin · 2 Apr 2023

Gordon Brown said:
The 1 mile was 1 day not 1 year.

No, compare the 09/02/2022 20948 with one year later 03/02/2023 20949.

DiyNutJob · 2 Apr 2023

The car is probably OK.

bernardgreen said:
Maybe he just did a lot of driving in reverse gear

I see you are from a different era, with the backward thinking.

What the OP needs to do is to find out the legal ramifications of an up and down meter. The car went back to the manufacturer and they could do nothing with it. A new engine would work.