I get this question a lot and figured it could make a good Blog to help you used car buyers out there. Question: I am looking to buy a minivan for the family and am thinking of a Toyota Sienna.  In particular I am looking at a 2001 XLE with only 20,000 miles (not a misprint) for $11,200.  I spoke to the seller and it was his grandparents car, and they hardly drove it.  As this mileage is so rare for a car almost 10 years old, my question is whether this is a better way to go in general (I know it depends on each vehicle) or would it be better to get a the $11,000 equivalent in a newer car like a 2005 but with a 100,000 miles. I guess ultimately my question is what role the simple age of a car plays in car performance/reliability if it has been hardly driven. My Professional Opinion: In my opinion I would pick a 50K mile a year vehicle over a 2K mile a year one assuming it was properly maintained. What people forget is the best kind of driving you can do is highway driving that is because the motor is up to temp longer and in this kind or driving everything is running on oil and believe it or not there is virtually no engine wear.  Most of your engine wear comes from cold starts as for those few second there isn't a thin layer of oil under pressure and coating everything.  Also the engine emissions are highest at this point which most people don't realize the engine oil catches much off these pollutants in combination of with moisture (byproduct of normal combustion) causes an acidic mixture in the crank case which can and will attack everything including bearings.  When a vehicle is constantly driven in short trips, the engine oil is never able to get up to temp to actually boil off this moisture. This is why the oil should also be replaced by time and not only mileage.  This means this vehicle really should have had the oil changed 20-40 times in the last 10 years, has it?  Anything rubber will deteriorate over time and not necessarily mileage.  There are a lot of rubber items including engine seals, drivetrain seals and boots, suspension seals, tires and more. Not to mention there is a big difference the quality of vehicles manufactures are producing now from even 2000.  Other benefits are newer model, better economy, better technologies, better resale, safer vehicle, etc… These are things to consider, as I often mention to my clients, there is a reason many manufactures are now stepping up to 100K warranties.  The day will soon come where 200K miles is pretty normal mileage for most manufactures.  The most important thing you can do is to follow the manufactures maintenance manuals (and not necessarily the dealers if you want to protect your wallet) Change all fluids regularly and you should have trouble free operation for the life of the vehicle. Josh – Owner http://PDXinspections.com ...read more

  Portland's Premiere On-Site Pre-Purchase Inspection Company Know nothing about cars and need someone who can steer you in the right direction?  Are you looking at a particular vehicle and wish it could be inspected by a confident trained and Certified Technician, but don't want the hassles and expense of big dealerships to have the vehicle inspected?  I'm a licensed independent Advanced Level L1 ASEMaster and GM Master Certified Technician and licensed independent dealer who also buys and sells cars.  When I'm not inspecting and servicing my own vehicles I offer my services to the public.  Buying a used car can be a terrifying process.  Who better to have on your side than someone who does this everyday and is a Master Certified Technician? I can give you the piece of mind that the vehicle you are buying or selling is reliable and looked over by an completely unbiased Master Certified Technician who isn't trying to sell you products/services you may or may not need. Best of all, I come with you or with the permission of the seller, I inspect the car at their home or office, eliminating any hassle for you or them. -Testimonials located @PDXInspections.com I come to the vehicle. My very thorough mobile inspections come with a complete inspection report emailed to you and start at $95within 30 MINUTESof Troutdale, 97060 My inspections are modeled after manufacture certified vehicle standards (I.e.150 point certified used car) Inspections are complete: Mechanical/Fluid/Safety/Electrical/Computer Diagnostics I use an electronic paint thickness meter to check for repainted panels - Every vehicle I inspect starts with a complete walk around with my Electronic Paint Thickness Meter.  My paint meter will show me if any of the vehicles panels has been repainted or replaced (no matter what the quality of the repair).  This will then help to determine whether there has been collision repair or cosmetic repair.  You won't find this with any other kind of inspection.Don't rely solely on Carfax reports - An accident will ONLY show up on their system if there is a police report or an insurance company pays out on a repair.  In my experience, 80% of the cars I inspect have one or more repainted panels but yet show nothing on a Carfax report. For out of state purchasers, I can take high quality photos of any damage items I might find in/out of the vehicle for an additional $15 emailing you a report as seen@PDXInspections.com My inspections are complete - Bumper to Bumper Interior Condition Interior Features and Controls Electronics Exterior Condition Under Vehicle Inspection Crash/Accident Analysis Safety Systems Suspension/Tires Brakes Engine Visual Fluid Analysis Engine PCM/ECU diagnostics and emissions readiness Test drive The Process It's best to email me first to ensure I have the correct email address to send the completed inspection and invoice to. Please include the sellers contact information (Name, Phone, and Address) so I can send you a quote and make contact with the seller. You do not need to be present for the inspection.  Depending on location, I am usually available same day to one day out. I perform an extremely thorough inspection, test drive, measure painted panels to locate repaint and email an actual electronic copy of my report (un-editable Adobe PDF) on my company letterhead usually within hours of inspection. High quality photos can be taken for out of state buyers if requested.  Buyers Ensure you are not buying into someone else's problem - why are they selling the vehicle? You might not have any idea what to look for when it comes to inspecting a used vehicle - Let mebe your professional advisor Use my report as a bargaining tool Out of state buyers -I can inspect the vehicle you are interested in, providing you with high quality photos of any damage items I might come a crossed and a complete unbiased inspection report- Sample @PDXInspections.com Sellers A vehicle inspection will give your potential buyers the confidence that will definitely help sell the vehicle. Ensure you are selling a quality vehicle. Sellers who use my inspection service, get their report and pictures on my website with their own web address, so they can direct their potential buyers to my site and virtually check out the vehicle before they ever leave the house. Command TOP dollar for your car, being able to prove to buyers your car is indeed reliable and road worthy Vehicle Owners/Basic Inspection I can perform an inspection to ensure a vehicle is road worthy for an upcoming trip or just peace of mind. This is usually advertised through dealerships as a used car inspection.  I can also do pre-warranty inspections to satisfy aftermarket warranty companies of the vehicles condition before they issue a policy.    My Credentials I am a graduate of the General Motors sponsored Automotive Service Educational Program (GM ASEP) where I graduated with highest honors and received my Associates Degree in Automotive Service Technology.  I've completed hundreds of hours of rigorous GM specific training and have obtained GM's Master Technician Status. I am also an ASE Master Certified Technician Holding all 8 Certifications plus the L1 Advanced Engine Performance Specialist certification. A1 Engine Repair A2 Automatic Transmission/Transaxle A3 Manual Drive Train and Axles A4 Suspension and Steering A5 Brakes A6 Electrical/Electronic Systems A7 Heating and Air Conditioning A8 Engine Performance L1 Automobile Advanced Engine Performance Specialist What sets PDXInspections apart? I didn't start working on the simpler vehicles of the 70's, rather I trained on the complex computerized and sophisticated modern vehicle.  Modern computerized complex cars are my forte, I'm a unique new breed of technician who actually enjoys staying up on current technology and would much rather diagnose and repair a complex electrical issue than any mechanical issue.  In this day in age, a very hard quality to find! I consider myself a real car guy who has either personally driven, diagnosed, repaired, or inspected most late model vehicles, so I have a pretty good sense of what's right and wrong when it comes to buying a used vehicle. If you are interested Please visitPDXInspections.comto setup an inspection, view my available services, testimonials, sample reports, and to view my actual credentials.Thank you,Josh - President -PDXInspections.com ...read more