Learn 02
Never buy with more than 75,000 miles.
The hard rule we live by after selling 450+ cars. Here’s the math.
75k
Hard ceiling
never go above
30–50k
Ideal range
green zone
$4,200
100k–150k
avg repair bill
200k
Useful life
for a modern car
Drag to test
45,000 mi
GREEN — sweet spot
The ideal range. The car is past its first depreciation hit, mechanically still young, and you can expect 100k+ miles of trouble-free service.
Statistical remaining life: ~155,000 mi
Why 75k specifically?
Past 75,000 miles, statistical repair frequency climbs sharply. Timing components, water pumps, suspension bushings, transmission mounts, and alternators all start failing in clusters. You’re also at the upper end of the original factory warranty’s practical reach. Below 75k, you’re buying a car. Above 75k, you’re buying someone’s problems.