How easy is it for unscrupulous sellers to adjust a Jazz Mk1's mileage?

[Jazzmeister]

From past experience when looking at buying VW's I discovered that some can have their mileage "adjusted" to a lower distance with the push of a button on a diagnostics interface, how easy is that to do with Honda's in general and the Jazz Mk1 in particular?

I've seen 2 of them for sale so far with unbelievably low mileage for the year and condition, which has got my spidey senses all tingling.

[bus_ter]

Oh yes, so called "Mileage correction" services. Really how often does a car need it's mileage corrected!

I think these 'services' are used by those who buy new cars on lease/PCP deals with mileage limits. The MOT from years 3 onwards is a good record for tracking recorded mileages. Indeed any cars MOT mileage history can be checked for free online via the .gov website. As these early Jazz's are getting on now there should be lots of MOT history available. Check the mileage goes up every year by a sensible amount.

I wouldn't be too worried by high mileage. The engine can take it. I would buy on condition and history. Indeed it's not healthy for a car to sit a long time unused.

[springswood]

I suppose the ability to adjust the mileage exists for a legitimate reason. Replacement speedo?

Out of curiosity I had a look on auto trader and there a quite few Mk1's in the UK with mileage in the 20,000s. Presumably retirement cars only used for a weekly trip to play bowls or bridge 

[Jocko]

Indeed any cars MOT mileage history can be checked for free online via the .gov website.

This is a great service, but no use for purchases in South Africa. I never consider a car until I have done a full search of its MOT history.

[Jazzmeister]

Indeed any cars MOT mileage history can be checked for free online via the .gov website.

This is a great service, but no use for purchases in South Africa. I never consider a car until I have done a full search of its MOT history.

Yes I'm in South Africa and our registration authorities don't require much recording of prior milages so there is no database to check past values.

Back to the OP can the mileage be adjusted on the Mk1 without physically swapping out the speedo, ie can it be done with a diagnostics interface like many other vehicle makes?

[sparky Paul]

Back to the OP can the mileage be adjusted on the Mk1 without physically swapping out the speedo, ie can it be done with a diagnostics interface like many other vehicle makes?

Yes it can. Without going into too much detail, it's not in the 'very easy' category, but it's certainly not difficult either.

There does seem to be more low mileage Jazzes about than your average small car, but I think a lot of that is to do with the ownership demographics than anything, certainly in the UK anyway. On the other hand, our mark 1 was a driving instructor's car for the first three years and now has 170k+ miles on it!

[guest334]

I would rather buy a used car in an average condition than one with "vicar mileage". Low miles can mean stored away cracked tyres no maintenance and plenty of issue to put right at apremuim price. Most engines thrive on a hot running.

[Jocko]

I had a mate who looked at a car in a local garage. It was very low mileage and he decided it was dodgy. My daughter's boyfriend was a mechanic at the garage and later told me it was the only one not clocked!