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You offer no comparison, i.e - 5 years vs. 50,000 miles. So no one can logically answer your question.
There is also a disparity on city stop and go driving vs. highway driving, the former being much more punishing on a car.
That being said, a car with absolutely zero miles for 3 or 4 years will be in bad shape vs. a car that has been driven for tens of thousand of miles. Gaskets rot, gas in the tank turns to varnish, movable items fuse and freeze up, rubber cracks, and varmits make homes in the various interior crevices. You don't drive a car, and it will fall apart.
I've got about 350,000 miles on my VW Golf, and I'd jump in it & drive it across the country before I'd do so with a lot of cars with less than 1/3 that many miles.
Regarding age, there are some old cars that are well cared for, and there are those that have just been sitting.
hmm if you leat a car sit and don't use it it's bad as thing's cease up and all the engine seal dry up and if you drive the car alot parts wear out. I think the beast is a car that is driven but has had proper maintaince and oil changes done on time is best
miles would be worse because when you say miles, the car is constantly in use thus more prone to damage and abnormal wear and tear.. as for age, the car can be a 100 years old but just sitting in your garage.
As noted highway driving is less demanding than city driving. Garaged vehicles age much better than those left out in the elements. Number of cycles have a big effect... ie: few start-ups and long trips is much easier on the vehicle than many starts and stops for short little trips.
That being said, a car with absolutely zero miles for 3 or 4 years will be in bad shape vs. a car that has been driven for tens of thousand of miles. Gaskets rot, gas in the tank turns to varnish, movable items fuse and freeze up, rubber cracks, and varmits make homes in the various interior crevices. You don't drive a car, and it will fall apart.
Or if you're like Miss. Belvedere, you sit as a brand new car underground for 50 years in a vault that fills up with water.
Well, if you live where winter is winter: Storing your ride then makes a lot of sense. It will miss some of the worst driving elements - like salt, potholes, frost heaves, sub zero starts, etc. which would surely shorten any vehicle's serviceable life. Buy a good car and drive a beater in winter.
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