Any and everyone with 200,000 miles on a vehicle.

[Pops1050]

205,000 on my 06 Silverado LT 4.8L. I'd drive it anywhere and do... driving it loaded to the gulf tomorrow(~170 miles), to north Alabama and Nashville next week. Like most in this group I'm pretty vigilant with all fluids and have done or had performed normal maintenance. Engine runs great,actually as well as ever. I've swapped plugs once at 125k , shocks about the same time and some suspension pieces. I just follow the OLM and keep the transmission fluid fresh. I've found staying on top of mechanical issues AND condition/appearance as a vehicle ages helps me enjoy owning a vehicle long term.

The upside is simple. You're gonna save a pile of $$$ driving almost any vehicle 10+ yrs as opposed to keeping a payment sitting in the garage. It's just simple math.
The downside is you're driving a 10+ yr old car/truck when EVERYBODY else is whizzing around in the latest model. It's all about priorities I guess.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

196500 on the odo on the Cherokee!

 

[threeputtpar]

While it's not 200k, I did have a 1988 Chevy Z24 with 192k on the odo that I would routinely drive up to the UP and Canada border in all seasons. Never thought twice about whether or not it would make it, because it always did just somewhat slow. That 2.8 was gutless.

The current ride is at 194k, and I've taken it from here to St Pete' Beach FL once (around 130k miles) and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. I'm getting the well know issue of the torque converter seal fixed next week so the clutch will once again engage on the highway. I have no problem spending $600 - 700 fixing it because I plan to run it at least another 75k miles before I'd even consider getting rid of it.

 

[grampi]

My '04 Corolla now has 241K...I drive it back and forth from my home to my apartment every weekend which is 312 miles one way...next month I'm driving from OH to Kansas City, and I regularly tow my motorcycle with it, so I guess you could say I'm comfortable enough with it to take it pretty much anywhere...

 

[SirTanon]

Originally Posted By: CKN
I wouldn't want to take any car with 200,000 miles on it through the desert of Arizona,Nevada, and California when I travel from Salt Lake to Corona, CA to visit my son.

I'm not that brave. I went through Las Vegas a month ago and it was like 110 degrees.....and that was the average temperature for like 4 hours.


You must not have a very well-maintained car then... The engine gets MUCH hotter than 110 degrees, even in cooler climates.

This is my 2010 Fusion - and this picture was just taken a week ago. It's up to 200,425 miles as of this morning, and I drive it every day, at least 80 miles/per day.

... Did I mention I live in Phoenix? The day it hit 200,000 miles, the high was 108 degrees, at least at work. Despite this, the car's thermostat never went over the half-way mark, never showed any hint that the heat gave it any trouble. You see where the temperature gauge is there, on the right of that pic, almost half-way up from C to H? It's ALWAYS pretty much right at that spot after the car reaches operating temp, Winter, or Summer.

You see, my car is properly maintained, has a working cooling system, etc... Even in very cold weather, the thermostat will insure the engine stays at optimum temperature. If it's 0 degrees out, the thermostat on my car opens at the same temperature as it would when it's 110 degrees out.

This temperature is also MUCH hotter than 110 degrees - According to the Motorcraft part details, somewhere around 190 degrees.

Sure, I'm hot and uncomfortable when it's 110 out, but then I get in the car and turn on the A/C to full and get on the highway, and I'm comfortable again after a couple miles. My car really doesn't seem to notice the difference.

As far as making the trip you're talking about - I know with absolute certainty that my car would make the trip easily.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: Burt
Originally Posted By: Chris142
What does a hot desert have to do with not driving it? If everything is working as designed 100+ temps won't matter.


I didn't think he's worried about the car breaking down from the heat so much as it breaking down for any reason and being stranded in a remote area in extreme heat. Yes you can say bring water and sunscreen, but it would still be a miserable day or two.


THIS^^^^^

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: CKN
Originally Posted By: Burt
Originally Posted By: Chris142
What does a hot desert have to do with not driving it? If everything is working as designed 100+ temps won't matter.


I didn't think he's worried about the car breaking down from the heat so much as it breaking down for any reason and being stranded in a remote area in extreme heat. Yes you can say bring water and sunscreen, but it would still be a miserable day or two.


THIS^^^^^
Only a 30 minute wait for a tow truck, I mow my lawn when it's 110 outside, if you can't sit in a shady car for 30 minutes when it's 110 outside you need to go to the doctor.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: Chris142
What does a hot desert have to do with not driving it? If everything is working as designed 100+ temps won't matter.

(as long as you're driving mildly)


A long time ago, I did New England to Prescott, AZ. I was in ,my Caddy...it had the original 425 with ~165,000 hard miles and a junkyard transmission. It was July...I left El Paso and made Prescott in a bit over seven hours. I recall it was about 115 degrees, and I set the cruise for 85MPH. Even now, with the big stroker engine, the car runs cool in 100+ degree heat.

 

[Blokey]

Just past 203K miles on my '00 Acura 3.2TL. It's on its 3rd timing belt, done last year at ~160K miles. CEL came on for the first time at 200K miles; it was for low EGR flow. Had it taken care of and had a set of plugs put in (2nd set of iridiums, the first set were installed at ~70K). Every thing else under the hood is original, including the 5-spd auto trans. I bought the car used from CarMax in '02 with ~34K miles - a typical lease turn-in vehicle. Soon after I got the car I put in a set of Bilstein struts, H&R springs and Eibach sway bars along with a set of 17" wheels. I also put a CompTech header and AEM V2 intake with an S&B filter. Car runs today just like it did when I bought it - actually better w/ the mods. I'd confidently take it on a long ride any day. My commute is 50 miles each way, 4 days/week. Oil consumption is virtually nil. I'm on my 4th set of 17" tires and 3rd set of brakes (Brembo rotors and pads). There are lots of new cars I like but I don't have the heart to get rid of my Ac; it's reliable, starts first time/every time, rides/handles well, gets decent mileage and can run 80+ mph all day (tall overdrive 5th gear) and with the mods I love the way it looks and runs.

 

[hattaresguy]

My truck only made it to 150k before it started to break on me constantly to the point of being very annoying. Now the new owner can take it to 200k miles.

When I sold it the rear main seal was making a mess and really needed to be fixed, the coil was flaky again or maybe it was the original fuel pump. 150k is about when they fail on GM's. It was listing to port so I think one of the rear leaf springs might have had a crack in it, oh and the airbag light was on! Throw in a ripping front seat and a couple blown speakers.

Also since it was a 10 year old New England truck with that wonderful ice melt we use now it was just getting to the age where I could have fun with rust problems! Brake lines, fuel tank straps, spare tire holder, etc, etc. The rear bumper was already gone, GM can't figure out how to keep them from rotting off their trucks.

I'm not into driving junk anymore, and I'm tired of fixing stuff. When my current truck gets to 80k-100k I'm trading it in. I'll let the next owner have "fun" getting it to 200k.

Heck their is a good chance I will lease my next truck.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: CKN
Originally Posted By: Burt
Originally Posted By: Chris142
What does a hot desert have to do with not driving it? If everything is working as designed 100+ temps won't matter.


I didn't think he's worried about the car breaking down from the heat so much as it breaking down for any reason and being stranded in a remote area in extreme heat. Yes you can say bring water and sunscreen, but it would still be a miserable day or two.


THIS^^^^^
Only a 30 minute wait for a tow truck, I mow my lawn when it's 110 outside, if you can't sit in a shady car for 30 minutes when it's 110 outside you need to go to the doctor.


There are many parts where you will sit for an hour or two. Have you heard of State Hwy. 50 in Nevada? How about the road between Vegas and Laughlin?

You watch must be fast if you think it's only 30 minutes.

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

My first car with working A/C or factory positraction was a 1987 Caprice police car. I bought it with 150,000 and sold it at 205,000 after about 3 years. When I first got it, I had to fix a bunch of leaking freeze plugs. I also dropped the pan to add a shift kit, drain plug, and trans cooler. Later, I added MSD ignition. Otherwise, it was just regular maintenance like plugs and oil changes. Repairs like the alternator, water pump, fan clutch, brake shoes/cylinders and radiator started to pile up toward the end. The pinion nut even backed off one time. I replaced it and towed another car 1000 miles on a dolly not long after. (I didn't have a website like this to help me obsess about everything that could go wrong, or I might never have tried that.)

I don't know about 5000, but that car took plenty of 2-3000 mile trips without a hitch. It handled firmly thanks to the "cop suspension" and ran just fine for a carbureted, late-80s 350.

The Caprice was a leap into modern times compared to the manual everything slant-six Duster it replaced. The Duster's odometer broke in the 190,000 range, so I might have driven it to 200k also. I certainly put more of its miles on, and took longer trips. The longest was probably Mississippi to Lake Tahoe, through Las Vegas on the way and across US 50 returning. (Temps in the 90s around Memphis and Little Rock were miserable compared to the deserts. I did travel with jugs of drinking water, and had to take my shirt off some of the time.)

I traveled with a trunk full of tools, fluids, and spare parts with both of those cars. I was also younger and single then and had the time to keep junk running. Compared to my cars, 11 and 20 years old when I bought them, I would expect your Acura to be a lot more durable, especially if you keep up with maintenance and can do some larger repairs when necessary. The electronics in a really high-mileage modern car might be the tradeoff, though. You don't just fix that stuff by the side of the road and keep on going.

I say if the car is running OK, be prepared but get in it and go.

 

[jmb3675]

I rent cars for long trips now just for the convenience of it. If anything goes wrong with it, I would get a new car and they get to deal with any problems. I also like trying other cars, so there is a little enjoyment too I guess. If that was not an option and I would have to look at the particular car. The 2001 Focus my daughter currently drives has been nothing but reliable for its 205k miles but has not had regular maintenance. It could use new shocks, burns a quart of oil every 1500 miles, looses a pint of coolant every 1500 miles, has not had a transmission flush since 140k miles, still has all original hoses and could use a set of new spark plugs. I would not take that car on a long trip. My 2002 Focus with 187k miles has new spark plugs, new wheel bearings, new shocks and control arm bushings, new brakes, a new alternator, newer water pump, the A/C still works, all fluids have been replaced recently and only looses 1/2 quart of oil every 5k miles. If I replaced all the coolant hoses, I would have no worries driving it from Alaska to Florida. The hoses would probably be fine, but replacing them is what I would need to do for my own comfort.

 

[Panzerman]

Originally Posted By: CKN
Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
1995 Lexus SC300 with 205K on it here. I'd take it anywhere (and do!). Still runs fine. I would not be afraid to take it through the desert. Cooling system looks completely spotless as of 10K miles ago. Engine has never had a problem, but it does burn about 2 quarts of oil between 7.5K oil changes. Still my daily driver. Only downsides are features of the car I guess. I would like to have bluetooth integration, radio AUX in, HD radio, the keyless entry is lacking in features, better safety features and better gas mileage. However, I still love my SC and look forward to keeping it for many more miles! 300K here I come!


When you do drive it through the desert in 110 degree heat for 4 hours let us know how it performs. Seriously, you guys back in the South and East really don't know about vast nothingness for hours and hours at a time until you have been in the Western deserts.
The desert is flat. I think a mountainous terrain with temperature variance would be much harder on a car then prolonged flat air flowing (even though its hot air) its a consistent temperature. Its much easier on a car, going long flat drives then up/down/stop and go.

 

[Panzerman]

I think the age of cars kills them more than the actual miles. I wouldn't hesitate to take the 2007 Ford F-150 on a trip to CA. with 192,000 miles. I used to get rid of cars when they got close to 100,000. Now I just keep them. The bodies last forever in Florida. I see a lot of company trucks on job sites beat since the day they bought them. I saw a Nissan Titan today with 262,000 miles and the guy said it runs awesome. I think 5000 miles of idling and off road use would be a lot harder than a road trip and I am pretty sure that truck will be around at 267,000 miles.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: CKN
Originally Posted By: Burt
Originally Posted By: Chris142
What does a hot desert have to do with not driving it? If everything is working as designed 100+ temps won't matter.


I didn't think he's worried about the car breaking down from the heat so much as it breaking down for any reason and being stranded in a remote area in extreme heat. Yes you can say bring water and sunscreen, but it would still be a miserable day or two.


THIS^^^^^
Only a 30 minute wait for a tow truck, I mow my lawn when it's 110 outside, if you can't sit in a shady car for 30 minutes when it's 110 outside you need to go to the doctor.


No way I could handle that, but then again I don't think NH has seen anything over 100F let alone 110F.

 

[supton]

I took my 2004 VW TDi to 314kmiles before I decided it was enough. It still had life, but I did not want to drop the $2-3k into it to keep it going--most of the work was beyond my abilities. Worse, I started to worry about what would happen if I broke down away from home. Where could I get parts, let alone a decent shop or dealer (if I was that desperate?). Too much stress.

In a similar vein I will likely let my 2010 Tundra go before 200k. It has an automatic trans which cannot be cheap to replace; the other day I was looking at how to do wheel bearings and those are not cheap either. Since sales on these trucks are low I would not want to be a long distance from home and break down.

My 2011 Camry likely will go over 200k but like my old Jetta at some point it will not venture more than 200 miles from home. That car is pretty common so repairs in the road should not be bad; but it has a rare manual trans and I suspect getting it fixed will be pricey, so when it gives grief it will be sold.

I think I am headed towards a 10yr/200k limit. Hit either and it is time to move on, or just use it for short trips.

 

[hattaresguy]

Up here especially with that new pre treat they put on the roads the winters kill vehicles.

Working underneath around 10 years gets challenging with all the rust. When I drove old cars I spent a lot of time with a torch beating off rusted fasteners.

 

[supton]

I oilcoat mine in high hopes of not having issues when things need work. Maybe that will fetch me a premium when I sell, I dunno.

 

[mjk]

I sold my 96 Camry last month, with 255k on it. I'd drive it anywhere, and not be afraid. It routinely went back and forth from Minneapolis to Milwaukee, with no issues.

Normal maintenance - fluids, tires/brakes, tbelt, plugs. Replaced 1 CV shaft, starter and PS pump.

Best car I've owned.