Keeps Going and Going
Cars, Trucks Lasting Longer, Report Says
By KEN THOMAS, AP
WASHINGTON (Jan. 28) - Back in the 1970s when Pat Goss was working in automotive repair, 100,000 miles was considered the benchmark of a car's longevity. Well-maintained Dodge Darts with more than 300,000 miles were a rarity. Now, with advanced technology, improved engines and synthetic oils, crossing the 100,000-mark on the odometer is not much cause for celebration.
"We consistently, on any given day, usually have multiple cars with 150,000 to 250,000 miles and quite frequently cars well over that," said Goss, owner of Goss' Garage in Seabrook, Md., and host of radio and TV car-talk shows.
A report released this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said passenger cars and light trucks are racking up more miles than ever. Typical passenger cars are now surpassing 150,000 miles, while most pickups, sport utility vehicles and vans are crossing the 180,000-mile barrier.
A report in 1995 said most passenger cars broke 125,000 miles and light trucks typically reached the 150,000-mile mark.
Auto industry officials say it underscores the strides made in engineering and quality control in recent years with a focus on longterm durability. Today's vehicles have more advanced engines, improved spark plugs, higher-performance synthetic oils and better exhaust systems.
David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research, said one contributing factor is corrosion protection. Three decades ago, the steel used in the body and frame had little protection, but now external parts have corrosion-resistant, electrogalvanized steel.
"You might have a powertrain that is reasonably durable, but if the structure it's in is falling apart, it's not that valuable," Cole said. Now, he said, "resistance to corrosion is dramatically higher."
The report found that, in terms of years, passenger cars are lasting longer, while SUVs and other light trucks are not running as long as before. Transportation officials said the survival rate for light trucks may have dropped because the vehicles are used more for day-to-day transportation needs than hauling cargo.
For passenger cars, the report said nearly 79 percent of 10-year-old vehicles are still on the road, up 7 percentage points for comparable vehicles in the 1995 data.
Among SUVs, pickups and vans, it found that 69 percent of all 10-year-old light trucks are still being driven. The 1995 study found that 81 percent of all 10-year-old light trucks were still in use.
The data, compiled by R.L. Polk & Co., an automotive data firm, is used by government regulators to figure out how fuel economy rules will affect the vehicle fleet and estimate how new safety equipment should be implemented into vehicles.
Auto experts stress that maintenance is key to making a vehicle last for many years.
Goss advises motorists to consider oil as "the lifeblood of the engine" and change it according to the owner's manual. He also advises checking the levels of the coolant system monthly and having the condition of the coolant reviewed twice a year.
Cole said that with the improvements, "maintenance is dramatically less, but maintenance is absolutely necessary. It's not something you can forget about."
2006-02-17 16:57:35
Cars, Trucks Lasting Longer, Report Says
By KEN THOMAS, AP
WASHINGTON (Jan. 28) - Back in the 1970s when Pat Goss was working in automotive repair, 100,000 miles was considered the benchmark of a car's longevity. Well-maintained Dodge Darts with more than 300,000 miles were a rarity. Now, with advanced technology, improved engines and synthetic oils, crossing the 100,000-mark on the odometer is not much cause for celebration.
"We consistently, on any given day, usually have multiple cars with 150,000 to 250,000 miles and quite frequently cars well over that," said Goss, owner of Goss' Garage in Seabrook, Md., and host of radio and TV car-talk shows.
A report released this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said passenger cars and light trucks are racking up more miles than ever. Typical passenger cars are now surpassing 150,000 miles, while most pickups, sport utility vehicles and vans are crossing the 180,000-mile barrier.
A report in 1995 said most passenger cars broke 125,000 miles and light trucks typically reached the 150,000-mile mark.
Auto industry officials say it underscores the strides made in engineering and quality control in recent years with a focus on longterm durability. Today's vehicles have more advanced engines, improved spark plugs, higher-performance synthetic oils and better exhaust systems.
David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research, said one contributing factor is corrosion protection. Three decades ago, the steel used in the body and frame had little protection, but now external parts have corrosion-resistant, electrogalvanized steel.
"You might have a powertrain that is reasonably durable, but if the structure it's in is falling apart, it's not that valuable," Cole said. Now, he said, "resistance to corrosion is dramatically higher."
The report found that, in terms of years, passenger cars are lasting longer, while SUVs and other light trucks are not running as long as before. Transportation officials said the survival rate for light trucks may have dropped because the vehicles are used more for day-to-day transportation needs than hauling cargo.
For passenger cars, the report said nearly 79 percent of 10-year-old vehicles are still on the road, up 7 percentage points for comparable vehicles in the 1995 data.
Among SUVs, pickups and vans, it found that 69 percent of all 10-year-old light trucks are still being driven. The 1995 study found that 81 percent of all 10-year-old light trucks were still in use.
The data, compiled by R.L. Polk & Co., an automotive data firm, is used by government regulators to figure out how fuel economy rules will affect the vehicle fleet and estimate how new safety equipment should be implemented into vehicles.
Auto experts stress that maintenance is key to making a vehicle last for many years.
Goss advises motorists to consider oil as "the lifeblood of the engine" and change it according to the owner's manual. He also advises checking the levels of the coolant system monthly and having the condition of the coolant reviewed twice a year.
Cole said that with the improvements, "maintenance is dramatically less, but maintenance is absolutely necessary. It's not something you can forget about."
2006-02-17 16:57:35