It makes me feel good knowing Im not selling junk to the next guy.
For those who over maintain their cars, just wanted to offer another viewpoint.
- Thread starter Bill7
- Start date
I used to over maintain my vehicles but no longer do.
It's possible that the van only gave you 185K miles without any expensive surprises because of the care you gave it.
It's also possible that unanticipated economic necessity would have made you keep it for far longer than you did, in which case all that extra maintenance would have proven a wise investment.
End of the story is that I don't think you wasted your time, money or effort.
It's possible that the van only gave you 185K miles without any expensive surprises because of the care you gave it.
It's also possible that unanticipated economic necessity would have made you keep it for far longer than you did, in which case all that extra maintenance would have proven a wise investment.
End of the story is that I don't think you wasted your time, money or effort.
Certainly. I do it because I respect the tool. When wifey takes off in crazy Silicon Valley traffic, I want piece of mind...
I often pass my vehicles on to friends or family. Even if it goes to someone I don't know, I feel that I am delivering quality; a well maintained vehicle.
Does that matter to most? Dunno. Each to his/her own of course, but it matters to me.
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I consider the extra I spend on somewhat more than basic maintance, to be an investment in reliability. To me, reliability has a lot of value.
Some have vehicles that they barely maintain and never have additional problems because of that, but some do have additional problem because of that, sometimes big expensive problems.
I prefer to tilt the statical odds in my favor. In the long run I might even be ahead of those who neglect their vehicles and spend money every year on AAA membership because of how many times they require being towed. I don't spend money on AAA and would rather put the money into preventative maintance to improve reliability so I never need towed.
Some have vehicles that they barely maintain and never have additional problems because of that, but some do have additional problem because of that, sometimes big expensive problems.
I prefer to tilt the statical odds in my favor. In the long run I might even be ahead of those who neglect their vehicles and spend money every year on AAA membership because of how many times they require being towed. I don't spend money on AAA and would rather put the money into preventative maintance to improve reliability so I never need towed.
Of course-to each their choice.
I look at it this way...how many vehicles do you see at the side of the road broken down anymore? Hardly any. And the few that do....those owners probably had warnings, noise, symptoms and ignored them.
Vehicles are better than they have ever been-over maintained or not.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
For my Genesis, I'm just doing what the manual says to do to keep the warranty happy. The dealer keeps trying to get me to do all kinds of stuff, including a rear differential service. No thanks. The car will be gone by 143k when the warranty is up. Not my problem.
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I'll make you feel a little bit better. When I read the title of this thread, I immeadiately thought of my... 2006 Honda Odyssey I bought brand new. Back then money was tight with a family of 5, but my little kids needed a great van to grow up in. Honda did not much negoiate price back then. Most moved at or near sticker because of their quality reputation. When one was discounted even a little bit, I pounced on it but it was still expensive relative to others.
I told my wife I am going to give it excellent PM, just like you did. My intentions were to drive it super easy and keep it for 20+ years and 300K+ miles. Then, Harvey happened. It flooded out in my driveway. Could not be salvaged. Ruined. insurance paid me a pathetic $3450. I told them about all the excellent maintence and super care I gave it, but the pay out was irrespective of that. I still take great care of my vehicles, but I'll never obsess again. Le$$on learned.
I’m guilty of overdoing it on my car, but I wouldn’t have any regrets if I’m ever dumb enough to sell it. 
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I have a ‘06 Odyssey myself, bought new and I am at 218,000 miles.
I feel as though I am on top of my maintenance, but apparently not well enough as this vehicle needed more frequent oil changes than I provided. When I pulled the valve covers at 160,000 miles to do the valve adjustments, it was a sludgy mess. Following the OLM with synthetics was not enough. I guess the many years of soccer mom duty was rough on it. Lots of short trips and this is the engine with VCM.
I feel as though every effort in maintenance, trans fluid changes, timing belts, coolant, pvc, etc. was all worth it. I saved a lot by doing the maintenance myself, but if I paid someone it was maintenance well needed.
How much does it cost to prematurely lose and engine or transmission?
I am still running the van around 14,000 miles a year and need a little more out of it before I say good buy.
It it based off of your expectations of your equipment. When I buy a vehicle I need to keep it long term, like 20+ years. If I was the person who bought a new car every 6 years (80,000 miles), I would never do a coolant change, brake fluid change and probably never change transmission fluid or differentials, transfer case, etc.
I agree trading it in there is no benefit, selling privately it will bring more money and sell faster.
I feel as though I am on top of my maintenance, but apparently not well enough as this vehicle needed more frequent oil changes than I provided. When I pulled the valve covers at 160,000 miles to do the valve adjustments, it was a sludgy mess. Following the OLM with synthetics was not enough. I guess the many years of soccer mom duty was rough on it. Lots of short trips and this is the engine with VCM.
I feel as though every effort in maintenance, trans fluid changes, timing belts, coolant, pvc, etc. was all worth it. I saved a lot by doing the maintenance myself, but if I paid someone it was maintenance well needed.
How much does it cost to prematurely lose and engine or transmission?
I am still running the van around 14,000 miles a year and need a little more out of it before I say good buy.
It it based off of your expectations of your equipment. When I buy a vehicle I need to keep it long term, like 20+ years. If I was the person who bought a new car every 6 years (80,000 miles), I would never do a coolant change, brake fluid change and probably never change transmission fluid or differentials, transfer case, etc.
I agree trading it in there is no benefit, selling privately it will bring more money and sell faster.
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I'm a little bit of the opposite. I buy a new cheap car just basic change the oil and a dose of techron twice a year. Brakes I just throw on pads buy budget tires but not garbage. So far two beater cars from day one 37 years out of them. First one junked this one probably the same.
One of the biggest dangers in life is basing your behavior on one event instead of figuring out the economics of what makes sense.
I have a reliability study that has over 5 million vehicles within its database called the long-term quality index. Mechanics all over the country. Inspect an appraise these vehicles. A little over 15,000 a week.
I can sum up the best recipe for car ownership in five simple points.
1) Learn to do the simple things yourself.
Between oil changes, transmission fluid changes, new filters, servicing the power steering and brake fluid, replacing the battery yourself, and detailing the car in your driveway.... you could have saved thousands of dollars.
A dealer does not need to do these things. By simply using quality materials, you can realize the same level of longevity without having to pay the dealership thousands upon thousands of dollars.
2) Find an independent mechanic that knows your brand and model.
3) Clean it. Most folks are more impressed getting into a clean used car than they are getting to sit in a new car that's already rummaged a bit.
4) When you start to get tired of the vehicle a bit, upgrade it. Anything from better seats, to getting certain rips and stains cleaned and reupholstered, or getting a nice sound system or a multimedia system if that's what you like.
5) Join an enthusiast forum for that model and find like-minded people.
My 1994 Toyota Camry is still on the road today in 2024. It has over 400,000 mi on it.
I have a reliability study that has over 5 million vehicles within its database called the long-term quality index. Mechanics all over the country. Inspect an appraise these vehicles. A little over 15,000 a week.
I can sum up the best recipe for car ownership in five simple points.
1) Learn to do the simple things yourself.
Between oil changes, transmission fluid changes, new filters, servicing the power steering and brake fluid, replacing the battery yourself, and detailing the car in your driveway.... you could have saved thousands of dollars.
A dealer does not need to do these things. By simply using quality materials, you can realize the same level of longevity without having to pay the dealership thousands upon thousands of dollars.
2) Find an independent mechanic that knows your brand and model.
3) Clean it. Most folks are more impressed getting into a clean used car than they are getting to sit in a new car that's already rummaged a bit.
4) When you start to get tired of the vehicle a bit, upgrade it. Anything from better seats, to getting certain rips and stains cleaned and reupholstered, or getting a nice sound system or a multimedia system if that's what you like.
5) Join an enthusiast forum for that model and find like-minded people.
My 1994 Toyota Camry is still on the road today in 2024. It has over 400,000 mi on it.
My similarly maintained truck was just totaled. Same thing, a perfect engine, transmission and drivetrain, down the drain. I expected to drive the thing to 350,000 miles. Unfortunately, my wife had other plans.
Thanks for your reply. A few responses are needed here by me.
LOL about the crush on the service writer. I am about to celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary.
On the Odyclub.com forum, the transmission issues were discussed, the consensus seemed to be: If you change your ATF fluid every 15,000 miles you're golden (meaning you won't ever have transmission issues in the 2005 to 2007 Odysseys if you do the ATF drain/fill every 15k miles).
Regarding the oil changes, as I mentioned in the post, about 2 years ago I switched to lower priced oil and filters.
I kept an accurate list of all repairs. Some of the more pricy repairs were the timing belt, water pump, tensionser, camshaft seals.
Also the power sliding doors were quite expensive to maintain as other mechanics don't want to touch them, they all say take it to Honda. I had various repairs done to the sliding doors over those 10 years, including new motors, latches, and several other parts.
The Honda dealer I was using would mark up the parts about 150% if you let the service department order the parts, so I got their permission to actually go to the parts counter at the same dealership directly and order the parts to eliminate that extra markup.
But still each service visit averaged $1,000 per sliding door. (with about 2 repairs per sliding door over that time = $2,000 * 2 = $4,000 just to keep the sliding doors working perfectly. Other expensive repairs were new rotors for all 4 wheels (3 times), new brake calipers, leaks in the rear hatch and sun roof, engine mounts, air conditioner compressor and condensor failed, power steering pump failed, and alternator failed. Several other repairs and maintenenace such as PCV valve replacements, suspension parts, etc.
I really liked the van, and it had the aeura of Japanese reliability, but these vans as nice as they are, are not frugal vehicles.
The total of all the repairs and maintenance over 10 years totaled close to $20,000.
I was fortunate with the used car market still being pricy, and was able to sell the van for $5,200. I had paid $13,500 for it back in 2013.
Honestly, I'm looking at Consumer Reports magazine's car reliability ratings.
I'm thinking about migrating to Toyota Corolla's in the future, as I just want a vehicle that has a low cost of ownership.
Well, the good news is, it only left me stranded twice, when the gasoline pump failed inside the gas tank, and when the alternator went bad. I was advised that the gasoline lubricates the gas pump inside the gas tank, and if you consistently let the gas gauge level go below 1/8 full, the gas pump can overheat and fail.
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Thanks, that's a nice set of advice. A 1994 Toyota Camry with over 400,000 miles on it. What you are doing is working. Don't change a thing.
This. I maintain my vehicles to a certain level because I believe it’s the right thing to do. Certainly I could cut back on maintenance and save money in the short term, but it’s not all about me, me, me. The person who gets the car next will have a very well maintained vehicle.
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