How to Make Your Car Last 200,000 Miles
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They lost me at: "The highest-mileage car he's seen in his shop is his own 1993 Ford Taurus SHO, which is still going strong after 19 years and 238,000 miles." I bet everybody here has seen (or owned) a car with more than 238K miles.
But, yea, I agree with following the scheduled maintenance, honest mechanics, and checking your oil.
But, yea, I agree with following the scheduled maintenance, honest mechanics, and checking your oil.
Hmm, so all I have to do is read my owner's manual and follow the maintenance schedule....what a novel idea.
The article is a fluff piece. More info in the comments. I'll agree, it's harder up north, due to heavy salt usage. It's also harder to hit high miles if one buys the wrong car in the first place, be it from stupid built-in design flaws or because ones's needs change (started family, got a longer commute, got a shorter one, etc).
I suspect it's easier to hit 200k if you drive more. Sounds stupid; but certainly from a rust perspective, the faster you accumulate miles the more likely you are to see those high miles. Drive less, and it's more likely to rust out prior to showing high miles on the odometer.
I suspect it's easier to hit 200k if you drive more. Sounds stupid; but certainly from a rust perspective, the faster you accumulate miles the more likely you are to see those high miles. Drive less, and it's more likely to rust out prior to showing high miles on the odometer.
I agree.
Originally Posted By: Gabe
They lost me at: "The highest-mileage car he's seen in his shop is his own 1993 Ford Taurus SHO, which is still going strong after 19 years and 238,000 miles." I bet everybody here has seen (or owned) a car with more than 238K miles.
But, yea, I agree with following the scheduled maintenance, honest mechanics, and checking your oil.
My dad just gave away a '96 Sable with > 300,000 miles and it spent its entire life in Minnesota. Good engine; the trans had to be replaced at about 200ish. A/C no longer worked, but the main concern was the that it would literally split apart from the rust even though he'd epoxied in some patches to the floor panel. I used to kid him he could have stopped it like Fred Flintstone did in the cartoons.
We just returned from a 1000 miles trip up and down California's I-5 after the clock turned 150k in our Windstar and I'm quite confident of hitting 200. It'll be more about finding someone competent to help with stuff like window regulators, sliding doors and how much of the peeling paint we can stand.
Kevin
They lost me at: "The highest-mileage car he's seen in his shop is his own 1993 Ford Taurus SHO, which is still going strong after 19 years and 238,000 miles." I bet everybody here has seen (or owned) a car with more than 238K miles.
But, yea, I agree with following the scheduled maintenance, honest mechanics, and checking your oil.
My dad just gave away a '96 Sable with > 300,000 miles and it spent its entire life in Minnesota. Good engine; the trans had to be replaced at about 200ish. A/C no longer worked, but the main concern was the that it would literally split apart from the rust even though he'd epoxied in some patches to the floor panel. I used to kid him he could have stopped it like Fred Flintstone did in the cartoons.
We just returned from a 1000 miles trip up and down California's I-5 after the clock turned 150k in our Windstar and I'm quite confident of hitting 200. It'll be more about finding someone competent to help with stuff like window regulators, sliding doors and how much of the peeling paint we can stand.
Kevin
I sort of agree. Piece is a bit generalized. Use of common sense is the best way to make a car last. Has worked for me on my BMW
Originally Posted By: exranger06
Hmm, so all I have to do is read my owner's manual and follow the maintenance schedule....what a novel idea.
Majority of drivers, especially female drivers, do not read their owner's manual. They don't know anything about schedule maintenance.
Hmm, so all I have to do is read my owner's manual and follow the maintenance schedule....what a novel idea.
Majority of drivers, especially female drivers, do not read their owner's manual. They don't know anything about schedule maintenance.
The majority of drivers are incredibly stupid and would know about regular maintenance if they had a shred of common sense.
Originally Posted By: Russell
I sort of agree. Piece is a bit generalized. Use of common sense is the best way to make a car last. Has worked for me on my BMW
X2, 214K on my 83 Silverado that I bought New, regular oil changes and basic upkeep and maintenance and they will run forever.
I sort of agree. Piece is a bit generalized. Use of common sense is the best way to make a car last. Has worked for me on my BMW
X2, 214K on my 83 Silverado that I bought New, regular oil changes and basic upkeep and maintenance and they will run forever.
Originally Posted By: Gabe
I bet everybody here has seen (or owned) a car with more than 238K miles.
I've seen plenty with even 300K mi but unless it was one that had the old five digit odo, I've never owned anything that I could verify more than about 175K mi...
The time vs mileage is the thing, have a friend who racked up over 325K mi in a '88 T-Bird in approx 15 years, with NO major repairs... Since then it's seen limited duty, trans croaked at 35x,xxx then was T-Boned a year or so later...
I bet everybody here has seen (or owned) a car with more than 238K miles.
I've seen plenty with even 300K mi but unless it was one that had the old five digit odo, I've never owned anything that I could verify more than about 175K mi...
The time vs mileage is the thing, have a friend who racked up over 325K mi in a '88 T-Bird in approx 15 years, with NO major repairs... Since then it's seen limited duty, trans croaked at 35x,xxx then was T-Boned a year or so later...
In most cars, the engine will be able to reach 238,000 miles, and in some the transmission also reaches 238,000 miles.
However, the interior is falling apart, the A/C either doesn't work or has been repaired, electrical items can't be counted on, an expensive in-tank electric fuel pump gets replaced, most suspension parts had to be replaced, and there are multiple leaks.
So people get rid of their cars for some reason other than a dying engine or transmission.
However, the interior is falling apart, the A/C either doesn't work or has been repaired, electrical items can't be counted on, an expensive in-tank electric fuel pump gets replaced, most suspension parts had to be replaced, and there are multiple leaks.
So people get rid of their cars for some reason other than a dying engine or transmission.
I would not be interested in owning a car with that many miles anyway, but generally if one wants to get to 200k, they may need to be a bit more aggressive with their preventive maintenance than the owner's manual's recommendations.
I drive a Ford Ranger guys, Ill get tired of it before it gets tired of me
Originally Posted By: artificialist
In most cars, the engine will be able to reach 238,000 miles, and in some the transmission also reaches 238,000 miles.
However, the interior is falling apart, the A/C either doesn't work or has been repaired, electrical items can't be counted on, an expensive in-tank electric fuel pump gets replaced, most suspension parts had to be replaced, and there are multiple leaks.
So people get rid of their cars for some reason other than a dying engine or transmission.
What's the big fuss. Our almost 16 year old 855 is approaching 250k on the original power train. No major engine/ATX issues. No fluid leaks. No rust. Runs great. We don't know how it does it, but it still pulls in the very high 20s on the hwy. The cloth interior still looks lovely (some golden retriever hair in the back doesn't count). The AC and everything else works fine . . . ok, the vinyl is peeling just a little on the driver's door panel. It lives outside, parked in the street, summer and winter.
Yes, we've replaced brakes and struts and belts and hoses over the years. Filters and ignition parts (plugs, caps, rotors) along the way, too. But I consider that routine maintenance. And it's had a few switches, light bulbs, thermostats, and finally a cat replaced this past summer (from a road debris hit on I-95). Replaced a torn CV boot and a worn front bearing a few years back. I don't remember how old the battery is at this point . . . I'm thinking 7+ years. Addressed a couple interior quirks years ago, and they've never returned. Last year the tailgate struts finally wore out. $50. Small potatoes really. But everything was done when or before it needed to be, and things are never "put off".
It's like an old pair of comfy slippers at this point, although I do confess of getting bored with it from time to time. There is nothing sexy or exciting about it, except once a month when there is no payment due on it.
I've gotten over 100k out of many other cars, including some models that you would never think were capable of it. Still ran fine when we got rid of them.
If there's any "secret" I'm aware of, it's to buy a well-made vehicle with not too much "candy", operate it with common sense, change ALL the fluids religiously, the rubber intelligently, wash it occasionally, and tend to it's faults before they cascade into more serious problems.
In most cars, the engine will be able to reach 238,000 miles, and in some the transmission also reaches 238,000 miles.
However, the interior is falling apart, the A/C either doesn't work or has been repaired, electrical items can't be counted on, an expensive in-tank electric fuel pump gets replaced, most suspension parts had to be replaced, and there are multiple leaks.
So people get rid of their cars for some reason other than a dying engine or transmission.
What's the big fuss. Our almost 16 year old 855 is approaching 250k on the original power train. No major engine/ATX issues. No fluid leaks. No rust. Runs great. We don't know how it does it, but it still pulls in the very high 20s on the hwy. The cloth interior still looks lovely (some golden retriever hair in the back doesn't count). The AC and everything else works fine . . . ok, the vinyl is peeling just a little on the driver's door panel. It lives outside, parked in the street, summer and winter.
Yes, we've replaced brakes and struts and belts and hoses over the years. Filters and ignition parts (plugs, caps, rotors) along the way, too. But I consider that routine maintenance. And it's had a few switches, light bulbs, thermostats, and finally a cat replaced this past summer (from a road debris hit on I-95). Replaced a torn CV boot and a worn front bearing a few years back. I don't remember how old the battery is at this point . . . I'm thinking 7+ years. Addressed a couple interior quirks years ago, and they've never returned. Last year the tailgate struts finally wore out. $50. Small potatoes really. But everything was done when or before it needed to be, and things are never "put off".
It's like an old pair of comfy slippers at this point, although I do confess of getting bored with it from time to time. There is nothing sexy or exciting about it, except once a month when there is no payment due on it.
I've gotten over 100k out of many other cars, including some models that you would never think were capable of it. Still ran fine when we got rid of them.
If there's any "secret" I'm aware of, it's to buy a well-made vehicle with not too much "candy", operate it with common sense, change ALL the fluids religiously, the rubber intelligently, wash it occasionally, and tend to it's faults before they cascade into more serious problems.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
In most cars, the engine will be able to reach 238,000 miles, and in some the transmission also reaches 238,000 miles.
However, the interior is falling apart, the A/C either doesn't work or has been repaired, electrical items can't be counted on, an expensive in-tank electric fuel pump gets replaced, most suspension parts had to be replaced, and there are multiple leaks.
So people get rid of their cars for some reason other than a dying engine or transmission.
I've had a number of vehicles in the 200K+ category, and none of them experienced the "interior falling apart" syndrome that you tout. The interior in our 96 Cherokee was almost like new, and it never needed anything beyond normal maintenance when we sold it. I still see it on occasion and it still looks like it did when we owned it. I've seen a number of vehicles with high mileage and the interiors were just fine.
Time is more damaging to interiors than mileage unless the owner is a slob.
In most cars, the engine will be able to reach 238,000 miles, and in some the transmission also reaches 238,000 miles.
However, the interior is falling apart, the A/C either doesn't work or has been repaired, electrical items can't be counted on, an expensive in-tank electric fuel pump gets replaced, most suspension parts had to be replaced, and there are multiple leaks.
So people get rid of their cars for some reason other than a dying engine or transmission.
I've had a number of vehicles in the 200K+ category, and none of them experienced the "interior falling apart" syndrome that you tout. The interior in our 96 Cherokee was almost like new, and it never needed anything beyond normal maintenance when we sold it. I still see it on occasion and it still looks like it did when we owned it. I've seen a number of vehicles with high mileage and the interiors were just fine.
Time is more damaging to interiors than mileage unless the owner is a slob.
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: artificialist
In most cars, the engine will be able to reach 238,000 miles, and in some the transmission also reaches 238,000 miles.
However, the interior is falling apart, the A/C either doesn't work or has been repaired, electrical items can't be counted on, an expensive in-tank electric fuel pump gets replaced, most suspension parts had to be replaced, and there are multiple leaks.
So people get rid of their cars for some reason other than a dying engine or transmission.
I've had a number of vehicles in the 200K+ category, and none of them experienced the "interior falling apart" syndrome that you tout. The interior in our 96 Cherokee was almost like new, and it never needed anything beyond normal maintenance when we sold it. I still see it on occasion and it still looks like it did when we owned it. I've seen a number of vehicles with high mileage and the interiors were just fine.
Time is more damaging to interiors than mileage unless the owner is a slob.
I would say that time and sunlight/heat combined damage interiors. I am experiencing this a bit (leather drying on seat back) as my BMW is 17 years old and sits in the sun during the day while garaged at night. I do treat the leather every few months.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
In most cars, the engine will be able to reach 238,000 miles, and in some the transmission also reaches 238,000 miles.
However, the interior is falling apart, the A/C either doesn't work or has been repaired, electrical items can't be counted on, an expensive in-tank electric fuel pump gets replaced, most suspension parts had to be replaced, and there are multiple leaks.
So people get rid of their cars for some reason other than a dying engine or transmission.
I've had a number of vehicles in the 200K+ category, and none of them experienced the "interior falling apart" syndrome that you tout. The interior in our 96 Cherokee was almost like new, and it never needed anything beyond normal maintenance when we sold it. I still see it on occasion and it still looks like it did when we owned it. I've seen a number of vehicles with high mileage and the interiors were just fine.
Time is more damaging to interiors than mileage unless the owner is a slob.
I would say that time and sunlight/heat combined damage interiors. I am experiencing this a bit (leather drying on seat back) as my BMW is 17 years old and sits in the sun during the day while garaged at night. I do treat the leather every few months.
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