Toyota really is phenomenal for parts availability. My daily driver is a 1996 JDM import Prado that's about to hit 100k miles. I'm astounded at how many OEM parts are still available new from Toyota in Japan or UAE, and for very reasonable prices.
Is it reasonable to expect more than 15 years and 200k from an older car ?
- Thread starter hevysrf
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Toyota really is phenomenal for parts availability. My daily driver is a 1996 JDM import Prado that's about to hit 100k miles. I'm astounded at how many OEM parts are still available new from Toyota in Japan or UAE, and for very reasonable prices.
One day, when I'm in it, I'll take a pic. K-24 is an impressive little 4 banger that Honda manufactured. That's when engineer's were allowed to do their job without the bean counters watchin every little nickle and dime on R&D.
My previous car was a 1997 VW that was bought brand new, I parted with it 17 years and 235K miles later. It sure depends on the car's bones and DNA, climate and weather and how it's taken care of.
Depends on the car and the previous owner. Mine all lasted past 15 years and most are on track to last more than 200k for sure.
Depending on where you live, you may know how to turn a wrench just fine but Mother Nature and NaCl can combine to make certain jobs nearly unworkable. I can do just about anything needed on a new car, but after about year 8-10 I take all the risky stuff (suspension, CV axles, undercarriage stuff) to the local indie just because I’ve donated enough blood in my life. For $65/hr I’ll happily keep the locals employed with stuff I don’t care to take on…
I had a 2007 Toyota Yaris, bought new. After 200k miles, everything still worked. I just changed the oil, tranny fluid at 100k, never changed the brake pads. This car never burnt oil, and the AC never needed a recharge. Nothing ever broke, nor needed repair. This car was bullet-proof, but I always kept up with maintenance. Few American cars can do this, and even with their bad reputations, and need of repairs, people keep buying them...it's a cult.
My 2006 Grand Caravan with the 3.8 has 252k. Everything works. Body looks good. Interior as well. Despite their reputation, these Chrysler products of this era an hold together well, provided they are maintained properly.
Rust was the only reason I sold my 2002 Voyager. Everything else on that van was working perfectly.
I had to do a water pump and radiator in 166,000 miles, and that was it!
JHZR2
Staff member
It’s not the mechanical systems.
It’s the rubber parts, foam parts, plastic parts, electronics, inside and out.
And 200k over 15 years ins car left in the pummeling sun in the desert with some short trips and a few long drives is far different from a car that got those miles on long drives with a lightweight person in the seat.
It’s the rubber parts, foam parts, plastic parts, electronics, inside and out.
And 200k over 15 years ins car left in the pummeling sun in the desert with some short trips and a few long drives is far different from a car that got those miles on long drives with a lightweight person in the seat.
JHZR2
Staff member
Seat wear is real!Lightweight.
OP, better start losing weight!
I was pondering something along this thread this weekend. We went down to my parents in the 04 Escape 197k.. Got to thinking back in 96 when I got my license it was non-existent here in mid-Mo to see someone driving a 21 year vehicle. I don't remember any 1975-ish vehicles driving around except maybe restored, a few weirdos might of had one held together by bailing wire. Same with our 25 year old Dakota. I know there were some older trucks but most were farm duty and not something you'd want to daily in a city. The Dakota has terrible gearing in the 4spd trans but the AC/cruise and everything works. My first truck was 88 S15 I got in 97 and it was junk. Despite what some think vehicles are getting better.. there's always been models with failing engines etc. I think it's a reasonable expectation, but also have figure in most drive more and accumulate miles faster than in the past. I probably could say more but that's the jest of my thoughts.
I wonder though, how much of it has to do with lubricant improvements. I think engines last longer in recent decades has less to do with metallurgy and engineering and more with oil.
Cylinder ridges at the top of strokes was a big thing decades ago. Now, you hardly see it in cars with 200k. Is that cause they’re using different iron and aluminum blocks?
I think it’s because of the superior oils of today vs yesterday. These oils protect better against corrosion, flow better, and last longer.
Even the reliable ( Japanese ) brands have a few bad products in the past, and it seams like the trend is continuing.
Some yt videos by mechanics like "the car care nut", Mr. Wizard, and a few others, have a few buy this, dont buy this, yt videos wherein they talk about good models and the years, and bad models and the years. Mostly highlighting bad engine designs and years, and bad transmission designs and years.
Also do some yt searches re the particular engine, and particular trany, of any vehicle before you buy it. Often if its a known to have problem dedign, there wil be several videos pointing that out.
Watch those.
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BTW, Honda and Toyota make good cvt tranys. Especially if the flid is drained and filled with manufacturers brand every 30k miles or more often.
Cvt tranys put a lot of heat into the fluid and wear it out quicker than other types. If you change that fluid often, the failure rate is extremely low. The ones that do fail almost always, never had the fluid changed, or changed it with off brand, and or not often enough.
Honda cvt tranies are are easy to do a drain and fill with.
My 2016 CRV with a CVT is fun to drive in S mode. And I had it rust proofed when I bought it, and it gets touched up every fall before the salt is used on the roads.
Some yt videos by mechanics like "the car care nut", Mr. Wizard, and a few others, have a few buy this, dont buy this, yt videos wherein they talk about good models and the years, and bad models and the years. Mostly highlighting bad engine designs and years, and bad transmission designs and years.
Also do some yt searches re the particular engine, and particular trany, of any vehicle before you buy it. Often if its a known to have problem dedign, there wil be several videos pointing that out.
Watch those.
-----------------
BTW, Honda and Toyota make good cvt tranys. Especially if the flid is drained and filled with manufacturers brand every 30k miles or more often.
Cvt tranys put a lot of heat into the fluid and wear it out quicker than other types. If you change that fluid often, the failure rate is extremely low. The ones that do fail almost always, never had the fluid changed, or changed it with off brand, and or not often enough.
Honda cvt tranies are are easy to do a drain and fill with.
My 2016 CRV with a CVT is fun to drive in S mode. And I had it rust proofed when I bought it, and it gets touched up every fall before the salt is used on the roads.
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Zee09
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Hybrid....
OK. Are replacement motor controls going to be available in 10 years? We honestly do not know - so its a gamble either way.
Zee09
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What? Electronics go obsolete much faster than mechanical components. So with more electronics there are more parts to go obsolete, and the piece parts and IC's needed to make them are driven by much higher volume indistries - like Playstation, and go obsolete even faster. Been living it in the industrial world for 30 years. Drives fail all the time.Wow dude
Zee09
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Been living in the industrial world even longer i can't argue but you are getting bent over humor wow dude
