What mileage on a vehicle starts making you nervous?

[UncleDave]

I split this between passenger use autos and work vehicles.

ON a a passenger auto its typically between 150-250K miles where repairs start to cost more than the vehicle, and you get cascade failures.

On a work vehicle I have no upper limit on a well maintained machine like a 7.3 f250, or properly rebuilt loved and cared for asset.

Ive been in 20 year half million mile farm trucks Id trust more than some beaten neglected 5 year old trucks with 60K

There is no reason a properly maintained vehicle cannot go forever.

 

[ZZman]

I guess this would depend as well on the location of the vehicle. Rust belt or sun belt. The miles may not bother you as much as the body condition.

I cannot imagine owning the same vehicle for 23 years and putting on that many miles! I get bored after a while.

 

[ZZman]

Originally Posted by 928
A Grand Marquis worn out at 150k? Around here when the Crown Vics (same car) were sold off by the cops after a hard life, the independent taxi drivers would be lined up to buy them at auction. Front engine, bulletproof trans, rear wheel drive= easily a ton of miles left. Keep the oil changed & don't overheat it & you probably have another 150k left


Not claiming worn out but just nervous that a tranny or other expensive repair could happen. (head gasket, spun bearing etc.. )

 

[Brigadier]

It used to be 150k-200k depending on the history of the vehicle - how reliable has it been to that point?

But after my 2006 Colorado ate its engine at 114k miles, I am re-evaluating that standard. The Colorado was ridden with issues though. CEL for evap valve solenoid multiple times. Wiper motor died. Transmission leak. Always something.

My dad has a 2012 Terrain V6 AWD. He has about 73k miles on it. Just had to put a new transmission in it, and then the water pump started leaking. Gonna be interesting to see if it keeps breaking or not from here on out.

I am hopeful about my 2017 Santa Fe. Hoping to get 200k out of it.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted by ZZman
It used to be cars were getting pretty worn out by 100,000 miles. Now cars often can easily reach the 200,000 + mark and still have no major issues.

For me I would say 150,000 miles starts to make me nervous. My Marquis is getting close to that now.


I get nervous 1 mile after the expiration of the factory warranty. Serious though it's not the miles but the age which worries me because of the plethora of plastic parts which become brittle with age.

 

[Bud_One]

300K

My old accord is at 218k now. On her second transmission .
But still chugging along with normal leaks and minor issues.

 

[The Critic]

150K.

No matter how well a vehicle is maintained, it is inevitable that components will begin to wear out and fail after a certain point. The design life of many light-duty vehicles is 150-180K, so I think this is a reasonable milestone to begin considering options.

Also, the cost of vehicle repair has truly skyrocketed in recent years. As I mentioned in another thread, labor rates are over $150/hr in many metropolitan areas. A car with over 150K miles, especially economy cars, have limited value. Keeping up with maintenance and repair at that point may/may not be realistic.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted by UncleDave
There is no reason a properly maintained vehicle cannot go forever.


Actually there are two reasons; rust, and parts unavailability...

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted by The Critic
150K.

No matter how well a vehicle is maintained, it is inevitable that components will begin to wear out and fail after a certain point. The design life of many light-duty vehicles is 150-180K, so I think this is a reasonable milestone to begin considering options.

Also, the cost of vehicle repair has truly skyrocketed in recent years. As I mentioned in another thread, labor rates are over $150/hr in many metropolitan areas. A car with over 150K miles, especially economy cars, have limited value. Keeping up with maintenance and repair at that point may/may not be realistic.


I agree as well that 150k miles is about right. Most people think engine/transmission, which can easily last a lot longer, but these days with the cost of part replacement and labor, there are a lot more components that may deem a vehicle not worth fixing.

 

[wdn]

The answer needs to be divided into "Toyota" and "non-Toyota" vehicles.

 

[CKN]

"The West" has roads that are in the middle of no where-without services or cell phone coverage for miles (I know this is hard for some on here to grasp). Once a car nears 100,000 miles it's traded in. I have found it's best to trade in just before 100,000 miles than after. Some banks that dealerships will not finance a car with favorable rates after a vehicle hits 100,000 miles.

 

[ZZman]

Originally Posted by wdn
The answer needs to be divided into "Toyota" and "non-Toyota" vehicles.


Lol, I know right? Is this secretly Scotty Kilmer?

 

[gman2304]

My 2005 Chevy 5.3 just rolled over 200,000. In the back of my mind I know it's going to need repairs sooner or later, but I'll decide then what to do based on the cost of the repair and value of the truck.

 

[Lyman]

I will be at 200k in my Jeep before the end of the year. Im fine with that. It's running better now than when I bought it @ 130k. I have owned two different trucks with over 350k. Both ran good when I sold them.

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted by WyrTwister
About 160,000 is the most we have gotten out of a car . It was the transmission that went out . Which would have cost more to repair than the car was worth .

You all are correct . The cars of the 1960's were burning significant oil by 100,000 miles .

One problem is , modern cars contain a lot of plastic . Plastic begins to go bad with age , no matter how good of condition the metal is in .

Thankfully , I do not live in the rust / salt belt . That is a whole " nuther " issue .



It's the elastomers that have killed the most of my "modern" cars. The seals get brittle and leak. It's a lot of work to keep replacing these $20 parts.

 

[exranger06]

I'd feel a little uneasy buying a car that already has over 200k miles and not knowing its history, but if it's a car that I've had for a long time and/or know the history of, I have no uneasy feelings with higher mileage. My 92 Accord used to be my parent's car - they bought it when it was 3 years old and it had about 20k miles at the time. I bought it from them 12 years ago. I know the complete history and have every repair receipt since 1995. I know it is, and always has been, a reliable car with no major problems. It currently has 204k miles. If I had to drive across the country right now, I'd just hop in the car and go. I have full confidence it would get me there, and get me back home again with no problems.

 

[Snagglefoot]

For my Suburban, which would be costly to replace, I'm closing in on 200,000 miles and I'm willing to do maintenance to take it to 300,000 miles. On my old Taurus winter beater with 150,000 miles, if the tranny goes, off to wreckers it goes.

 

[kschachn]

Originally Posted by grampi
Actually there are two reasons; rust, and parts unavailability...

The first one has been a problem for a while but it can be fixed one way or another. The second one has become an increasing problem most acute with my Accord. My Toyota cars are slightly newer which may help, and the parts support for the BMW has been pretty amazing.

 

[dogememe]

Originally Posted by wdn
The answer needs to be divided into "Toyota" and "non-Toyota" vehicles.

are you dense in the head?

 

[wings&wheels]

depends on the car....I've happily lived with VW's and BMW's past 125K, but not much after for a DD. Nowadays, I love my Range Rovers, but won't own one beyond 90-100K... I'd have no problem taking a Toyota or Honda to 200K (assuming it was very well maintained). Wife's Audi's have gone well over 100K and were still strong if not a bit needy w/ mostly minor (but big $$) issues.