What’s your mileage limit for buying a used car?

[Elkins45]

How many miles is too many for you to consider a used car? I should specify I’m talking about an occasional use vehicle, not something you need to depend on to commute 100 miles each day. There’s a nice 2009 Pontiac Vibe AWD with 153k and a 2010 Toyota Highlander with 162k available for <$6k and $8k respectively, so we’re not talking about a lot of money here.

At what mileage do you start to lose interest?

 

[duck__dodgers]

Right price clears all markets, will make me buy any car.

highlander = yes, depending on inspection, condition of interior, local market conditions. dunno much about Vibe except its reputation and Toyota innards

if I'm commuting 100 miles a day, I worry more about being t-boned than MPG (cuz i'm acting like an old man now), unless the roads are clear

 

[E150GT]

No amount of miles for a vibe. Lol. But really I'm not scared of miles. It's all about condition and price

 

[Timmastertech]

I tend to look at how common of a vehicle it is and how easy it is to get parts for. I tend to get rid of a vehicle when parts get tough, which would make me stay away from the vibe. Many parts obsolete from GM so you have to try to figure out what parts from a Matrix work since GM assigned their own part numbers versus using Toyota numbers

 

[SC Maintenance]

Those 2 look low miles to me.

Honestly high miles often is indicative of highway driving. Would rather have 300k hwy than 100k all city.

 

[Patman]

I have had good luck buying my current Civic and the one before that when they each had about 80,000 miles. But I wouldn’t have a problem buying one with 100-120k as long as it appears to be treated well.

 

[LostInTransit]

17K - 24k / 1-2 owners

 

[riff1006]

I bought a 2011 RX350 with 167,000 miles on it. Other than having to put in a new radiator (due to plastic fitting getting brittle over time), it's been great. You can't go wrong with a 2GR-FE. Great power and very reliable. Maybe the Highlander has that motor, not sure.

 

[tblt44]

I got my Avalanche w/119k in 2013
It has 238k now in 2025
I didn't buy it but inherited it.
If I didn't know the history and bought one I would look for 75k or under

 

[Cheetah-kins]

Yeah miles do not really scare me. My daily driver first gen Miata has over 230K miles on it and I would drive it literally anywhere without worry if just talking about it reliably making it. But.. it's always been well maintained. So.. if OP's two examples were reasonably well maintained I would I have no problem considering them at the miles stated. I will say though that for me to buy something with 300K+ miles on it, it would have to be VERY cheap and VERY well maintained, haha. I generally consider anything after 300K to be the end of the vehicle with few exceptions. At those miles you're constantly replacing things large and small thereby ruining any joy of ownership, IME
.

 

[earlyre]

I tend to look at how common of a vehicle it is and how easy it is to get parts for. I tend to get rid of a vehicle when parts get tough, which would make me stay away from the vibe. Many parts obsolete from GM so you have to try to figure out what parts from a Matrix work since GM assigned their own part numbers versus using Toyota numbers

the problem there, is things like HVAC...Buddy had an 03 vibe for years, broken teeth on a gear in a blend door actuator. door just went click-click-click, etc... nothing unusual there, i had similar issues in Fords for me and my family, looking things up, to see if i cold get a Toyota part that might work better, the answer was a resounding no. the Vibe used a fully GM HVAC system, while the Matrix Used system similar to the Corolla. the Toyota parts were completely different, and not compatible.
Vibes were built at NUMMI - now the Tesla plant, while the Matrix was built at a Toyota plant in Canada... so while they were "twins", they were built at completely separate facilities, unlike say, the Pontiac Aztek, and Buick Rendezvous, which both rolled off the same Mexican Assembly Line.

 

[fantastic]

The highest mileage vehicle I've purchased in the last 20+ years was a 1995 F-250 7.3L with 225k on it. They were known for their reliability so I went with it & sold it at 273k. Mainly I'd say I try for <150k, good price, & decent condition. It will be older since that usually equates to a lower price.

 

[Cmobile]

For me it's price/mileage dependant, but those miles on that vintage should be fine. Especially since they are powered by Toyota.

Which is more comfortable to drive? Seat comfortable is a big deal for me

 

[scoot]

3000 miles , and I'm serious . I won't buy a vehicle that started life with abuse of a 10k oil change .

 

[TomYoung]

No amount of miles for a vibe. Lol. But really I'm not scared of miles. It's all about condition and price

Isn't the Vibe a Toyota?

 

[Elkins45]

Isn't the Vibe a Toyota?

Toyota drive train but GM did the other bits. I’m not sure how much of the suspension they share.

 

[Chris142]

Our fj had 151k on it. More than I wanted but it was in the best condition I could find. Currantly @225k and doing well .

It's had some issues with ball joints and bushings is all

 

[slacktide_bitog]

No mileage limit for me

 

[sparky123]

Highest mileage car I've bought was a 2007 Toyota Rav4 w/v6 w/140k mi. Today has 241k mi. VERY solid with PLENTY of giddy up and go. Only half way broken in! If you don't need AWD, the Toyota Highlander would be my choice.

 

[vwmaniaman]

My 07 Ram1500 Laramie with 5.7 had 182 on it but had been taken care of. It now has 227k and tows my small 5th wheel with ease and gets over 11mpg towing it in tow mode. my 86 VW vanagon Westfalia has 186K with motor rebuilt by me at 166k. My 87 VW Cabriolet has not been rebuilt and has 187k and uses no oil and runs great. Has that JH motor. Miles don't bother me if the owner takes care of them.