quote:
Originally posted by Speed racer:
Assuming regular oil changes and regular care; what car or truck lasts the longest for the average Joe, without major work? --snip--
What's Major work? That's the question:
Is it A/C work, Brake Work, Tranny or Clutch or Rear-end work / replacemet, What???
The short answer for the average Joe, NONE.
They will probably have the engine and body die at the same time if they kept the car long enough.
Avg JOE - IMHO; They can't get much to last past 150-200K, I think the average Joe trades it in before it's 100'k or least waits til it hits 150K... Maybe 180-200K on a Benz and Lexus.
So for the average JOE I'd say a Toyota would be better because almost anyone unless they have a lemon, can get 200-250K out of one for a car and 300-400K for a truck as long as the fluids are changed;
or Honda 200-250-300max, Volvo the same with eirter one getting least another 2-300K with better than average care.
But if anyone willing to do a little TLC, then I think that a Diesel for sure lasts longer, but in a way it takes more care, and with the new EPA stuff and the new fuel comming out, I think that may very well change unless people re-learn more maintenance procedures.
Well I donno about Subaru even if they will give you a new car if you bring your old Subaru in with over 1,000,000 because I had a GL-5 Wagon 4WD Std 5-Spd. Hi/Low (3settings) and put ???hummm 168-188K ??? anyway, when it was taken, all the dash knobs and buttons kept falling out, and the dash squeeked and the doors rattled (w/electric windows) Oh I miss that car though, got stuck up to the frame front and back, could not open the door without mud comming in, and that 4wdLOW got me outa there... the only thing I did not like about her was the TimingBelt, rather have a chain.
As far as your question, I'd say some cars are better than others overall but it all depends on the owner.
My Granddady when he was young waited until cars could go more than 150-miles without a flat before he bought his first car, and until He was in retirement age, he bought one every year and traded it in. When He retired he bought one, and kept it until he was too old to "drive" and after they took his Lic. away, he went downhill fast.
My grandmother on the other hand would buy a used car she liked with 100K and keep them an additional 2-300K, and she listed dozens of cars ( alot of which no longer make cars ) she had (they were in a traveling circus).whom she preferred Cads. or Chry., in fact one of her Cads is in that guys place (the first one) that put them in the ground with the tails sticking out.
My parents usually kept them (think all chevy) a 1.5-2.?? hundred thousand. Dad now has a new 97 Ford (first time) Diesel 350 Crew cab with the gooseneck and who knows what-else (think he said it's about 140-50K when he got It but I'm not sure.
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I've had better results from the imports Like Datsun and Toyota over others. I've had always better results from Trucks or truck like autos like the Subaru Gl-5 than normal autos, I think the trucks hold up better because they are built to carry loads and have to be HD. Truck brakes always last me forever in the rear drum never replaced, and the fronts lasted longer than cars too. Actually come to think of it the truck type hoses, and Alt./Start/ fuel pumps waterpumps etc all have lasted me longer, even the belts, hummm!
All my clutches last around 250-260K no matter the make so there I think its the owner.
Out of the trucks, I know people many people that have the most miles; met several in the 400K, and 500K and 600K and 700K, I myself have done one well over 800K Don't really know though --That darn Speedo cable kept going out.
Most however that I have run across trade them in around 300-400K for Toyota and others in the 250-280K range with normal care. The others that coulda lasted, were wrecked or some act of God happened to their trucks.
Anyway, as far as the trucks, it seems the Fords and Diesel in particular hold up better than the Rock Chevy, and the little trucks hold up better than the full-sized (but diesel)from what I've seen (from hundreds of examples -I've seen). On the same token, the full-sized are usually rebuilt, and keep going.
IMHO the little trucks would rank something like this:
Toyota, Nissan with Ford sorta on their heels, Mazda, then ???
I think if you are going Diesel it's Toyota and then Mitsubishi , Mazda,
Speaking of Mitsubishi
I have not known any people that has them, But I had a lowner about two years ago (with about 40~~?? K) when I had a hit and run done while I was parked (6 that year), anyway for 6 weeks and I think it was about 16K
and I only added about 1/2 or 1/3 Quart of oil, and I punched the heck out of that auto (Monterro)
day and night, through about 15 miles of flood water, Idle all day about 1/3 the time, boy that was one fun Auto - just didn't like the rear --
(a little harder for my Valentine-1, I think), but from my little adventures in it, I'd say I would very much consider having one.
Also have known and talked with many Volvo and Honda guys. Each seems about the same in life, but I have run across a lot of them in the Mid 200's to 300 - 400's.
One of my mechanics has an American??? Think Chevy??? with over 500K. Another Mechanic with an Aerostar and a F350 something like 350K.
I did work at a Ford dealership for awhile and I saw a lot of Jag and Jeep Cherokee's that would come in with 200K but they were falling apart inside.
As far as Price being no object I might suspect the Benz and Bently (sweet) would do you well, I'm sure the Benz the diesel would be better life but I donno. I'm sure here is where the body would hold the longest of any car.
In the long of it, it all comes down to the owner.
If normal maintenance is only oil changes and belts and brakes etc, then look for the Mid 200's Max IMHO.
BUT, if they do flushes, on all the fluids, keep the coolant system up to snuff, change the plugs and cap, keep the terminals clean, etc., then look in the 3-400+K -> ???????????????-K.