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I just have to vent my puzzlement - how the hell do vehicles get so many miles on them??? Husband & I have been looking at used vehicles lately, 10 to 12 year old SUV's mostly, and I'm amazed at what dealers consider "low miles" for a 10 year old vehicle. Anything over 100,000 is high miles, in my book! My car is 7 years old and has 44,000 miles on it. Husband's truck is 9 years old and has 80,000. How on earth do ten year old vehicles get 150,000 miles on them - do the owners just drive them around in circles to watch the odometer turn over for entertainment?!?!
15k a year is average mileage
Also cars these days are generally lasting longer than 100,000 miles. Many can operate fine upwards of 300,000 miles with decent maintenance.
I just have to vent my puzzlement - how the hell do vehicles get so many miles on them??? Husband & I have been looking at used vehicles lately, 10 to 12 year old SUV's mostly, and I'm amazed at what dealers consider "low miles" for a 10 year old vehicle. Anything over 100,000 is high miles, in my book! My car is 7 years old and has 44,000 miles on it. Husband's truck is 9 years old and has 80,000. How on earth do ten year old vehicles get 150,000 miles on them - do the owners just drive them around in circles to watch the odometer turn over for entertainment?!?!
I used to do a 44 mile commute each way; that's how cars get over 150k on them in less than ten years. Thankfully I am now working five miles from the house and life is a lot less stressful.
What I don't understand is the ASKING price on these high mileage vehicles. I have seen vehicles that have over 100k on the odometer with asking prices roughly 3/4 or better of the price on the same model NEW car.
I drive 16 miles round trip commuting to & from work. Including side trips, errands, and shopping it averages to around 5,000 miles a year. Over 10 years that amounts to an average of about 50,000 miles. This does not include vacation travel which varies. Let's say I travel an average of 400 miles from home for vacation. Including side trips at my destination that averages to another 1,000 miles per year which brings my total average up to 60,000. Not everyone lives within 8 miles from work and some travel more often running errands for their kids' school (sports, band, clubs, etc) and personal entertainment (movies, dinner, dancing, etc). Some travel further for vacation, some use their vehicle as part of their job, and some visit long distance friends and relatives.
I just have to vent my puzzlement - how the hell do vehicles get so many miles on them??? ... How on earth do ten year old vehicles get 150,000 miles on them - do the owners just drive them around in circles to watch the odometer turn over for entertainment?!?!
In the census data from this link there are 71 million full-time workers averaging almost 19 mile commutes (each way) on a daily basis. It also shows that approximately 80% of these people drove alone. These statistics mean the overwhelming majority of America is putting on close to 10,000 miles per year just getting to and from work.
Personally, just sold a 12 year old car with 255k and have an 11 year old Suburban with 155k which is our "low mileage" family hauler.
more[/u]Retriever;37353908]Instead of being incredulous about cars with "high mileage", I am amazed that you have apparently driven less than 6,300 miles per year with your car, and your husband has driven less than 9,000 miles annually with his car. Both of you drive much less than the national average.
Especially in the case of your car, I really hope that you change the oil and do other maintenance on the basis of elapsed time, rather than on the basis of odometer mileage.
If you are changing oil on the basis of odometer mileage, your engine is likely clogged with damaging oil sludge.
We actually change the oil like clockwork every 3 months, regardless of the odometer reading, and always have it done at the dealership. I never thought about it until now, but it's a good thing we do go to the dealership, so there's a record for Carfax, because if our mileage actually is below normal, it may look suspicious to future buyers. Having always lived in rural, somewhat remote areas, I never realized that urban dwellers may actually drive further to work than the 8 miles round trip I drive, or the 35 miles my husband had to. When seeking jobs, I have never considered applying for any that are more than 15 miles away, it simply isn't worth it if you factor in all the expenses of commuting, not to mention the time involved. As for picking kids up & dropping them off, that's what school busses are for - our daughter always rode the bus, as did I. We take one vacation a year, using husband's truck, which is primarily why his mileage is more than my vehicle has. I'm guess I'm still just trying to understand why the average mileages are so high. Oh well, it is what it is, but I'm definitely going to seek out a vehicle with under 100,000 if I ever buy used - we've always bought new until now.
We actually change the oil like clockwork every 3 months, regardless of the odometer reading, and always have it done at the dealership. I never thought about it until now, but it's a good thing we do go to the dealership, so there's a record for Carfax, because if our mileage actually is below normal, it may look suspicious to future buyers. Having always lived in rural, somewhat remote areas, I never realized that urban dwellers may actually drive further to work than the 8 miles round trip I drive, or the 35 miles my husband had to. When seeking jobs, I have never considered applying for any that are more than 15 miles away, it simply isn't worth it if you factor in all the expenses of commuting, not to mention the time involved. As for picking kids up & dropping them off, that's what school busses are for - our daughter always rode the bus, as did I. We take one vacation a year, using husband's truck, which is primarily why his mileage is more than my vehicle has. I'm guess I'm still just trying to understand why the average mileages are so high. Oh well, it is what it is, but I'm definitely going to seek out a vehicle with under 100,000 if I ever buy used - we've always bought new until now.
Yeah, you are the exception to the rule. People won't rule out a job because it is 15-20 miles further out. They just won't. I know I wouldn't
Yeah, you are the exception to the rule. People won't rule out a job because it is 15-20 miles further out. They just won't. I know I wouldn't
I've come to realize that my priorities are different than most. My time is more valuable to me than the extra few dollars I'd make if I worked an hour away. And it would take math skills I just don't possess to figure out how much more it would cost in $$$ to travel to determine if one would actually come out ahead in the big picture commuting further.
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