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Since you were generalizing that japanese cars ALWAYS last longer, I only needed to counter it with one example to show why your generalization was false. .
I guess you're not going to "excuse the generalization".
I have the '87 Pontiac 6000 LE wagon that I bought in June was 181K miles. Now it has 189K miles and still running smooth and strong, and this is the 2.8L MPFI motor. Done my own oil changes and other maintenance items as I have always done and runs great. Plus I like the fact that the engine uses a timing chain instead of the annoying belt which has shorter CIs.
Going to drive it to TX for Christmas holidays and can really care less if its not the newest car on the block. I have always somewhat preferred older cars as they are easier to work on and not computer and sensor dominant. Less electronics means less to break down.
I know many people like to knock older cars as 'you need to buy a new vehicle' or 'are you sure you want to take that car on such a long trip--may not make it' but the truth is, cars do last longer with more highway miles as compared to stop-and-go driving. My daily commute to work roundtrip each day on the highway is 50 miles and never misses a beat. Took it on short-range trips and even a longer 600-mile trip and performed like a champ. Of course many have said from I read (even a friend of mine) that the Pontiac 6000's were tanks and were pretty reliable.
I aim to keep this car until it dies (and then again, it may not). I don't mind working on my own car, I enjoy the feeling of knowing my car to where I don't have to rely on anyone else to work on it, unless its something that I don't have the tools for or if its a two-person job.
I'm from europe, so models may not be relevant to the US.
Most of these were sold on and the next owner continued to run them.
Ford Mondeo diesel (Taurus?) 220,000 miles. Scrapped after accident.
Ford Escort diesel. 270,000 miles. Still running with new owner.
Volvo 240 375,000. Stolen
Volvo 240 240,000 miles. Replaced the stolen one, last I heard, still running perfectly.
Audi quattro. Had a few of these, all 5 cylinder engines, all of them reached well over 200k.
The highest was a Volkswagen Passat. (Same as Audi 80) with 500,000 miles on it and still running perfectly.
It started to rust away and I sold it to a guy who took the 5 cylinder engine out to fit in his quattro.
Pretty much any car is capable of doing it if they're maintained properly and not driven too hard.
All of my autos went way over 200k before the rust got them. Regular oil changes and fixing things when the first appear instead of letting them fail is the key.
My first new vehicle was a 1993 f150 2WD. 4.9 straight six engine. I sond it in 2004 with close to 180 k miles on it, and it is still going strong 7 years later, probably close to 250 k now, I have to ask owner when I see him. Plan on keeping my 04 f150 till wheels fall off, hopefully many years from now.
Location: Butler County Ohio and Winters in Florida
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I have written about my 2005 Grand Caravan in the past, but I would like to add; Last week I was in Detroit and took a taxi to the hotel. The taxi was a 2008 Grand Caravan with 358K. The driver was driving 90mph on the Interstate. The speeding was alittle scary but that van was smooth as a new one zipping down the road. The driver says the van is used 24/7 and only is turned off while fueling or being serviced.
I do have a Hyundai Accent with 131,000 miles on it. Turns out that I need a Catalytic Converter for California. Prices start at $800 for my state. 49 other states are less than $400 for the cat. Not here. Lucky me. I am not sure that the car is worth $800. Still it is cheaper than buying a new car.
One of our companies old work vans had 240k on its original 4.9 I6 and still ran strong.
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