The term "Highway Miles" on used cars is so misleading now adays. Many times its no different than "city miles" (vehicles, mileage)

[SAAN]

I live in metro Atlanta and my old job was 20 miles away and in rush hour traffic I could sit in stop and go traffic the entire way, so technically 30 of my 40 mile commute is on the highway and just bumper to bumper traffic.

I now do 70 miles round trip a day and can be in bumper to bumper traffic 40-50 of those miles and put 18-20k mile a year on my car.

In 5 years, I will have 90-100K on the car and can say these 100K miles are "Highway Miles" , knowing the the miles are no better than if I were driving around town.


Makes me wonder how many used cars I see for sale on Ebaymotors, autotrader and Craigslist, that have supposed "highway miles", but look so beat up and drive like crap, if most of those miles are jusr stop and go traffic miles.

[dpm1]

It is easy for a consumer to tell the difference. 2 year old car with 100k miles? Lots of highway. 10 year old car with 100k? Not as clear but it is a 10 year old car.

[sirtiger]

that is a good point. Buyers should always careful and inspect their cars. If a 2 yr old car had 60k on the odo.....odds are higher its a highway mileage car.

[notnamed]

Well you can also put the locations the car was registered in on its carfax into consideration. Indeed there is a difference between highway in a horribly congested city like Atlanta and highway in less urban locations where you can cruise along at 80 the whole way.

But really it's more about the length of the drive rather than the stop and go. The amount of time the car is spent running below the ideal operating temperature. An hour in stop and go Atlanta highway traffic is still better than multiple trips around town where the car spends more of those miles warming up or in cases of very short trips in winter, never fully warms up.

Especially with newer GDI engines. Short trips are a recipe for quick carbon buildup.

[Dburger]

I lived in south ATL and commuted from Fayetteville to Fort McPherson...all highway miles. I didn't exactly drive on any interstates to get to work, but I still drove on highways and therefore put "highway" miles on my car(s). Highway miles must be easier on a car.

[ukrkoz]

Who in sain mind really takes what seller says seriously? Esp on fleebay?
CAVEAT EMPTOR!!

[Charles22]

I don't think anyone is fooled by that.

[jaypee]

Originally Posted by Dburger

I lived in south ATL and commuted from Fayetteville to Fort McPherson...all highway miles. I didn't exactly drive on any interstates to get to work, but I still drove on highways and therefore put "highway" miles on my car(s). Highway miles must be easier on a car.

So you parked the car after you got off the highway and walked home?

[Redraven]

Around here, the only time I generally see "highway miles" is on 4X4 vehicles.
This tells me that it hasn't been beat to death off road, driving over rocks and logs, through streams, etc., which may be a good indication that the frame isn't bent, the springs are not broken, and the shock absorbers might be in decent shape. There is also a good chance that it has never been to Moab, Utah, and driven over the slickrock trails, or been mountain climbing near Glacier National Park.
It CAN be a valid statement of usage!
Of course, when it comes to used cars, whether private party sales or on a dealer lot, you don't know WHAT the truth is!

[Dburger]

Originally Posted by jaypee

So you parked the car after you got off the highway and walked home?

Well, I most certainly didn't drive straight into downtown ATL right after I got off the highway