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I got a 2000 toyota corolla with 200k miles on it. Just wondering how much longer it will last before the engine or transmission goes, at which point I will be getting rid of the car lol
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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We had a 4Runner that needed a $3,400 transmission rebuild at 90,000 miles, and we traded it in at 100k as other small things started to go out. There is no way to predict, with so many variables like how it was maintained, who was on the assembly line that day, and where the parts were made that year. With that many miles I would just keep driving it until it dies, but not too far.
I've heard it said that a vehicle that is sparingly used might actually be more exposed to mechanical issues than a vehicle that is used on a daily basis. I suppose because owners think they wouldn't need to service the vehicle as much as the daily drivers since it's sparingly used.
This has certainly changed how I've viewed Toyotas for sell that have close to 200,000 miles. According to the model year, I try to figure out about how many miles the car is being used each year. I figure if a car is driven at least 12,000 miles a year, it's probably also being maintained regularly. Of course you can't always count on that, but if the car has made it to 200,000 miles or closing in on that number, the owner has at least made an attempt to keep the car in good condition.
I guess it's kind of a trade off though. If you only have a very small budget and need a car, a decently maintained vehicle that at 200,000 miles could get you to 250,000, that's an average of about three and half years. By that point, you could probably save up another couple thousand and get another vehicle that's at 200,000 and rinse and repeat. Sorry, thinking out loud!
I bought my last Toyota used - an 89 Camry, and it was still running when I "retired" it to the state of CA with about 315,000 miles on it. It was throwing oil all over the place under the hood, but I just kept putting oil in it and it started up every time I asked it to. Everything else was breaking - like the A/C quit, and the paint looked horrible, a couple doors wouldn't open anymore - but it was still running pretty good. Still reliable. I only had to buy a new battery for it in the 5 or so years I owned it. I changed the oil infrequently, but I always made sure it was topped off. I don't think I ever even had it tuned up. I did buy tires for it.
The state here will pay you to retire an older car that doesn't pass smog, but it has to be driven to the wrecking yard. The state paid me $1,000 to retire it. I took that money, and bought another used 92 Corolla for $900. I've had that one for about 7 years now, and it's got about 220,000 miles and I've had to buy a battery and a brake switch (under the pedals inside the car). I've never had it tuned up and again, just make sure it has oil, but am not great about getting the oil changed very often. The door handles are falling off, paint looks horrible, a/c quit working - but the engine is clean and it starts up every time.
This time the option of retiring it is gone because of the county I live in. So, I think I'll just keep it as a second vehicle. My next vehicle will be a van.
But, you just can't kill Toyotas. At least the old ones. I'd expect to get at least 300,000 miles out of yours, as long as you keep the oil topped up. Everything else might fall off the car, but the motor should be reliable for a very long time.
My brother bought a 79 Toyota truck new and took it 100,000 miles and sold it to my dad and he put on another 100,000 miles and then I got it and put on another 200,000 miles .
If it wasn't for some dark character in the desert shooting up that truck I might have gotten another 100,000 miles out of it.
'87 4Runner, 400k+ miles on it. Rolled into a ravine, motor still running after we landed. Found another body on Craigslist...no intention of ever getting rid of it.
I think I did about 40 miles once.......in a rental car!
I hate Toyotas!
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