CNN Money says "Drive your car to death!"

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by samclem Hey, you're missing a priceless opportunity to meet the locals, exchange small talk with tow truck drivers, etc!

When I was driving the POS Plymouth Acclaim (K-Car)* that I had to drive for a couple of years right after my divorce, it had to be towed so many times that I was on a first name basis with the tow truck drivers. I didn't like that one bit! Also I was late to work so often that I used up most of my vacation leave time.

So I bought my first Toyota, and life improved nicely.

*(Not to say that all Acclaims were a POS, but this one was.)

[wallygator69]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHD1 2001 Yukon XL 302,000 miles 1996 Lexus LS400 225,000 miles 2006 Porsche 911S 24,000 miles All with no problems. I have been looking for a reason to get a newer car but can find none. Cars now days will last if serviced regularly at the dealer

Bingo we have BINGO

2006 Ls400 205,000 miles all original except for power steering hose. Other than Maintainance this is the only thing to break. Original shocks, struts, exhaust, EVERYTHING...

WIsh I bought 2..

Wally

[JOHNNIE36]

Here's a new one on warranties. Recently leased (same goes for purchase) a 2011 Honda CRV. Dealer add ons were paint protectant, color coordinated door edge guards, nitrogen filled tires (), pin stripe, splash guards and something called "auto butler" which gives you a free wash every two weeks and a free detailing every six months AND A LIFE TIME WARRANTY ON THE POWER TRAIN. All that for $2995. This would be a great feature if you bought the car with the intent of driving it forever. I asked how they could do this and the salesman tells me, "for the most part we never have any trouble with the drive train. Its the A/C, brakes, shocks, power steering, etc. that give you trouble as you put on the miles. I'm sure that is true. By the way, my deal included the dealer add ons for free.

[RetiredGypsy]

Another thing to brag about extremely high mileage cars is that you can begin to measure your distance in light seconds instead of miles. Science!

I've barely turned over 24k miles on my motorcycle, but all the cars I've had were pushing 90-100k miles when I bought them without any troubles at all. I wouldn't have a problem at all buying a car with more than 100k on if it was a Honda or Toyota or one of their related brands.

[Telly]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallygator69 ...snip...2006 Ls400 205,000 miles all original except for power steering hose. Other than Maintainance this is the only thing to break. Original shocks, struts, exhaust, EVERYTHING...

That's a LOT of miles on a 5 year old car. 200k/5 years = 40k miles/year.

Sounds like a lot of interstate/high speed driving. That's the way to get high vehicle miles with lowest repair costs... lots' of miles in the shortest time.

Many years ago lived next to a guy that was on the road all the time. He put incredible miles on common cars, many that were not known at that time for longevity. He carried oil, antifreeze, washer fluid, brake fluid, a set of jumper cables, Auto trans fluid, a funnel, a tire pressure gauge, and a roll of paper towels with him in a box in the trunk. He would check everything himself on the road. And drive and drive and...

[Sarah in SC]

We loved our Saturns, Ready. They "retired" from daily use to the salvage man with 270k and 350k respectively, IIRC. The manual transmission one was the real workhorse, though, it was the one with the higher mileage.

DH is replacing the harmonic balancer in the Olds this week, what a $%^&* of a job that is. He's given up on getting the bolt off, and hopes to find a shop willing to charge him just the labor to do it (there's a special tool).

If we'd come across another Saturn when we bought these, we'd have snapped it up. As it is, the Olds came from DH's mom and the Buick was only $2700 so cheaper than anything else. I do miss the gas mileage on them, though! You are right about that!

[FinanceDude]

2003 Accord rolled over 125,000 last month. Gonna drive it up to 200,000 and then give to son, who will be old enough for a car then. The Accord has side airbags and ABS and FWD, and is a FOUR-CYLINDER...........

[rescueme]

I just took my '02 Mustang GT in this morning for its annual state inspection.

As usual, it needed nothing (even at 9 years old).

The service manager told me the same story he does every year; the only maintenance they performed was to dust off the frame when they put it on the lift ...

Heck, what do you want for 18k on the odometer

[Orchidflower]

I bought a new Camry Solara in Sept. 2001 and it's a 2002 model. I am still driving it as it only has 75,000 miles so far (taking care of Grandma till she died = little if any driving around). I am keeping her until she coughs and dies for sure!
I'm not trying to impress anyone, obviously, and am becoming more of a LBYMer since I no longer have the big bucks rolling in from now working anymore.