black label

I went from a 83 VW Scirocco to a 88 Accord. Basically it changed my mindset from "how long will it run until it breaks down again" to "how long will it run".

I have a 97 lude that has become my commuter car as I'm driving 100 miles a day and would prefer to put those miles on a car that has very little cash value left in it. It doesn't break down and it doesn't need anything major until I hit 200K.

I probably fall into the category of someone who really loves the cars they buy and I just don't want to give them up.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

Wow, Guess my thinking is off & doesn't follow......

Nothing about status. It just doesn't make sense to me to keep a car that isn't worth much in $ to sink more $ into when it breaks to fix it when you can save that $, sell the car & get a newer car that will not have many repair problems. Case in point, my 87 suburban I bought for towing. Needs 2800 in repairs right now. I'm not fixing it when I can sell it & take that same $2800 & get a newer tow vehicle with less miles better gas mileage & better tech.

Maybe my thinking is because all I had were old cars cause I was a poor MOFO. I was always fixing these cars & wound up paying more then if I saved the $ & bought a newer car.

Better cars are now made, Cars are cheaper then before, your better off getting a newer car then trying to milk a car for all the mileage you can get out of it.

black label

I agree with you Fuzzy if you are sinking money into them. In the case of my lude I'm not repairing anything. All it gets is petrol and oil changes. I will decide whether to let it go when it comes time for another timing belt. I replaced the brakes earlier this year (it don't really call that a repair, just upkeep) so those should be good until past 200K. I haven't paid for tires for the car in 3 years (I get the ones off of RSX's that cant pass Acura Certification but will pass a MA inspection).

Unless it needs real repairs, it makes more sense to me to keep it and run it into the ground than put 36K per year on my CL.

At this point, that Prelude doesn't owe me a thing, it's the Energizer Bunny of the automotive world.

Steelers Wheels

might as well pile on here

My CL-S has 200K ( km).. and instead of getting rid of it , I decided to keep it and invest the difference. Last year, instead of a car a bought a rental house.


This year, I bought 750 share of Visa when it when public @$55 a few months ago.. now its trading around $82 .. In the past two month, this "broke ass mofo" put over $20 k in the bank

Sarlacc

It doesnt. And its probably cause you only owned piles of shit. Or recently bought a pile of shit (your tow suburban)

I bought my pathfinder with 167k...it now has 196k. In the 30k i've owned it I've done nothing other then standard maintenance. tires, clutch, water pump and timing belt. All wear and tear. Nothing unusual. Same has been with all my cars. Save my CL which has the well known window regulator burn out and stereo head unit go bad...both of which were covered under warranty. And it was the newest of any car I've owned.

I just knew what I was buying when I bought the cars. One reason I picked the pathfinder was because I knew it was pretty much bulletproof. Hell, I'd still have my 88 prelude today if it hadnt been creamed in an accident. I LOVED that car, same goes with my 85 528 as I stated before...which sadly started having electronics issues that werent spending money on, other then that that car was a mechanically sound as well.

I have a friend who owned the exact pathfinder I have, and kept it to 450k. Just standard maintenance. Donated it when finally decided to get something new.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

I agree that sinking money into an old car is a waste of money. For me, if I spend more than $3000 to repair a car, then it's soon to be gone.

When my old Camry was costing too much to maintain, it was replaced by my Maxima. The Maxima was replaced by the CL. The CL was upgraded to the Pathfinder and the I35 because of the family reasons.

And usually I tend to go a couple years between car payments. The exception was when I traded the CL since it wasn't completely paid off.

LuvMyTSX

If the car needs a ton of repairs, then yes, that's a different story. But if they're just small things, then it's worth keeping. It all depends on how much the maintenance is.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

Maybe I should have chosen a different sentence. It was a poor attempt at humor as well. I simply meant that in these times if your keeping a car for that many miles I don't see why you would want to keep it giving you don't know what will happen to it. Will it break down 500 miles from home(happened 3 times to me) Most people can afford a new(newer) car these days. Loans are low interest & most anyone can get a car loan. If you want basic transport & don't care what you drive then you can even get brand new cars just for that for dirt cheap. Why stress, & test your luck?

Now if you truly can't afford a car then I understand.

Ken1997TL

I've never had a car breakdown on me

My TL has only required a new starter, otherwise just fluid changes and a timing belt/water pump.

Sarlacc

1st gen pathys look awesome and come in a stick.

Street Spirit

ChrisQ1980

That's another story. Sinking money into a car that is always breaking down, unreliable, and costing you more money than it's worth is foolish. Most people that do that don't have enough money for a new/newer car and have to fix it. Hence they are a poor mofo. lol

If the car is running fine, looks good, and only requires basic maintence then it's wise to keep it and bank the rest of the money. Given we are talking about upper middle class working people. If you are rich, then I doubt you would keep a car up to 200k, when you already have 5 other cars.

Tires, brakes, fluid changes, timing belt water pump/spark plug services are all reqauired maintence of any car. I'm not going to get rid of my TL at 100k when I have to replace the timing belt/waterpump/plugs and possible valve adjustment just because it will cost close to $1k to do it. Thats cheaper than a $2500 down payment and $350-$400 a mont payments on a new car.

I agree with you 100% though on cars that are old, high mileage money pits. You should definatly look into something newere and more reliable.

SakiGT

Unless you own a DSM, cars just dont "leave you stranded."

Even my POS Chrysler has NEVER left me without a ride. Sure, things have gone wrong but I can always get home to fix it. You replace the parts that need replacing a couple thousand before its due.

And besides - isnt that the point of this thread? I want a car that lasts 200k miles, so that DOES effect my buying decision. I saw my mom's toyota last 160k without her doing anything to it, and my escort blew the waterpump at 60k miles.

Thats why theres a Toyota in my driveway now.

SakiGT

I agree 100% that buying an older car may not be worth the hasstle. Hence why we bought a 2008 Yaris instead of a 2001 Civic.

However, if you keep a car those high miles - you know the history. You know what has and what hasnt been done. If youre mechanically inept - it may be better for you to drive a car with a warranty. But these days all you need is a basic tool kit and the internet and 99% of your car's problems can be solved without involving the dealer.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

1 Ford 1 Lincoln & a Chrysler. Trans went on the ford, engine blew on the other & the Chrysler's starter went. All on road trips. All had around 150K miles. All had up to date maintenance & zero signs of a problem before hand.
My mom had an 85 accord(carb'd) with 180K miles on it & her trans went out on her 200 miles from home as well.

LuvMyTSX

Similarly, I was driving my parent's '88 Pontiac Bonneville back in high school, and one night on the way home from swim practice, a light came on in the dash. Looked like a battery light to me, and being inexperienced, I just drove the car home the last few miles. It was lucky I got home, because that light was in fact the alternator, and the car did not start back up when my dad went to take it to the shop for service. It had to be towed.

F23A4

The only two cars that I have owned that have left me stranded were the only two DSMs I have ever owned: 89 Colt GT Turbo and 89 Summit LX DOHC. In both cases, the timing belt snapped prematurely destroying the valvetrain. (The former during a vacation. )

SakiGT

engine blew? what was the cause? motor defect?

trans usually show signs, but not all the time

starters rarely just "go." Theres usually a problem with startups. If you know the car well you should be able to notice it.

And anyway - Im not saying everyone should drive their 200k scraps to the grand canyon and back. Im just saying for daily driving use, most cars around that mileage is ok. We pay $100 a year for AAA.

I totally agree, however, that there gets to a point where the cost of the repairs outweight the cost of a new car - however Id wager 95% of the time cars arent sold because of this.

SakiGT

The boyfriend's GSX...

Mind you, he bought it from the Original Owner - Bone Stock

- battery tie down bolt flew off somewhere
- master cylinder broke - not the assembly - the area of the part that bolts to the frame.
- mounts for shiter cables broke (not the cables themselves)

All this in a month, and all at inopportune times. Granted, hes a master DSMer and fixed everything in parking lots with whatever is in the trunk, but sheesh. Not for me.

This is why he daily drives the Yaris.

GreenMonster

BTDT... and have the t-shirt to prove it



I've been stranded more than a few times, but that's probably because prior to 1995 I had never spent more than $1000 on a car (true story)...

You haven't lived until you've changed a starter in a strange parking lot, in the rain, when it's 30 degrees out

Oh, one of my cars (I think it was the early 80's olds delta 88) had a couple of teeth missing on the flexplate, so when it wouldn't start, I'd have to use the 9/16ths wrench I kept on the front seat to turn turn it over to the "good" teeth...

I've spun crank bearings, dropped driveshafts, lost mufflers, blown trannies, had ignition issues, etc etc when I was running junk into the ground....

Got to the point where I couldn't afford to lose a job over car troubles, so I bit the bullet and started buying better stuff...

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

Starters do go without warning. Happened recently on the 87 suburban. It was at the trans place to fix a leak. I dropped it off after work. The trans guy moved it to the back before he left(I drove it all day) the next morning I get a call your truck won't start. Had to get it towed back home. Replaced the starter & it was fine.

The engine blew a piston. Just went, again no warning.

I've had many trannies go out on cars. Seems that is my #1 problem.

ChrisQ1980

Had an 85 Ford LTD (midsize) had an engine knock. I stupidly replaced the motor for $1000 but hey I was 18. It left me stranded 5 miles from home due to a bad ECM.

Had an 87 Ford Crown Victoria as a second hand car to keep my 94 Integra nice and that too left me stranded with the same problem. Car also overheated on a trip to Hershey PA with my ex gf.

I have learned my lesson with Fords. lol

Ken1997TL

Its true. I've logged over 500,000 miles over the years and haven't had a major problem. Never had a flat tire or a dead battery.

MR1

FIrst, look at the cars you had! Not knocking you but typical repair histories are available for reason. I have been stranded a time or two, sometimes in newer cars. We just have to have a backup plan (AAA) and not stress, stuff happens.

There is a comfort point and a financial point where all of us decide to update our transportation. Lots of really wealthy people don't buy a new car every few years.

I think the main thing is to buy a car with a good overall repair history, take care of it and keep it as long as it makes sense. As indicated above, buying a new car is generally a financial loser.

Osamu

my last car was a 96' Pathfinder with 75k that 'left me stranded' 3 times in 6 months. I supposed I wasn't completely stranded, as it was always a cooling problem. Once the radiator, and twice the waterpump. It got pretty old to have my car overheat, and have to stand around on the side of the freeway.

I also had an 84' Cressida have the alternator go out, causing the entire electrial system to run out of power while I was driving, which wasn't fun. Eventually this car had a transmission problem as well, that was very hard for my mechanic to resolve, and was really never the same.

I've never even owned an "unreliable" car, but I hope to afford one someday

PortlandRL

That was the deal with our Previa. We bought it new in '93 and my mom drove it until '02 when she got her Lexus. I got the car in '03 when I got my license and we finally got rid of it at 177,000 miles in late '04. We didn't ditch it because it broke down but rather because it was going to start needing expensive repairs. Financially wise move.

It's simple math; 50,000 mile car can easily eek another 100,000 out of itself before things start going wrong. Why throw those extra miles away, especially if the car is paid for? If you're going to do that, just give me all your money.

GreenMonster

My CL has been paid for since 03, so I'm in no rush to get back into payments... so I really do want to get the extra miles out of it... and if not me, the next owner will want the car to last mileage wise... which for me will mean higher resale value.

Getting back to the original question...

People care about how long there car will last mileage wise for financial reasons. Either to avoid making payments or in higher resale/trade in value due to the perception of longevity

Papa_Sean

Thats your problem right there. Those cars were always known for breaking down, even when properly maintained. Times have changed though, the newer models are shaping up.

black label

Some of us are just nuts and want to see how it will go and still be reliable. That would be the key, extremely high mileage and extremely reliable.

I always wanted to say my car has a quarter million miles on it, or a half million miles. I do it for the same reason I snowshoe up Mt Washington so I can snowboard down, so in the end I can say that I did.

F23A4

74k to go on my 98 Civic before it hits that mark and about 100k for my 00 Quest.

Joe5.0

I'm aiming for 200k out of my CL-S6. I'll bet it looks better and gets better gas mileage than alot of cars by the time it hits that mark, too.

Having no car payment is HUGE, and not everyone has $20k in cash sitting to buy a decent car outright.

Plus, if you dont own a house (or even worse still live at home) you have no idea how expensive it is to live on your own, so not having a car payment is huge.

Even if you spend $500 every 6 months on maintanance, you still save a ton of money in the long run.

zamo

Yeah, that's right. I can afford 2 leases right now, but I am considering on just getting a used car once my S80 lease is over next year. I just need to get my ass to work; dont need a fancy car. More for my Roth IRA

F23A4

Joe5.0

I'd say an S80 is more than just 'getting to work'

I get your point though.

Mokos23

Maybe I should add more to the thread I started. I just told my friend that my old 88 Accord my folks gave to me lasted 11 years and 133,000 miles. Wish I could've kept it, but the radiator was going bad and the brakes were always failing. My folks even told me they never replaced the timing belt in that car either. I think I would've spent more fixing up that car than what it was worth, so we traded it in for a 99 Accord. I kept that for only 4 yrs because back then when I was 23, I was trying to impress women with my car. I should've kept that cause it only had 94,000 miles, but I traded it in for my current 04 TSX.

stright-(paint)balling

i got 320,000 on my Accord
I got 190,00 on my Oddy
I'm probably gonna go with a diesel for my next ride because i keep the car until it pukes. the way i look at it if it's paid off run till she's dead. it's one thing if you don't like the car or truck or "can't swing the payments any longer" but if the car paid in full. "run it" i say. save for the new ride but don't trade every 4-5 years.

tommyjeans

because

deepdezal

i have a beater corolla with 278k miles on it. It's going to last another 100k miles. No major repairs till this day. just oil chanes, tires and brakes & betls.

tommyjeans

wow savage.

sonnyboyacura

Now that is full of awesome and win! I pray my SI will serve that long.