Longest lasting cars?

[summerstorm]

Hey everyone,

I have a 1996 honda civic, and I am currently at 280,000 miles on it. Most of my family, over the years, has owned hondas nearly all our lives because of how long they've lasted. I have never owned a car that has lasted this long. And this post is definitely not just for honda owners.

Just seeing if anyone else has any other vehicles that have lasetd very long for them?

[BlueZero]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

I once kept the same car for 2 full years! I know, crazy right! Haha

My buddy has a Mazda RX7 that has over 300k on it. There isn't much left of the body from the salt but he says it still runs perfect.

[mswerb]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

I had a 1996 Grand Am that we ran up to 180,000 miles on it that we had since new. We got rid of it last year, age was catching up with it. It was cheaper to have a car payment than to have a car in the shop.

[Andy M.]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

I know quite a few Honda's up around 300k. Seems like general maintenance they last forever. Of course the ex got the Honda. LOL

[agp56]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

I have had a full-sized short wheelbase Dodge van that went to 300k with only moderate maintenance. We owned a Plymouth Grand Voyager that had a couple of items fixed under warranty (trans & valve job) but then ran fine to 235k. The two Hondas we have owned - one an early Civic (which was one of the 3 worst cars we owned) - and a 2001 Odyssey still owned have not lived up to the hype that many people seem to give them.... The Odyssey has been the most expensive vehlcle to maintain that has had no major system failures. Your mileage may vary.

[GhOsT1321]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

Cars last forever if you're willing to keep replacing parts.
We had a 1994 Ford Ranger that we got rid of a couple months ago, it's odometer reading: 353,000 miles.
The transmission was rebuild twice, then the motor went out.
It's how you treat a car that decides how long it will last. I have seen some with cars that go out before 100k, and others who go 200k+.
Usually the lead foots that drive poorly have their cars die earliest.
100k isn't a lot anymore, some are in the mindset that 100k is good. If your driving a car from the 90s and newer, 100k should be a minimum before any serious problems occur.

[Scott's 62]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

I currently have a 95 Accord with 277,000 on it it runs great best car Ive had so far.

[Larry A]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

Car will last long if you put money into it. Its how long a car lasts without major work. I work for a Toyota dealership, and seen cars go 400,000 miles , but after 150,000 miles they will cost you money.

[PPLd]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

Car will last long if you put money into it. Its how long a car lasts without major work. I work for a Toyota dealership, and seen cars go 400,000 miles , but after 150,000 miles they will cost you money.

I agree with Larry. Cars should run as long as you provide fuel and replacement parts.
However it get relatively expensive after a point, when repair work cost more than your car, then most people will think "oh maybe I should get a new one".

Cars here in Asia are replaced at a very fast rate. How fast? I see a lot of cars are replaced after a year or 2, with 2000-6000km (1250-3750mile) mileage only and you lose about 20-40% value. So cars get scrapped fast here (my last car get scrapped at 67000km).
This Infiniti M35h VIP is for sale after running just 2000km:

[BillE]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

Wifes '77 Toyota Celica went just shy of 300K when she sold it in 2000. Had to do a head gasket once at about 100K...that was it.

By keeping that little beauty (was the fastback model) 'detailed' she actually sold it for what she paid for it new. Who says all that 'waxin' is a waste of time...LOL.

At the same time I had '79 Toyota PU, traded it in, in '94 with around 200K. That puppy was used as a truck! No repairs needed.

In either case, I don't count maintenance items (oil, brakes etc).

Bill

[BrightonRT]

My father in law has a 97 ford f250 diesel that got 430k out of the first motor, put a used replacement in and is getting ready to roll over the 500k mark with no end in site. He just got rid of a 93 f250 with the 460 big block that was still running fine but the northern Michigan winters had taken it's toll on the body. That had 295k.

[07g5gt]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

i have a 98 cavalier with 180k on it. still runs like a champ have not done any major repairs yet with it

[GoZoner]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

2000 Integra, 220,000 mi (timing chain at 120k, clutch at 200k)

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

The 460 V8s used in UPS delivery trucks for years (now most are new diesels) were known for lasting forever and then some (Ford engines).

I wrote several articles about Ford E-Series vans and F-series trucks breaking 1 million miles, most on original engine and transmission. In fact, I think at least in the U.S. Ford has the most documented vehicles over 1,000,000 miles that I know of...and most were big work trucks and vans.

Since the auto industry basically reinvented itself in the later half of last decade it will be interesting to see which vehicles from this new generation last... so far the preliminary data largely shows a shrinking in variation between brands and a lot of quality improvements in American brands. Honda and Toyota continue to be reliable for the most part as well.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Longest lasting cars?

My first car, a 1974 Dodge Colt GT (actually a Mitsubishi Lancer, if memory serves, that my sister bought new and bought from her 3 years later) had 195,000 miles on it and was still going strong when I gave it to my then girlfriend's younger brother. Nothing more than very routine maintenance.

I had an E30 BMW 318i that had similar mileage when I got rid of it. Basic routine maintenance, nothing more.

Also briefly had a 1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue with the 318 V8 that I picked up from a charity auction and freshened up a bit. It was in pretty darn good shape when I got it, even though it had 248,000 miles on it at the time. I actually spoke to the former owner who bought it new after being almost crushed to death in an accident in a smallish Japanese import and she'd wanted something larger to replace it. This was the last of the rear wheel drive sedans that Chrysler built until the Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger/Dodge Magnum of 2005 came out. She said the car had been a gem and just needed basic maintenance to keep it running. She donated it to the charity, and I bought it from them via ebay. I flipped it pretty quickly and very much regret doing so. The guy who bought it from me actually bought it for his sister, and her boyfriend promptly destroyed it in a rollover accident. I almost cried when I heard the news and was really upset that I'd let it go.

So, one Japanese, one German, one American car all with pretty big mileage. Take care of 'em and they'll keep on going.