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As Cars Are Kept Longer, 200,000 Is New 100,000

The New York Times -- HOW far can a modern car really go? Given the increasing age of vehicles on American roads, we may be on the verge of finding out. As a stubborn recession made drivers wary of new purchases for several years, the average age of vehicles on the road in the United States stretched to a record 11.1 years in 2011, according to the research firm R. L. Polk, which tracks vehicle sales and registrations.

Multiply that number of years by the annual miles driven — the E.P.A. uses 15,000 for the cost calculation on fuel economy labels — and it becomes evident that one pearl of conventional wisdom has become outdated.

In the 1960s and ’70s, when odometers typically registered no more than 99,999 miles before returning to all zeros, the idea of keeping a car for more than 100,000 miles was the autom

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Submitted Mar 18, 2012 By: fmfbgp

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 21, 2012 6:13:33 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse with better products to keep the cars running, it's no surprise they last longer.
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,018 Points:601,635 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 1:25:48 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
clpassenubye Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,359 Points:756,980 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 12:26:26 PM Ignore clpassenubye Report Abuse interesting
rrtr Champion Author San Jose Posts:16,286 Points:2,800,350 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:40:32 AM Ignore rrtr Report Abuse I'm driving my Mercedes Diesel Van to the junk yard (or when it will cost me more to fix than its worth) it gets great mileage and has a LOT of room
335d1 Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,396 Points:761,970 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 6:40:24 AM Ignore 335d1 Report Abuse I plan to keep mine awhile.
Tigercat88 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,212 Points:619,790 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 6:08:06 AM Ignore Tigercat88 Report Abuse My cars are just getting broken in at 200,000 miles.
nomad228 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,117 Points:575,140 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 12:32:06 AM Ignore nomad228 Report Abuse cheaper to buy a classic and fix it up than buy any of the new junk their putting out.
jrschl Champion Author Louisville Posts:2,982 Points:683,990 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 12:15:36 AM Ignore jrschl Report Abuse Had a 94 Jeep Grand Cherokee just got rid of it last year with 275,000 miles. Had to go because drivetrain and tranmission were becoming questionable.
frostyWV Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,339 Points:519,235 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 12:15:24 AM Ignore frostyWV Report Abuse cheaper to fix old than buy new.
millerin Champion Author Orlando Posts:2,322 Points:483,915 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 12:13:02 AM Ignore millerin Report Abuse the good one is new one, some good man said...
aukxsona Sophomore Author Arkansas Posts:115 Points:15,005 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 12:07:25 AM Ignore aukxsona Report Abuse my car is 21 years old and well over 200k in miles. I'm hoping it holds out a little longer.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,868 Points:1,616,050 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 12:07:07 AM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse My 1968 F-100 (predecessor to the F-150) held up past its 30th birthday and ran out of years before its miles really hurt it. Aside from a few long trips, it was a short trip, hard working vehicle, retired at ~160k. I expect my 1998 F-150 to do as well and with less maintenance work. It should be the last truck I will need to buy.
Harry813 Champion Author Iowa Posts:3,020 Points:664,790 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 12:04:28 AM Ignore Harry813 Report Abuse If they didn't rust out , they would last longer!
jim27106 All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:771 Points:784,605 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 12:03:11 AM Ignore jim27106 Report Abuse Trouble is that it becomes a matter of diminishing returns on the maintenance.
OWENALOTT Champion Author Appleton Posts:2,182 Points:500,095 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 12:01:21 AM Ignore OWENALOTT Report Abuse OK
truckguy115 Champion Author Orange County Posts:1,633 Points:221,295 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:59:28 PM Ignore truckguy115 Report Abuse both of my trucks that i owned i had for 10 years and 138,000 miles on it and my current truck has 118,000 on it and it's doing great and it's an 04.
mrbee Champion Author Little Rock Posts:3,773 Points:2,469,510 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:58:15 PM Ignore mrbee Report Abuse We have to keep them longer. Can't afford new.
jango28 Sophomore Author Memphis Posts:161 Points:150,795 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:57:33 PM Ignore jango28 Report Abuse Good maintenance makes that happen
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:10,067 Points:1,490,780 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:56:02 PM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse Have driven several over 200,000 after buying new.
melvindale Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,438 Points:351,230 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:54:41 PM Ignore melvindale Report Abuse If they had a clue about used vehicles, they would know. When I was a teenager, you never saw cars over 100,000 miles. Used cars with only 60,000 miles could be $250 junkers. Today, junkers get $2000 and 100,000 miles means nothing. At 150,000 a car could still be good or could be junk - it depends upon how it was taken care of. 200,000 is becoming more common among the low end of used cars. I bought a new car in 1987 that I drove 192,000 miles. It still looked good. It was only running on 3 cylinders and would have cost over $2000 to repair. It wasn't worth $2000, so I sold it for $250 to someone who was going to drive it as is. (Everything else was good - brakes had new rotors, tires were OK, etc. The real issue was it was embarrassing because it sounded like an old VW Bug.)
txkrb Champion Author Texas Posts:1,564 Points:640,110 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:53:20 PM Ignore txkrb Report Abuse Cars get better gas mileage than they did 30-35 years ago and the engines usually last longer It was pretty rare in the 70s to get over 100,000 out of a vehicle, but I have my last 2 vehicles (Chevys) and so has my brother (GM & Mazda) My wife has over 75,000 on her Saturn and the engine uses no oil and has no issues [Edited by: txkrb at 3/18/2012 11:53:55 PM EST]
drobbbb Champion Author Maryland Posts:3,490 Points:814,860 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:53:08 PM Ignore drobbbb Report Abuse ok
SparkieMi Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:3,277 Points:591,330 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:53:06 PM Ignore SparkieMi Report Abuse Time will tell... Good maintenance goes a long way...
idigau22 Champion Author Washington Posts:23,429 Points:3,204,910 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:52:48 PM Ignore idigau22 Report Abuse Every vehicle I have owned reaches well over 225,000 miles! Take care of your vehicle, it will take care of you!!!
seahawks Champion Author Washington Posts:3,232 Points:1,964,720 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:52:12 PM Ignore seahawks Report Abuse lot people are making their vehicles last longer this days!!!
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,836 Points:1,433,450 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:51:29 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Cars last longer and they rust less...
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:8,186 Points:1,933,405 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:51:16 PM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse My 2004 Toyota Echo has been trouble free. All I do is follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule.
KhelbenArunson Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,461 Points:720,790 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:49:43 PM Ignore KhelbenArunson Report Abuse I could only hope my G6 makes 500k.
mackconsult Champion Author Portland Posts:5,309 Points:864,355 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:47:32 PM Ignore mackconsult Report Abuse My sprinter will easily go 500k
danol43 Champion Author Modesto Posts:1,705 Points:591,690 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:41:36 PM Ignore danol43 Report Abuse Hoping for 250,000 on our Highlander.
blazerbob91 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:6,160 Points:1,886,595 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:38:07 PM Ignore blazerbob91 Report Abuse Sold my last Blazer at 247K.
Dsin44 Champion Author Abbotsford Posts:1,272 Points:273,185 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:34:07 PM Ignore Dsin44 Report Abuse mine just clocked 210000
DirtDauber Champion Author San Antonio Posts:6,796 Points:1,630,385 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:34:06 PM Ignore DirtDauber Report Abuse What a trite saying.
fenster66 Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:3,365 Points:677,015 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:33:27 PM Ignore fenster66 Report Abuse still hanging on to my 1999 Honda Accord....
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,563 Points:1,921,650 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:33:11 PM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse I'm at 192,000
ratones1 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,922 Points:734,680 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:31:04 PM Ignore ratones1 Report Abuse my honda 140,000
kzza100 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,948 Points:577,070 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:29:09 PM Ignore kzza100 Report Abuse 192,000 on my 1994 GMC Safari Van. Runs just fine
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:6,003 Points:1,115,215 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:27:01 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse Still driving the 91 F-250 360,000K, sometime I think about getting a newer used truck, maybe an 2001 F-250 with the new body style...
ghostNC Rookie Author North Carolina Posts:57 Points:15,200 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:24:24 PM Ignore ghostNC Report Abuse I've put 60,000 on my 2010 insight (honda) and I'm always worrying about not having a warrantee, I hope that I can push it to 200,000 miles, we will see if honda is as "reliable" as they say
lyons_coop Veteran Author Kansas Posts:411 Points:156,810 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:20:45 PM Ignore lyons_coop Report Abuse 169,000 on a 2003 Dakota 4WD. Pretty much trouble free driving... except for the gas.
tidalwave3 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:1,311 Points:1,466,515 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:20:32 PM Ignore tidalwave3 Report Abuse Besides the investment vs savings on fuel... I'm finding out that these new cars have all kind of "Big Brother" devices on them. :(
monieet All-Star Author California Posts:964 Points:532,330 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:18:57 PM Ignore monieet Report Abuse OK!
JagXKR Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,169 Points:1,094,080 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:17:52 PM Ignore JagXKR Report Abuse On my way to 200000 miles myself. The car doesn't owe me anything. Proper maintenance is the key.
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,640 Points:3,498,605 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:15:44 PM Ignore DEG Report Abuse My 1989 Corvette lasted 270,000+ miles before I let it go. All four of the vehicles that my family owns has over 100,000 miles each.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:7,942 Points:1,578,880 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:15:29 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse if its running without major repairs---keep it!
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,584 Points:1,516,130 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:14:13 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse old cars = wasted gas
cisson All-Star Author Kentucky Posts:516 Points:384,360 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:14:10 PM Ignore cisson Report Abuse I want a new one so bad, but with the economy the way it is, I hate to fork over the money.
tippybuddy Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,523 Points:207,740 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:11:34 PM Ignore tippybuddy Report Abuse my car runs just fine so no need to get a new one yet
egd Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:8,110 Points:2,122,200 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:11:15 PM Ignore egd Report Abuse good luck
sljbc475 Champion Author Tucson Posts:4,235 Points:875,300 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 11:10:35 PM Ignore sljbc475 Report Abuse Car are designed and manufactured to last longer.