Here’s A Look At How Many Miles A Car Can Last And Why:
General Guidelines
Compare two similar cars with a mileage difference of as much as 100,000 between the two, and it seems reasonable to assume the low mileage vehicle is worth more and in better condition. That makes the lower-mileage car look more desirable.
But all miles are equal. For example, a well-maintained vehicle with 100,000 miles might be in better shape overall than the same kind of car or truck with 50,000 miles that was a prior rental car or had many owners and led a rough life.
Maintenance Cycles Matter
Vehicles exist in a constant state of depreciation and degradation. However, just like humans need to visit the doctor regularly, vehicles require regular service to stay on the road.
Automotive manufacturers today build engines intended to last hundreds of thousands of miles. But that only happens if the components of the engine are in good working order. If the scheduled maintenance schedule is followed, mileage has less profound importance on the viability of a vehicle.
A 70,000-mile car with five owners and incomplete maintenance history may be the same price as one with 100,000 miles and a single owner with all its service records. The latter is probably the better choice, and you’ll likely spend less money on repairs over the vehicle’s remaining lifespan.
Therefore, if you’re looking at a vehicle about 10 years old, it’s not unreasonable for it to have 100,000 to 150,000 miles on it.
How To Make Your Car Last
According to Gold Eagle, there are a number of ways you can make your car last. These include:
The first of these is an extremely important factor because it also protects you when you’re behind the wheel. Choose a vehicle that has the best modern active intelligent safety systems. Features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, parking sensors, cross-traffic alerts, and even driver drowsiness monitoring can help you to avoid accidents.
When you have fewer accidents, your car will be better able to perform. Even when you have car damage repaired, it’s not the same as having avoided that damage in the first place. A car’s frame can be structurally weakened from damage, and there can be unforeseen issues that crop up in the future.
Fortunately, many of these features are now standard on new cars, but even if you buy a gently used vehicle, you should look for the best suite of safety features available.
How Many Miles On A Car Is Too Many
170,000 miles is considered too many when looking to buy a used car. It could be less depending on how many miles you plan to drive the vehicle during your ownership.
These days its fine to buy a car with over 100,000 miles. Modern cars are designed to last much longer than they were 30 years ago, and there are plenty on the road with over 150,000 miles on the clock.
Mileage adds wear and tear to all major components, so by the time a car reaches 170,000 miles its likely to be in need of some major replacements if the work hasnt already been carried out.
Its also worth noting that not all high mileage cars show the same amount of wear. Those that have been used mainly for long journeys are likely to be in better condition as this type of driving is easier on the car.
If the car has been used for short journeys around town in stop-start traffic the engine and transmission will likely be far more worn.
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Expected Mileage From Today’s Vehicles
- Standard Cars : 200,000 miles
- Electric Cars: 300,000 miles
Ten years ago, youd need to change your spark plugs probably every 30,000 miles now its every 100,000 miles, says Jill Trotta, a longtime mechanic and vice president, industry advocacy and sales, for RepairPal Inc., which certifies repair shops.
Technology, however, is the main reason for longer-lasting vehicles. Most improvements in efficiency, emissions, safety, reliability and longevity are from microprocessors, microcontrollers and extensive unseen networks on board the cars themselves, writes Cars.com Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder. Such improvements are increasing not only cars lifespans, but manufacturer warranties. Three years, 36,000 miles used to be standard, but 10-year, 100,000-mile warranties are becoming the norm.
And, as their technology is perfected, electric cars have the potential to run even longer. Three hundred thousand miles could be the standard for an electric car, says Trotta. The engines have fewer moving parts, which reduces breakdowns, resulting in less maintenance and longer lifespans . In July 2018, Tesloop, a Tesla taxi company, announced that one of its Model S cars had passed the 400,000-mile mark, and the company says it expects the car to last another 600,000 miles.
How Long Do Range Rover Batteries Last
The Range Rover batteries last around 3 to 5 years. However, those years were dependent on your driving habits and how you maintained your car. You still need to check your battery voltage regularly to make sure your battery is operating at a high level. The cost to change your car battery varies because it depends on the size of the battery. The higher the Amp Hour rating, the more money you need to prepare to buy the battery.
If you want to keep your batteries last longer, you need to make sure you close everything after you finish using your car. You need to close the door correctly, turn off the lights, and do not leave the radio too long without your engine running. You need to make sure everything is turned off and does not operate. If you do not take care well, the main problem will be a dead battery. Moreover, you need to keep your car indoors and away from extreme temperatures.
There are several signs you can see to know whether or not your batteries have a problem such as the battery fluid level is low, battery fluid leaks, battery corrosion, the battery engine light always on, and delayed engine crank.
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Highway Miles Versus City Miles
Another thing to consider is the type of mileage a car has accumulated. For instance, a car thats sold new in a New York City borough will have a much rougher life than one sold new in, say, rural Arizona. Why? That New York car will be banging over potholes and swerving past traffic in its rush to go stoplight to stoplight. The Arizona car will likely be doing serene cruising on the smooth asphalt that ribbons through the desert.
In all likelihood, the car in spacious Arizona will rack up a good bit more miles than its NYC counterpart. But those desert miles represent good mileage: mileage that accumulates with a certain ease not found in city driving. The reason for this is the same reason why sellers love to boast about highway miles in their advertising: an open road with no turns to contend with or stoplights to brake for is the least stressful scenario for an automobile. It is also the scenario that racks up mileage the fastest.
City cars that arent taxicabs or rideshare vehicles will likely go well below the national yearly average of 12,000 miles a year. But theyll wear out faster thanks to the nature of urban conditions versus cars that largely see long highway trips.
Do Some Models Last Longer
Brands like Toyota, Honda and Hyundai are known for having reliable cars. A long warranty is a good sign that a manufacturer believes in the build quality of its vehicles too. If you like two models from different brands, its worth looking into the reliability of both to see which is more likely to be hit with mileage-related issues in the future.
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The Honda Civic Reliability
Now, vehicles wont last five decades in the market if theyre not reliable, or if they break down on a regular basis. In the automobile industry, the more reliable a car is, the fewer its issues and complaints are. It also has the fewest instances of failures and mechanical breakdowns.
So, the more reliable a vehicle is, the longer you can drive it for.
That said, Honda placed 12th in the 2019 Consumer Reports reliability ranking. That means its vehicles are more reliable than many US- and EU-made models, such as Chevy, Jeep, Tesla, and Volks.
Granted, the Toyota Camry may be the top-selling car for high mileage. The Honda Civic, however, is also a best-seller, thanks to its well-known reliability.
In fact, in August 2019 alone, Honda sold almost 35,000 units of the Civic in just the US. Thats a 26% increase in the models sales, making up a bulk of Hondas overall sales gain. In fact, Honda itself says that the Civic is still the companys star of the show.
Are Some Cars Better Than Others With A Lot Of Miles
Some auto brands earned a reputation for being more reliable over the long haul than others. While not always scoring near the top of reliability ratings, Jeeps garnered a loyal following among motorists who keep them for extended periods. Pickup trucks, too, hold value in part because of their workhorse durability and construction.
But that doesnt mean every model from the higher-rated brands will always outperform those from competitors.
Again, a vehicle with a lot of less-taxing highway mileage will likely have more life left in it than one with heavy city miles that age a car more quickly.
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What Is Considered High
Typically, putting 12,000 to 15,000 miles on your car per year is viewed as average. A car that is driven more than that is considered high-mileage. With proper maintenance, cars can have a life expectancy of about 200,000 miles. But whether you reach that in two years or 10 years, it doesnt have to mean the end of your vehicles life.
Case Study: Why I Bought One
Rod Greens 709,292-mile Volvo S80 2.5D
Would you buy a car with 693,000 miles on the clock? Thats what Rod Green did or more accurately, its what his son did for him. However, while a mega-mileage saloon might seem like a risky gamble, Rod knew the cars history from day one, because hed put most of those miles on its clock.
Rod said: I started a new career as a corporate chauffeur in 2001, and I leased a pre-registered S80 2.5D with fewer than 20 miles on the clock. With an annual mileage of 80,000 to contend with, I needed something that would be reliable and not cost too much to run. However, 10,000-mile service intervals meant the Volvo would visit a garage every six weeks. I never skimped on servicing but I avoided main dealers by using independents I got a much more personal service and I paid a lot less.
With 350,000 miles on the clock, a piece of grit damaged a drive belt, wrecking the engine. Rods specialist sourced a factory-reconditioned engine and fitted it within a week. He added: A main dealer couldnt have matched this level of service, or cost.
So when buying a high-mileage car, dont be too focused on a main dealer service history. What matters is that its been maintained properly using high-quality parts. If thats by a recognised specialist, thats fine.
At the end of its four-year lease period, Rod bought the Volvo for £1,000, eventually selling it in 2009, by which point it had covered almost 600,000 miles.
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Is Buying A Car With Over 50000 Miles Bad
When youre trying to determine whether a particular pre-owned vehicle is worth buying, you have to consider the number of miles left in it. A modern vehicle may be able to travel up to 200,000 miles. Therefore, a car with more than 50,000 miles is likely to have up to 150,000 miles left. As such, it can probably serve you for more than 10 years if youre an average car owner who drives about 12,000 miles a year.
There are several factors that can affect the number of miles left on a vehicle, such as maintenance and driving environment. A poorly maintained car is likely to develop major issues sooner, so it wont be able to travel as many miles as one that has been receiving routine maintenance. If a vehicle has mainly been used in a sparsely populated area, it should have more life left in it. This is because it has led an easier and more relaxed life than a similar car that has gone through the daily grind of low-speed, stop-and-go traffic in the city.
Overall, if you find a used vehicle with about 50,000 miles that has been properly maintained and mainly driven in a less congested area, its definitely worth your consideration. It would be ideal if the car appears relatively new and shows little wear and tear.
Used Car Shopping Tips
After all, car buyers may not always receive used car mileage at face value. There are too many additional factors to consider, not just the odometer numbers. Here are some important tips for buying a used car:
You may get more information and better deals if you buy from an individual seller, especially if you have cash.
When testing and inspecting a car, always look for as many defects as possible. Use them especially as a point of negotiation with the dealer. Low prices based on these flaws limit your risk and reserve a little money for possible repairs.
Find out the history of the car. Ask a question and try to get a service record or receipt. Check for recalls on sites like Mopar, and if youre seriously interested in a particular car, get a vehicle history report from a place like Carfax or AutoCheck. These show the number of vehicle owners and perhaps a paper trail of maintenance. And repair records.
Thoroughly research the manufacturer and model before shopping. That way, youll know what problems to look for and what services to offer for a particular mileage.
A common type of service that is being ignored is timing belt replacement. This requires about 100,000 miles on many vehicles. The exchange included in the service history is a good sign, as it is a relatively expensive job.
Have your vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic before considering a purchase.
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Won’t Last A Year: Bmw X5
It should come as no shock that these painfully mediocre luxury SUVs are on the “Never Buy Used” list, specifically 2011 and 2012 models are hopeless, with 2013 and 2014 ones being better, but still plagued with problems. If one or two small issues were frequent, it wouldn’t be too bad, but X5 owners who were unfortunate enough to buy a troubled one report frequent and severe problems stranding them on the side of the road.
What You Need To Know About High
The term high-mileage vehicle can sometimes be interpreted as rust bucket or clunker, but the truth is todays vehicles are built better than ever.
A car with 100,000 miles is no longer the maximum life expectancy for a vehicle. If you keep up with routine maintenance, you could push your vehicle to well over 200,000 miles.
Keep reading to find out how and why some drivers are keeping their cars on the road longer.
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How To Get To Super Miles And Beyond
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How To Make Cars Last Longer
Once you’ve purchased a vehicle, there are a few ways to ensure you get the most mileage under your ownership and that the car doesn’t wear out prematurely. Deliberately selecting a well-cared-for car means nothing if you don’t continue the same proper care and maintenance into the future. In addition, there are a few easy things you can do to extend the trouble-free life of your vehicle.
Avoiding crashes is a significant component of keeping your car on the road. Modern vehicles with active driver assistance features, like automated braking, can help avoid and prevent accidents. Eliminating distractions while driving, such as putting away your phone, can also limit crashes.
But it’s also vital to look at the history of repairs done by reputable shops. Systems like airbags, seatbelts, and those advanced driver assistance features need to be correctly reinstalled to work as intended again.
In certain parts of the country, particularly the Midwest, harsh winter conditions require chemical ice melt to be applied to road surfaces. These chemicals can cause significant rust, taking cars off the road in what should be prime years. Keep some corrosion away by washing the vehicle regularly, including thoroughly rinsing the undercarriage and suspension components. Washing a car is part of regular maintenance.
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Lasts Forever: Lexus Ls400
How do you create a luxury division when your entire brand image is based around selling affordable and reliable economy cars? Make an affordable and reliable luxury car, of course.
The LS400 helped change the definition of a luxury car when released, offering all the comfort and features, but for far less money, and far more reliably than the competition. Reliability was taken so seriously that these old sedans are notorious for lasting forever, including one that Smoking Tire host Matt Farah drove all the way to 1 million miles.
