5 ways to get your car to 200,000 miles
March 12, 2007
I was talking to a friend the other day, and he asked me about the mileage of my car, remarking it was in great condition.
“Hmm.. I think around 145,000 now.”, I replied.
“Seriously??!! I had to replace my last car at 80,000 miles!”
This shocked me. I’ve never had to “replace a car” ever. Typically one only needs to replace a car if the cost of fixing the problem costs more then the car is worth, or so many problems are popping up (say once or twice a month) to render the car completely unreliable. My last car I sold with 200,000 miles, and it’s still running great for the new owner. What’s the secret?
1) Keep excellent maintenance records – It’s hard to remember in your head if you are due for a belt change, or an oil change. Especially if you travel a lot, the mileage can really fly by. Used Cars On-Line offers a free online service for tracking your maintenance records. It estimates your current mileage, and emails reminders for changing the oil.
2) Change the oil regularly yourself – Ok, not everyone can do this depending on where you live, but changing your oil yourself (or having someone you know do it) ensures you know exactly what is going into your car. Quicky oil places use the cheapest oil possible, and don’t necessarily use what your manufacturer recommends. Check your manual, buy some ramps, and not only will you save money, you will also get a sense of satisfaction performing this relatively simply auto work.
3) Preventively replace belts and fluids – Waiting until a belt snaps to replace it is not only bad for your car, it can also leave you stranded on the side of the road at the wrong time. Especially cars with interference engines, changing the timing belt could mean the difference between a destroyed engine. If my manufacturer recommends changing a belt at 90,000 miles, I do it at 75,000. The extra cost of doing it more reguarly is worth the peace of mind.
4) Find a mechanic you trust – We’ve all had the experience of taking a car to the mechanic for one thing, only to have three other things breaking after we get it back. If you are new to an area, don’t take the first opinion on car work. When I was having trouble with my shifting, I took it to a car dealership who said I needed a new clutch and about $1200 of work. If you ever get a quote for over $500, it’s worth shopping around. I did, and it ended up not needing a new clutch, and another mechanic fixed the real problem for $1000 less. If a mechanic is trying to talk you OUT of getting work done, he is a keeper. If possible find a specialist. Someone that works entirely on Honda’s or Jaguars will know all the little problems much better.
5) Buy a car with a good reputation - With some cars, it doesn’t matter how well you maintain them, they just come with baggage from poor parts decisions at the factory. Before buying a car, I always read user’s comments on Edmunds, CarGurus, and e-opinions. If you see most people complaining about small cup holders and the air conditioning not blowing cold enough, it’s probably a good car. You’ll know a trouble car when people are talking about getting the transmission replaced 3 times, and power windows breaking constantly.
March 12, 2007 at 7:27 pm
That is great…I am going to keep this info in my saved box so I can post it one day…so many don’t have a clue and the days of full service are over with!
Smiles and world peace,
Sharon
http://www.BabyBoomerAdvisorClub.com
August 21, 2007 at 6:12 am
I have an 86′ bmw 325… its at around 250,000 miles and only minor stuff needs to be done… like i need new bulbs and need to recharge my airconditioner.. i want to keep it that way.. i wanted to know maybe a few things that could help it last forever.. and also do you know the best oil i can get for my engine?
Thank you
November 13, 2007 at 2:45 pm
That is great!
Thanks
February 21, 2008 at 7:04 pm
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necessary info on curent post.
The post so much useful.
June 16, 2008 at 5:31 pm
thanks for sharing. i would definitely try this.
June 23, 2008 at 2:43 pm
In line with this, an important key to remember first in getting your dream car is picking the right car dealer to trust. Surely there are thousands of car dealers who offer selling used cars or second-hand branded cars. So, it is better to make certain that you have a reliable and trustworthy car dealer who can manage the specifications you want for the car you crave to avail. No one wants to spend money and pay for a very poor service right? Scratching your credit cards will not be worth it so do your homework first or else, as a result, everything will unquestionably be very problematic.
In addition, through checking the dealer you are going to get, you will also have the chance to choose from a variety of cars they make available for you. Most car dealers offer second-hand or buy used carwhich are actually still in good shape and functions well at a lower value – almost half or even less than the original price. After picking the right car you need along with proper coordination with your dealer, you might get a hold of your car at the best deal you never expected.
July 12, 2008 at 11:09 am
Too bad i didnt come across this blog before. Great stuff you got here. Thanks.
August 13, 2008 at 8:58 am
Cool. Come by and hypnotize yourself if you please
August 16, 2008 at 8:35 am
I wish you would post more often…this is my “coffee drinking” blog:) Edgar Allen
September 13, 2008 at 11:36 am
Love your site it is very informative am going to research the other posts to see what else I can learn, cheers! and keep up the great work!
October 4, 2008 at 12:34 pm
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October 14, 2008 at 3:43 pm
A very informative post indeed!
An important key to remember first in getting your dream car is picking the right car dealer to trust. there are thousands of car dealers who offer selling used cars or second-hand branded cars. So, it is better to make certain that you have a reliable and trustworthy car dealer who can manage the specifications you want for the car you crave to avail. No one wants to spend money and pay for a very poor service right? Scratching your credit cards will not be worth it so do your homework first or else, as a result, everything will unquestionably be very problematic.
November 15, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Excellent content…keep up the good work!
November 19, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Very interesting article, i bookmarked your blog
Best regards
November 29, 2008 at 11:30 am
Nice work on this blog. Btw, thank you for the informations you provide. More power on your blog!
December 7, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Nice post. Thank you for the info. Keep it up.
December 9, 2008 at 1:49 am
Many interesting information on your site – keep up good work
December 15, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Great info and tips keep them coming
December 19, 2008 at 6:43 pm
You’re absolutely right man.
It makes no sense to let your car wither away.
Just make that tiny little investment of maintaining them on a yearly basis and they’ll easily last you up to 200,000 miles.
February 14, 2009 at 7:01 pm
How anyone can go through cars in a short amount of time is obviously not taking car of them. Heck, for about $80 you can have a semi annual inspection done as a preventitive maintenance plan. Is a car not worth $160 a year to keep it in good shape, I would think so. Cars are too pricy to abuse… take care of them and they will take care of you.
April 24, 2009 at 10:59 am
Not that I’m impressed a lot, but this is more than I expected for when I stumpled upon a link on SU telling that the info is quite decent. Thanks.
May 24, 2009 at 7:58 am
Interesting post. You have obviously done the research on this. It can be hard to find decent information about this in my experience. i will bookmark this site and check it out again in the future. thanks