Can my car last 500000 miles?
The current quality of high-mileage used cars ultimately comes down to its maintenance. A 500,000-mile used car or truck has obviously seen its fair share of wear and tear but if the damages wear repaired immediately and the parts were changed when they were supposed to, the vehicle is bound to survive long.
1966 Volvo P1800 - 3,000,000 miles
Irv Gordon of East Patchogue, New York set the world record for most miles on a personal car by racking up over 3.4 million miles in his 1966 Volvo 1800S.
What is considered high mileage on a car? Often, 100,000 miles is considered a cut-off point for used cars because older vehicles often start requiring more expensive and frequent maintenance when mileage exceeds 100,000.
A conventional car can last for 200,000 miles. Some well-maintained car models will reach 300,000 or more miles total. The average passenger car age is currently around 12 years in the United States. Choosing a well-built make and model can help extend your car's longevity.
The standard for a long time was 100,000 miles, but this is no longer the case. As technological advancements in the automotive industry continue to surge forward, so too does the limit of what our modern cars are capable of. Today, you can expect your vehicle to get on average 200,000 miles without major repairs.
Fred Hellrich, who lives in Annapolis, Md., says he has had several cars pass the 200,000-mile mark—and a couple of vehicles that made it more than 400,000 miles—everything from a Chevrolet van to a Toyota Tercel.
It can be somewhat risky to buy a vehicle that has racked up more than 100,000 miles. Even if it's well-maintained and has about 100,000 miles left in it, such a car is already past its prime. Generally, vehicles are likely to start experiencing problems after the 100,000-mile mark.
Cars with a lot of mileage are at a higher risk of leaks. As the engine ages and becomes worn, seals can easily leak. This can quickly lead to engine failure or cause parts and components to break or require repair.
Although exact mileage for a vehicle varies based on the model and the care you treat it with, Toyotas regularly last for over 200,000 or even 250,000 miles. With longevity like that, it's no wonder so many shoppers choose a Toyota for their next vehicle.
Although it may have been well maintained, the purchase of a vehicle with over 200,000 miles on the odometer might lead to significant maintenance costs. At this point, the car is likely nearing the end of its useful life, and you may soon need to either invest a significant sum in repairs or replace it entirely.
At what mileage do cars start having problems?
As a general rule, most vehicles begin to seriously degrade at around 150,000 miles. It is considered rare, and therefore outstanding longevity, if a car reaches 200,000 miles on the road. That said, there's more to identifying good versus bad mileage on a used car than just the odometer reading.
This is not a good idea. Buying a car with 70,000 miles on it is risky because the engine and other basic parts of the car will be worn down from all the use. This tired part of the car has been running around for so many years that it's likely to cause problems when they inevitably break.
- 8/10 Honda B Series Engine.
- 7/10 Honda K Series Engine.
- 6/10 Lexus 1UZFE Engine.
- 5/10 Lexus 2UR-GSE Engine.
- 4/10 BMW M57 Diesel Engine.
- 3/10 Nissan RB26DETT Engine.
- 2/10 Mercedes-Benz OM617 Diesel Engine.
- 1/10 General Motors LS Engine.
Toyota earns the top spot as the best automaker for dependability. Toyota vehicles are known for their longevity, and they are proven to last longer than any other brand. Toyotas are built so well they have below-average maintenance and repair costs, which helps contribute to why they remain on the road for so long.
1. Chrysler. Chrysler vehicles are some of the most unreliable on the market. They've been ranked as the least reliable car brand for three years in a row by Consumer Reports.
Any number of reasons can end a car's life before the million-mile mark, from crashes to terminal rust, to major repairs costing more than the car is worth. Still, it's possible to get your car to a million miles and beyond. The late Irv Gordon famously drove his 1966 Volvo P1800 past 3 million miles.
Paul Habib hit 750,000 miles within five years of owning his Honda Civic, and a few years later, the Indiana man reached the one-million-mile mark and just kept driving. As with many million-mile cars, the engine needed to be replaced around the halfway point.
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There's no absolute number of miles that is too many for a used car. But consider 200,000 as an upper limit, a threshold where even modern cars begin to succumb to the years of wear and tear.
Today, that same distance is considered mid-life for most cars. certain makes and models regularly roll through 200,000 and even 300,000 miles. Updated technology means cars run more reliably and, when properly maintained, can go years without requiring major repairs or replacements.
At a Glance: As a rule of thumb, a used car should have no more than 12,000 miles for each year since the car was originally bought.
What's more important age or mileage?
So, which is more important: mileage or age? The answer is that they both matter. Both mileage and age can affect the value of a car – mileage should reflect the car's age so it will be easy to see many more miles than usual it has been driven.
| Years | Average Mileage | Car Value |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 144,000 | $8,400 |
| 13 | 156,000 | $6,600 |
| 14 | 168,000 | $4,800 |
| 15 | 180,000 | $3,000 |
No! Seeing that a car has driven around 100,000 miles can be off-putting, especially if the car is only 5 years old. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it. A newer car is much more resilient and robust than older vehicles so don't worry if the car you're looking to buy has higher mileage than you originally hoped.
The Jesko is our first hypercar that hits the three million dollar mark. From a performance aspect, this makes sense: the Koenigsegg Jesko is also one of the fastest supercars in the world in 2023 – which definitely goes a long way towards its sticker price.
When Victor Sheppard's 2007 Toyota Tundra reached its 1 millionth mile, almost every component of the truck was still fully functioning except for the sun visor detent on the driver's side and the odometer, which at the 999,999-mile mark had reached its six-digit limit.
Toyota vehicles have exceptional longevity and some of the most reliable engines in the industry. This is due to the company's meticulous approach to design and production. The quality management systems ensure any defects are detected and eliminated before the vehicle is sold to the customer.
Believe it or not, a lot of vehicles don't last that long. Only 1% of vehicles make it past the 200,000 mile mark. Just . 03% of cars roll over the 300,000 mile mark, which is pretty incredible.
When buying a used car that's 10-years-old or older, your primary concerns are purchase price and reliability. Don't pay more than that 10-year-old car is worth. And, pick a car with a solid reputation for dependability. No car is really too old if you follow those rules.
In retaining “like new” quality and inheriting a slower depreciation rate, the best used car age for buying is 2-3 years. In fact, Americans are saving up to $14,000 on a 3-year-old vehicle. For example, a car that may have cost you $30,000 when new would cost around $16,000 after just 3 years.
If it's been used as a commuter vehicle for several years and has had multiple tire replacements or some body work done, you may end up paying extra to maintain the car as it gets older. Ideally, you will want to choose something under 80,000 miles and take reliability into account.
How long will a used car with 100k miles last?
If you buy a vehicle with 100,000 miles, you could still get another four or five years of driving out of it-sometimes more. It's important to remember that, with most modern vehicles hitting 200,000 miles, a car with 100,000 miles on the odometer has only reached its midpoint.
According to the 36% rule, it isn't wise to spend more than 36% of your income on loan payments, including car payments. Another rule of thumb says that drivers should spend no more than 15% of their monthly take-home pay on car expenses.
- Study the owner's manual and adhere to the exact maintenance schedule.
- Keep the car's interior and exterior clean.
- Regularly check the engine to make sure it's running to the best it can.
- Use high-quality gasoline and never, ever drive on empty.
- Drive as carefully as you can.
A reliable vehicle with more than 100,000 miles is likely capable of traveling another 100,000 miles or less. If you put about 12,000 miles on the car each year, you may be able to use it for up to 8 years.
Yes, it sure can. A 1987 Volvo 240 owned by Seldon Cooper passed the million-mile mark in 2012. Once again, we see an owner that never missed an oil change or any other scheduled service appointment. This car was repainted when it hit 500,000 miles to bring I back to its original shine.
- 8 Honda B Series Engine.
- 7 Honda K Series Engine.
- 6 Lexus 1UZFE Engine.
- 5 Lexus 2UR-GSE Engine.
- 4 BMW M57 Diesel Engine.
- 3 Nissan RB26DETT Engine.
- 2 Mercedes-Benz OM617 Diesel Engine.
- 1 General Motors LS Engine.
Consumer Reports estimates that it takes about 15 years for the average motorist to drive 200,000 miles, but Allstate says the average life of cars and trucks on US roads is less than 12 years.
However, purchasing a car with 200,000 miles may result in a high amount of maintenance bills—even if it has been well maintained. Typically, this is near the end of the car's lifespan, so you may be shelling out some major cash for repairs or will need to buy a new vehicle shortly.
You needn't worry about high mileage in many cases - but there are certainly some things to think about. Seeing a figure of over 100,000 miles on a car that's less than three years old can be really off-putting, and can signal that the car has had a tough life being used as a taxi or similar.
An engine is made up of several intricate parts that need to be functioning in high order to ensure longevity. Some parts on your car are made to wear and be replaced (tires, brake pads, rotors, etc.). The engine and it's parts are mad to last the life of your vehicle.
How do Toyotas last so long?
Also, a lot of parts that Toyota builds are over-engineered to outlast the vehicle itself. This overengineering is the reason why Toyota cars last so long, and command a premium resale value.
Hitting Million Miler status can be anticipated with expectations of grandeur, and then fall far short of that. This is because when you hit a million miles… nothing much happens. Sure, you might get to select a special gift, receive bonus miles, or even get a congratulatory card.