Who's got a High Mileage Car? 200,000+

1991 Escort Pony 372,000 miles as of yesterday!

Got it with 132,000 and a bad clutch for $250 in 1999 and has been DD and pizza delivery vehicle since.

Had a sticky 5th gear so I replaced the trans at 285k. I replaced a lot of stuff "while I was there. Front wheel bearing had me replace both sides and axles. Sloppy manual rack was replaced along with poly bushings and a 3rd gen sway bar.

5 clutches, 3 timing belts, starter, 2nd radiator, couple of heater cores, new headlights, a lot of minor electrical stuff, mostly switches and replays.

Every year I spray lube hinges, window and door mechanism, about every moving part I can think of. Oil changes 3000 to 5000 on dino oil.

Last summer I blew a head gasket due to a bad radiator cap, malfunctioning temp sender and 110 degree heat.

Bruce

The Stincoln has just over 200,000, but I've only put about 3 miles on it. That was the drive home after I bought it.

My Scoob has 166,000 on it and 120,000+ on the EJ22 I yanked from a Legacy. I bought the Scoob (the first time...) with 83,000 miles and proceeded to put a lot of HARD miles on it. The gearbox has a serious whinge.

The Wife's Burban has 145,000 on it.

Yay for paying cash for cars...boo for "high" mile, older cars...

Looks with envy at the GRMers buying new Mustangs.

Oh boy! I throw my 2 pennies in here. My camaro is 1991 RS 305 v8 with a 5 speed. It was bought five years ago as a play toy/third car with ~190k. It currently has 220K. Oringal engine and trans.I bought the car did a serious maintaince job on it plug cap wires rotors brakes and got all synthetic oils. As far as failures the rear end was making a noise when bought, but i was gonna change that as soon as i got it with 3.43 instead of 3.08 . I had a head light wiring failure. And tore the center of the cluth out about 10k ago

Hungary Bill wrote: 1966 Impala. Unknown mileage (but the girl is 50 years old so I'm guessing shes been "around the block") Basic maintenance (plugs, point, cap, rotor, brakes, clutch, etc) and someone put on a chrome valve cover... Transmission was swapped due to a bad 2nd gear synchro and the paint was changed from "piss yellow", to "I'm important black". Still my daily driver.

come on man, make with the pictures. you can't just drop "'66 impala... 2nd gear synchro... daily driver" and not show it off a little bit.

2000 Crown Vic P71 - 208+ on the clock
Detective's car from Colorado City Texas
Purchased at auction by a friend and then by me shortly after
Replaced rear axles 2 times then whole differential due to damage from axle bearing
Engine died at 201k and replaced that with 5.4L from '04 F250

oh, and back on topic:

• 2003 honda odyssey, 226k. trans at 44k, EGR valve at 100k, AC compressor at 125k, water pump at 190k (was new at the 105k timing belt change), front suspension and wheel bearings around 200k, powertrain mounts at 215k but it needed them a lot earlier.
• 1996 ford probe gt, 229k. new front LCA's, struts, springs at about 225k, reman alt about 215k, just routine maintenance and wear items beyond that. still DD capable but selling because my new job came with a company car.

My high mileage old Subies have been better to me than my low mileage newer Subies.

Sold:

'87 GL wagon 2wd. Sent to the boneyard for rust at 287k, in the family since 48k. Still on original engine/trans/head gaskets/most everything. Most involved repair was a new radiator at 270k. Saw it on the road again a few weeks after it was to be crushed.

'93 Legacy L AWD 5 speed wagon. Bought for $500 from a 22yo mother. It was her first car and she cried when I left with it, I knew it'd be good to me. Pathetically rusty, but ran like a new car. I put 500 miles a week on for 7 months, and passed it on to a high school kid with a newer Legacy, think he wanted it for the engine. It had 247k at the time. All original save for alternator and clutch. I was into it for the purchase price, some bondo, an oil change, and an $18 length of exhaust pipe.

2002 Impreza TS. Free from my father, who was convinced it was worthless. Picked it up at 181k, it only nickel and dimed me for two years. Engine started to go south at 195k(still very much original underhood), daily drove it to 221k, gave it to sachilles. Sounds like he's enjoying it with the fresh heart transplant he performed.

Which brings me to the current pathetically rusty Subaru, my one owner '95 Outback. They parked by braille. Everywhere. At probably 15mph. 17 years old, but only 135k, looks like it made repeated driverless trips down a wooded hill. The only non factory parts I can find are plugs, tires, front struts, filters, and fluids. Alternator is getting a bit of a whine, due for suspension and exhaust work. Still starts and runs great. I'm only into it for oil, plugs/wires, a head light bulb, and rear brake lines(pop!) since April. Not bad! Next up is tires, and replacement of everything under the timing cover.

'99.5 Golf TDI 5-speed.
220K (bought at ~125K)

Original engine, original trans, original clutch.

Timing belt/water pump were done preventatively at 125K. I'll be doing both again here at the next oil change, along with a "high mileage kit" including replacement tensioners/rollers & serp. belt. Otherwise I just change oil every 10K with Rotella T6 & Mann filter, and I swap fuel filter every other oil change (20K)

Otherwise, I had to replace rear calipers and E-brake cables (typical mk4 VW failures), but nothing that left me stranded. I replaced the rear axle beam bushings and tie rods in the last 5K as well.

I DD this on my 150 mile round trip commute every weekday.

I had a '75 BMW 530i that I drove for 14 years & around 310K before I sold it. I still ran well, smoked a very little bit & had 1 tiny rust spot and like new a/c (the worst in the world).

1999 Satrun Sl2. 254,xxx miles. Dad is still daily driving it. Original engine trans. New clutch. Did brakes. But nothin out of the ordinary.

Thing just keeps going and going and going.

Burn almost no oil either at that mileage but mine at 139,xxx miles goes through it faster then a hooker goes through blow.

Go figure

'95 Impreza .. 230+000 ... just sold it last month ... had it for ~ 5 yrs, got it with 190k ... all I replaced was the radiator, the brakes (front and rear), and the battery ... PO did the timing belt, cam seals, alternator, power steering pump, tie-rod ends and axles/boots, struts ... still ran GREAT, used less than a qt of oil between changes ( twice a yr ) just didn't have room for it after I got the truck

1990 Miata with just over 260K. Tomorrow it is going into the shop for the install of new bushings and FM stage 2 V-Maxx kit:-) I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

1995 impala ss at 203k now. original drivetrain went to 201k before PO wrecked car, pulled engine/trans to rebuild, then sold it to me. now is basically a new car with all the things i have done.

1990 c1500 pickup is at 233k on original 4.3 and 5 speed. i am the 3rd owner.

my sonoma has 181k as does my suburban, both untouched drivelines.

924s

I took ownership in 2000 it had 57K and the odometer broke. I stored it and really did not drive it much except for track days until 2002 when gas hit $3.00 a gal. I pulled it out and have been putting 28-32K a year on it since (as tracked by my GPS). I have replaced the brakes a couple times and the motor was a fresh rebuild in 2000. I put a trans in it in 2000 and another one (this time from a 951) n it last year . I have done timing belts based on the years in service not by the millage (every two years) Rollers and water pump every 4 years. I replaced the blower motor, rear hubs and front bearings. I think that is it. By my estimates it is somewhere near 300K miles. Ohya regular oil changes 2x a year I use the kendal semi synthetic. I just keep topping it off when needed but it uses hardly any oil (not the norm for these cars) I think next year it will need rod bearings. When it is all warmed up I have 2+ bars of oil pressure so it is getting to be time. This car was supposed to be a fun track weekend toy but I have ended up driving it year round every day. I got studded snow tires for it a couple years back (4 of them) and it has been one of the best winter cars ever.

Family had a 1970 Suburban 292 4speed manual that was over 300k easily when sold. Saw it on the road now and then for the next few years.

Haven't had a 200k under my belt yet, but 2 S-trucks in the 180's that were sold running strong and my current Saturn in in the 170's with no end in site.

My 89 Chevy 1/2 ton had 169k on a broken odo when I bought it. I've only put on a few thousand so who knows...

'96 Saab 9000 Aero - 265k. Since ~220k it's needed... a clutch throwout bearing, a DIC or two (yay Saab!), a taillight, a radio, consumables, and mods

'91 Saab 9000 Turbo - ~242k? - moderately modified $500 beater. Hooned it until the HG blew and sold it for what I paid for it.

'95 Subaru Legacy Outback - ~245k. Bought for $400 on its way to the junkyard, bondo'd up some of the bigger rust holes and ran it for 5k... until it was just too far gone (needed basically everything). Drove it to the junkyard for ~$275

'89 SAAB 900 turbo sedan, died in a hit and run at 250k miles. Gearbox was getting weak, but it wasn't dead yet. The only big repairs it needed while had it were a clutch, ps pump and ecm failure. The engine had easily another 100k miles left in it.

'94 SAAB 9000 non turbo. Sold at 250k miles still running ok. A rear shock tower was cracked, and the suspension was pretty much worn out (but factory original ). The only major repair in my ownership was a clutch at 200k miles.

I almost forgot my '78 Datsun 620. Rusted apart at 200k miles, but still ran great. Only major repair in my ownership was a clutch at 175k miles. The diaphragm lost its holding power due to old age, plenty of fibre left on the disk.

Lightweights. 1990 Eclipse GS DOHC with 400,000 miles. an exhaust manifold, ecm, two clutches ,and a radiator 1992 GVR-4 208,000 miles two clutches,

1995 Nissan Maxima. 202k, original engine and 4 spd auto trans. I've owned it since Sept of '06 and about 101k. I've done valve cover gaskets, injectors, starter, alternator, a few misc sensors, rack boots & bushings, brakes, belts, oil changes, etc. All of these things are SUPER common on these cars, so none of it is out of the ordinary. As much as I want to sell it and get something fun, this thing is so reliable and comfortable to drive I don't think I could. Plus I would love to hit 300k in it!

logdog wrote: Did cars just fall apart at 50k in the 50s or something? I know by the 70s it seemed getting 150-200k didnt seem odd if maintenance had been done.

Up through the middle 1960s at least, it was a pretty momentous occasion when a car made it over 100,000 miles without an engine overhaul. There have been improvements in materials, machining, and I think especially in motor oils and filtration since then.

Back to the original question, my BMW M535i just turned over 200,000 miles about a month ago. Considering it's a 1986 that's actually pretty low miles.

06 Malibu LT 3.5l at 205k.

Couple sets of brakes, 3 sets of tires and 1 K&N filter. It's been a good car.

1996 Chevy 1500 Ext. Cab Silverado- 239k It had 100k on it when I bought it in Jan. of '99!

1990 Miata- 217k This is my daily driver now, since gas isn't cheap. Plus, it's a lot more fun to drive fast than the truck.

1990 Miata- 197k This is the racecar. Had just gone over 196k when I turned it into a racecar in '06. Very close to 198k now. Original motor, trans, and rear end, and it's the 2011 CFR F Prod. champion, despite only 112.8 hp at the rear wheels from stock internals.

91 Integra. 367,000 miles. Daily driven.

Engine swapped at 210. Did a street/race clutch from clutch specialties at the same time. It eats axles and alternators. Both are lifetime from vatozone, so they're "free." No AC. Suspension is wore out. Seat is disintegrating.

Just sold a 95 F150 w/over 200,000. Just normal fluid changes and maintenance, nothing major replaced. Water pump was about the biggest parts change on it. New owner drove it away.

1999 Miata w/over 200,000 on odometer but only half that on the engine. Also have an 04 RX8 w/128,000 on it but only 30,000 on the motor.