How many miles does a typical car last w/o major problems?

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,737
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assume you follow the maintenance schedule in your manual (and not the ripoff dealer recommendations).

i deem minor problems as starter, alternator.
major problem = engine, transmission

How many miles does a typical car last w/o major problems?

edit:
cars made this century
 
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Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
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If you do all the maintenance I'd consider any major repair (ie engine or transmission need a full rebuild) before 200,000 miles to be bad.
 

Vic Vega

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2010
4,535
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I'd agree, 200k for a car built in the last 15 years.

A failure before then is going to be indicative of 1 of 3 things: abusive driving, or manufacturing defect or environmental influence (like a crash or hitting an object in the road). The chances of normal wear causing a failure these days are pretty low for non wear items (engine, transmission, rear-end, etc).

My daily driver is a 1996 and has 160k miles on the original engine, transmission suspension, etc, etc. Runs like a top with no end in site. The car is well cared for by myself.
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
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Most engines, internal parts, will hold well to 200k easy if there is no design issue and maintaince was done.

The auto trans is a whole other issue. It really depends on how it is used and the temps it is used in. Heat and heavy loads will tear a auto trans up real quick. Auto trans can last 200k or barly make it to 100k depending on factors.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
10
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The guibo joints and center bearing on the driveshaft on my '05 CTS were completely gone at about 105k km.
 

punjabiplaya

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2006
3,495
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for stuff that doesn't require a lift or hoist to fix or replace, 100k easy, 200k if maintained
 

SyndromeOCZ

Senior member
Aug 8, 2010
615
0
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I'd say 200-250k. My family has had a bunch of vehicles with 250k miles on them. Although the most impressive one is the 93 dodge cummins, over 350k miles original motor and tranny, no rebuilds. The motor still runs very strong and can tow a 50 ft 5th wheel without any trouble.
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
10,757
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My Fit went 88k with only minor brake issues. I'm up to 45k on my Outback with no problems. I don't plan to chance it once the 100k warranty is up.
 

Vic Vega

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2010
4,535
4
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My Fit went 88k with only minor brake issues. I'm up to 45k on my Outback with no problems. I don't plan to chance it once the 100k warranty is up.

So, you finance another new car for 30k and lose 15k the first two years in depreciation... 15k could cover whatever repair cost you may have.
 

Paperlantern

Platinum Member
Apr 26, 2003
2,239
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Yeah 200 - 250k should be expected from any vehicle. My 1999 Camry has 209,000 on it, also with no end in sight. A few minor issues have arisen... the blower fan only works on two speeds, and the driver window has worn out to the point of not going up all the way anymore on the first try. All fixable, but stuff im just living with right now. Car runs like a top otherwise.

Just put brand new tires on it, and have no doubt i will probably need at least another set before it dies or i sell it.
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
10,757
3
81
So, you finance another new car for 30k and lose 15k the first two years in depreciation... 15k could cover whatever repair cost you may have.

I drive 30k annually, and trade in the car before the 100k extended warranty is up.
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
10,757
3
81
It's your money.

Yup. I plan to have a car payment until the day I die. There are several reasons I get a new car every two and half to three years: mechanical reliability, rust, new safety features.

We do have just a single car between us though. And when we move closer to work, I will switch from buying to leasing. That should cut my payment by a third.
 

ThatsABigOne

Diamond Member
Nov 8, 2010
4,422
23
81
My 1998 Acura 3.5 RL is still working fine after 165K miles. It did need routine maintenance to get that far such as timing belt, water pump, and I have a pretty heavy foot.
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
Yeah 200 - 250k should be expected from any vehicle. My 1999 Camry has 209,000 on it, also with no end in sight. A few minor issues have arisen... the blower fan only works on two speeds, and the driver window has worn out to the point of not going up all the way anymore on the first try. All fixable, but stuff im just living with right now. Car runs like a top otherwise.

Just put brand new tires on it, and have no doubt i will probably need at least another set before it dies or i sell it.

My old '99 camry had the driver's side window do the exact same thing until it completely failed and wouldn't go up the last 2 inches. I swapped out the regulator myself with a friend and it was a PAIN. Doable at home, it doesn't require any special tools, but you're going to need a second person to help you remove and support the glass.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,080
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Question does not have an answer.

What year? Many cars made in the 70's/80's are shit and they fell apart long before 100 thousand.
What brand/model? For a long time European cars have been much better than American. And Japanese cars are usually in between. But some specific brands are much different from their national norm. And some models within particular brands were much better or worse than their brothers.

As for me: 2003 Chevy S-10. Piece of shit. Needed all kinds of work around the 30 thousand mark. I dont doubt the engine will go to half a million miles, but the body will probably be falling apart by 100K. Every time I turn around it needs more work. As of this past year I have spent as much on a mechanic as half the purchase price of the vehicle (16 grand). And the super duper gold plus service plan never covered anything in 4 years.
Just noticed a problem this past week on the ice that I never noticed. In fact I may need to make a thread on it cuz no one else ever talks about the issue.

Never buying another GM product. If the engine lasts forever and the body dies quickly I did not get my money worth.

My dads 91 Toyota pickup has 300,000 on it, according to my cousin Alisha. She got it when he died. And unlike most females she takes good care of it.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,544
924
126
Man, I haven't had a car payment in a few years. I only have 95,000 miles on my car and plan to keep it for a couple more years at least. Nothing major has gone wrong with it so far, it is a 2003 Maxima.
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,737
126
Question does not have an answer.

What year? Many cars made in the 70's/80's are shit and they fell apart long before 100 thousand.
What brand/model? For a long time European cars have been much better than American. And Japanese cars are usually in between. But some specific brands are much different from their national norm. And some models within particular brands were much better or worse than their brothers.

updated op to say cars made this century.

my car is a mazda3 made in japan and shipped to the usa. the mazda6 is made in the usa.
i expect the mazda3 to last longer than the mazda6
 

thescreensavers

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2005
9,916
2
81
I am just afraid of the Auto Tranny, I change the fluid in 30k mile intervals. But I am thinking I should save up and add a bigger cooler for it. And an Inline filter since my tranny only has a screen
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
11,684
5,225
136
200K is reasonable for any vehicle these days with a bare minimum of maintenance.

Our '02 Blazer has 230K on it......outside a new cat. converter, alternator, and fuel pump, it's been trouble free. But all the aforementioned problems started after hitting 180K, so those parts did last quite a while. It still runs great, tows like a champ, and have no intentions of retiring it anytime soon.

Lack of car payments for 5 years=$$ in the bank.....so much so that we could reasonably replace both the transmission and engine and still be far, far ahead of someone who just has to have payments all the time.
 

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,832
37
91
problem is every car within each model can vary along with driving habits. i've seen catalyc converters go bad within 3 miles of taking it off the lot brand new! it was a dodge though...thats why
 

RU482

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
12,689
3
81
So, you finance another new car for 30k and lose 15k the first two years in depreciation... 15k could cover whatever repair cost you may have.

what year is this? I haven't seen cars depreciate that fast in a while