Any and everyone with 200,000 miles on a vehicle.

[TFB1]

I can't say I've owned any vehicle with 200K mi, current high is my beater F-150 with 185K miles... It doesn't have any issues that would prevent me from taking it on a 400-500 mi trip...

Got a friend who owns a car lot that just sold his beater 'Yota with 318K mi(he put a little over 100K on it) and probably four months ago had a '06 Kia Sedona on the lot with 386K mi... Someone bought it...

 

[Chris142]

What does a hot desert have to do with not driving it? If everything is working as designed 100+ temps won't matter.

 

[SirTanon]

My 2010 Fusion just hit 200,000 miles this past weekend, and I can honestly say that I would not hesitate for a second to drive it anywhere in the country at this point. I'm completely confident that it would make it on a 5000 mile trip without any trouble.

.. and this is a car that regularly handles 110+ degree summer days.

 

[dishdude]

I hit 207,000 tonight on my old beater GMC, it doesn't seem to mind the Phoenix heat one bit. I don't treat it any different based on the mileage, just turn the key and

 

[Brad_C]

The volvo in my sig has about 300k on it (450kkm) and its predecessor has 320. Both of them I'd be happy to drive across the country with.

I'm pretty particular about maintenance though, so on top of the regular maintenance items its had a full set of front suspension rubber and wear parts (ball joints, tie rods & ends), new seals in the motor and auto gearbox (on manufacturers schedule). As a result it drives pretty much like it did new. Still on all the original mechanical components except the A/C compressor, water pump and new bearings in the alternator.

I do think it's cute however when people think a 4 hour drive across a teeny bit of desert in 110F (43C) is extreme.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
What does a hot desert have to do with not driving it? If everything is working as designed 100+ temps won't matter.

(as long as you're driving mildly)

 

[eljefino]

I've driven nothing but "junkers" my entire life.

My confidence caught up with my in the HHR my wife normally drives, and the "good car", being the newest. Radiator fan conked out over the winter and it caught up with me in Boston traffic in April going down to the airport. Never saw it coming. Thankfully, the car dinged at me before damage was done.

I suffered a dragging brake on my new-to-me 300D. If I were familiar with its day-to-day driving I'd have felt something off, but this car doesn't "coast" in drive like anything else-- it has engine braking, even in top gear. This demonstrates that the driver more than anyone can spot a problem if they have mechanical empathy and awareness. Since I assume one also commutes in their road trip car, a check of wheel temperature at the end of one's commute every now and again would pick up on this, as well as just knowing what one's pedal should feel like.

 

[Olas]

The numbers on the ODO are meaningless, maintenance history is whet matters.

My first fast car was a Golf GTI with 235000 miles when I bought it, never let me down once. Always started first time, all the functions and features worked correctly, only parts I replaced were tyres, brake pads and fuel.

Mileage is nothing. Documented proof of regular proactive maintenance is everything.

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: thorromig
My question, anybody that has sustained this mileage in any vehicle make or model. With normal maintanance with plugs, wires, oil change, filters of all types, power steering & coolant flushes along with brakes, tires and exhaust. How well and reliable do the milestone cars run? Would you take them on a 5000 mile road trip with no worries? Would you consistently stay in the passing lane of a posted 80mph speed limit? Does the car have the same or near same feal as it did new with performance & handling? I would luv to set my sights high on my Acura in signature & also push my Explorer till its wheels are ready to fall off. What are some of the pros and cons of running, operating and maintaining a 200 thousand mile plus vehicle in general?


My Camaro has 232,000 miles on it and I still take it out to track days 4-5 times a year. In May I took it on a 2000-mile road trip and didn't carry any tools.

My Dodge Ram has 268,000 on it and I do cross-country tows with it a couple of times a year. I just did a 1400-mile tow to Massachusetts over the 4th of July weekend. I set the standing mile record at the Ohio Mile with it when it had 235,000 on it (136 mph is not too shabby for an old truck).

 

[Turk]

Originally Posted By: reemoe2
Just short of 231,000 on my '95 Saturn SC1. Love the 36 mpg and would definitely trust it mechanically on a long road trip. It's just that use of the A/c saps power and Mpg that would be a downside.


Winning!

 

[R80RS]

My wife's 2004 Ford Freestar. Sadly, shortly after this picture was taken the transmission died, and we decided it wasn't worth the cost of repair. The engine ran great, never had any problems.

 

[rfeir]

Just hit 200,000 miles on my 01 PT Cruiser. With all the significant rust I can't wait to get rid of this vehicle.

Recently had to replace the following:

Tires
Battery
Starter
Caliper
Caliper hose
Master Cylinder

The Air Conditioner has died for the 4th time.

I use 0W-40 Mobil 1 and change it out once a year. No Motor issues, "yet".

 

[kschachn]

I took the Sienna in my signature halfway across the country last January, but like many have mentioned it has to do with proper maintenance. As long as rust doesn't get you a properly maintained car can go many miles.

But unlike A_Harman, I took a few tools

 

[quint]

We have 352,000 on the Corolla, up until 300,000 or so it would get driven on 8-10 hour road trips without a thought. I would do it now, provided I brought my bag of tools with me. Oh and about 10 gallons of oil.

My 240sx has around 225,000 on it right now (the odo only works intermittently so it may be way higher) and I would drive it from here to California and back if I had to with little worry, if any.

 

[hypervish]

I've got 225,000 miles on the RX300, and it is running fantastic. It regularly does 2,500 mile road trips and performs flawlessly.

Would't hesitate to drive it on a 5000 mile road trip, well except for fuel costs. It ain't cheap driving this beast 5000 miles.

 

[Burt]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
What does a hot desert have to do with not driving it? If everything is working as designed 100+ temps won't matter.


I didn't think he's worried about the car breaking down from the heat so much as it breaking down for any reason and being stranded in a remote area in extreme heat. Yes you can say bring water and sunscreen, but it would still be a miserable day or two.

 

[Vikas]

You should have started a topic asking for people who have LESS THAN 200K miles on their vehicle. That topic would have lot less replies I have one car with less than 200K miles. The other three have already crossed 200K miles.

 

[exranger06]

My mom's 94 Explorer just hit 199k the other day. It has a leaking lower intake gasket that I don't feel like fixing, I just add coolant every once in a while. For that reason, I don't trust it for long trips. If I fixed it though, I would drive it across the couontry without hesitation. It's needed some repairs over the years, but the engine and trans have never needed anything but maintenance.

My 94 Bronco has over 222k miles, but just about everything on it has been replaced, including the engine and trans, so I don't think that counts.

But I would trust it to drive across country.

 

[Jimmy9190]

My Dakota has over 179,000 miles now with really nothing out of the ordinary going wrong with it. I change oil every 3k, rear diff gear oil every 12k, drain and refill my manual trans fluid every 25k, plugs, cap and rotor every 25k, change plug wires every 50k. I rotate my tires at 6k and check my oil and coolant at least once a week. My truck runs very well for its age and gets a consistent 18.5 MPG combined city and highway driving. The ride quality may not be exactly the same as a new truck but is still very good, very comfortable. My AC will freeze you to death and my truck is fun to drive. I absolutely would not hesitate to hop in and drive across the country and back. My Dakota is the best and most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.

 

[zzyzzx]

I would not take my 1995 Escort with 230K miles on it on a long trip. Mostly this is because the A/C doesn't work on it and I have another car with working A/C to use. Now if it's in the winter and there is salt on the roads, then yes I would take my Escort.