richardi734

Looking for a cheap car but they have huge mileages on them, coming up to 200k. I know they do travel huge distances but should I be put off by high mileage or go on condition? Want something cheap to run that will last the year.

cindyabs

My 2004 Corolla that I bought new is getting towards 223K. I'm lovin' this car.

richardi734

Hows the transmission? My Dad's BMW 328i has 200k plus and is faultless but its been well looked after.

cindyabs

So far so good, but then I'm no cowboy.

joto

Our '99 Honda Accord has about 162,000 miles on it, and is still in good condition. It does get regular oil changes, and it did need a new temperature thingy last year, but that's all that it's been needed apart from a couple of new sets of tyres and brake pads.

Giantaxe

191,000 on my BMW 323i and - touch wood - it's still in great condition. No transmission problems yet, but my BMW repair shop says this will go long before the engine does.

More generally, I think you have to look closely at model reliability records if you're going to buy a high-mileage car.

cindyabs

Yup, numerous sources on that.

Anian

I've got a 2001 Corolla with 170K on the clock. Never broken down (knocking on wood), although it seems that one part gets close to wearing out each year, so the local garage gets an extra $300 per year.

SarahG

We've got a 2002 Kia Sedona with 177,300 miles on it. It's brakes have failed (whilst driving!), leaking radiator, no working a/c (until last week!), dented/smashed in front after husband crashed it on Boxing Day 2009 only 2 months after buying it!

Had to replace tires twice, most recently last week but we have done about 50,000 miles in it since we got it in 2009. I'd love a newer car but at the moment until we get GC & I can work and we can afford a newer car, then we are stuck. It works fine at the moment but it is what it is, a means to get from A to B.

We did look at getting a newer used car with less miles but when we went to test drive a couple it wasn't a lot of success! 1 smelled really strongly of wee (it was a 1998 Chevy with 32,000 miles and only 1 previous owner who was a very old lady), another had a check engine light on and after looking at it more it became clear it would need a lot of work and the 3rd broke down on the way back to the dealer!

Bob

We've a 2000 Saab 95 Aero, not that high mileage at 135K.

It's a piece of shit.

Also finding it bloody hard to find some parts for it now too.

Tarkak9

... auto or stick? - Just wondering.
apprx 70k in 2.5 years... all is well at 187k. A car will run forever so long its looked after properly. Nothing wrong driving a high mileage car, just don't pay too much because, afterall, you're potentially driving a parts vehicle.
That's GM's magic touch for you.
Parts are a concern for my old 900, its great as spare wheels but I also wonder how parts are going to be now.

Brit3964

For high mileage cars look no further than a Honda or Toyota. They just seem to keep going on and on. My 2005 Accord Coupe is hardly high mileage at 88k and all I do is change the oil every 3750 miles and have a major service done every 30,000 miles. Had to replace the rear brake pads a couple of years ago. Apparently the rear wear faster than the front ones. Avoid any late 90's Chevy's or Fords. I had one and it was a disaster and it wasn't even high mileage.

Bob

Our old 9000CS was awesome, loved it, regret shifting it.

Parts amusingly on the older ones are easier to get as there are more junked cars, but the folks aren't impressed with their '10 as there are hardly any made in the last couple of years for specific parts.

We spent ages looking for a valve for our car though, which used to go for about $50 and found it for $150 these days in a few places that still had it, only to find it's manufactured under a different name for other companies like Toyota for $35.

Tarkak9

Wow, that's ridiculous; I wonder just how many parts are infact inter-convertible. Part of the reason why parts aren't around is associated with the licensing rights. Can check with these guys, they have their own small saab yard to pull from and they're good guys, might cut a deal for a saab story. I use mine for snow days really, the driver wing is horribly dinged due to someone backing into it with a hitch, I don't care as its just a b/u vehicle and a run around town sorta thing.

Bob

I check out saabcentral.com I don't post as most questions are already up there, so it's a good place to search out info and where folks are getting parts and any alternatives.

Still end up taking the car to FIL's mate who runs his garage up in Maine as it's so much cheaper than local garage and he used to be the local Saab head tech before he set up shop. That dealer is now in limbo which is sad, they were looking into being a Fiat outfit I think because all the other big ones have exclusive deals up in Maine.