[nayr x]

My girlfriend's '90 Subaru Loyale has more miles than any car I have ever seen or heard of. My 91' Civic Si is pushing the 200k mark, but that is a young pup in comparison. She bought it two years ago from one of her grand parent's friends for next to nothing, the old man who owned used it to commute between Salt Lake City and Denver as a salesman. Aside from replacing the right rear axle and some other minor maintenance stuff, it runs great, the paint is fine etc. You would never guess by looking at it that the odometer presently reads just over three hundred and twenty thousand miles. The old suby could have driven to the moon, and be about a third of the way back. In fifteen years, that car has averaged over 60 miles per day.

So what is the highest milage car you have ever seen?

If any of you can best that mark, I will be thoroughly impressed!

[Big Mac]

That's pretty impressive. But check out the Guinness Book record: 2.2M miles.

[nayr x]

(well obviously it's no world-record.)

[gururafiki]

My friends Volvo is a bit over 300,000. Its an '88 or '89 station wagon.

[Athens]

My 87 prelude has 265 000KM on it and im putting on about 60 000K a year.

[Ozmodiar]

My 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 218,000 miles on it.

[baw]

Just hit 214,000 on my 1994 Ranger.

Here is an older pic.

[baw]

Dupe.

OK, this is getting ridiculous. This new version of vBulletin sucks @ss.

[I was David B.]

my 92 ford has 140.000.

If you are looking for mileage, ask taxi drivers. They usually do more than 700.000, mostly with mercedes diesels. These machines are undestroyable.

[Spliffdaddy]

I sold my '89 Jaguar XJS after 178,000 troublefree miles - and all the Lucas electronics still functioned.

Now *that's* a world record.

[JazzCatDRP]

I have a friend with an old Ford truck. The odometer died 15 years ago with just over 500K miles on it, and he's still putting about 12-15K a year on it.

Ironically, it's the most reliable vehicle he owns.

[Buckaroo]

My 1989 Ford Aerostar, purchased in December of 1988 has over 384,000 miles. I purchased a lifetime warranty on the transmission approx. 10 years ago, and AAMCO has paid for the last 3 transmission overhauls. I paid $1,000 for the engine to be overhauled approx. 100,000 miles ago. I've replaced most everything with PepBoy or Autozone lifetime warranty parts. I hope to keep it for another 2.5 years and then give it to a relative. It runs ok, the heater and air no longer work, but I live in an area that has nice weather year round.

[Buckaroo]

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

I sold my '89 Jaguar XJS after 178,000 troublefree miles - and all the Lucas electronics still functioned.

Now *that's* a world record.

I suppose so, since dosen't the Jaguar average 2,000 miles before every major repair shop visit?

I have heard that older Jag's are a nightmare for owners.

[Buckaroo]

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

I sold my '89 Jaguar XJS after 178,000 troublefree miles - and all the Lucas electronics still functioned.

Now *that's* a world record.

I suppose so, since dosen't the Jaguar average 2,000 miles before every major repair shop visit?

I have heard that older Jag's are a nightmare for owners.

[Spliffdaddy]

Actually, the older carbureted V12s (pre-1985?) found in the XJ12 sedans and XJS coupes required a lot of maintenance (six 2-barrels) - and they had Borg-Warner automatic transmissions that failed prematurely. That's what created the reputation of unreliability for Jaguar. The six cylinder models (XJ-6) were relatively trouble-free.

Once the fuel injected 'H.E.' V12s were released along with a General Motors TH400 automatic transmission, pretty much all the problems were solved. You could expect at least 150,000 miles before the drivetrain needed attention. The stigma of unreliability never went away - which helps make the 1985 and newer XJS and XJ12 some remarkable bargains. It's a wonderful way to experience a (reliable) fuel injected overhead cam aluminum alloy V12 grand touring machine for under $8,000. It gets more attention than cars costing ten times as much.

Buy one, you won't be sorry - and you won't lose any money on it.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

I think the best story is my Dad's 1990 Pontiac Firefly hatchback (standard).

It had 392 000 km (243 500 miles) by the time he sold it in 2001, for $600 natch. I have no idea how he got that for it. Some people are crazy.

It had:

-2 completely different engines
-7 rebuilt engines
-replaced back hatch and some of the side doors
-replaced seats
-pretty much a shot rad that wasn't worth fixing, so it would overheat all the time. Therefore, the heat had to be on full-blast to dissipate it from the engine, which made it awesome in the summer
-replaced steering rod, which somehow led to a crooked steering wheel that he didn't bother fixing
-the locks didn't work from the outside, except the back hatch. So, you couldn't lock the doors unless you wanted to crawl in from the back. We didn't lock the doors
-I can't remember what it's called because I don't own a car and haven't worked on one in years, but you couldn't shift into first gear unless the car was completely stopped dead. Second was almost completely shot, and you had to jam the clutch right into the floor to get it to go. It was so touchy pretty much no one except me or Dad could drive it without stalling
-radio only worked if you could hit the dash as hard as you could in a certain spot, but of course only one speaker worked anyway


So yah. Dad did all his own mechanic work, so it was just like a personal challenge to him I think. He was just proud he bought it for 9k or something in '90, and drove everywhere for 11 years...especially since most of that was in Newfoundland, where the winters are incredibly hard on vehicles. I just remember coming back from work in the summer in Toronto, with 6 guys crammed in it, hanging out the windows because the heat was on full blast in 35 C weather and hoping it would make it up the hill in front of us....hahaha. What a great car.

greg

[ajprice]

I put my Skoda Fabia forward as having the lowest (in relation to its age, if you have a new car with 50 miles on it, well done but that doesn't count.) , It started its life in June 2003, I bought it with 4,500 miles 6 months ago, and it just went over 6,000 miles altogether.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Wait....1500 miles in 6 months?!

Dude, my parents put at least 30k on their vehicles a year. I think, for North America, that's pretty unimpressive.

greg

[ajprice]

Its my first car, I passed about 6 months ago. I work 6 miles away, so thats 60 miles a week, plus a few trips to go shopping etc. I just worked it out and it will be 6 months with the car at the end of this month, not 6 months now. I haven't really ventured out that much in it to be honest, but having a car beats getting the bus, any day. Especially now its dark and colder and getting towards winter.

[villalobos]

Originally Posted by I was David B.

my 92 ford has 140.000.

If you are looking for mileage, ask taxi drivers. They usually do more than 700.000, mostly with mercedes diesels. These machines are undestroyable.

i remember being in a Crown Victoria cab with 500k+ miles on it.... Was kinda surreal. The thing was not running gracefully anymore though.

[OldManMac]

In 1982, we bought a new diesel VW Rabbit. In 1990, we traded it in, with 245,000 miles on the odometer. It had no major engine or transmission work, and still had the original clutch.

In 1986, we bought a new diesel VW Golf, which we traded in 1989. It had 170,000 miles, with no major engine or trans work, and also still had the original clutch.

In 1989, we bought a VW Fox (gas), which I drove until 2000, at which time it had 195,000 miles. Same thing; no major work, despite having driven it more than once with only 1 quart of oil in the engine, once for 50 miles.

In 1990, we bought a Suzuki Swift (Geo Metro), which my ex drove for two years, for 150,000 miles; no major problems.

She bought another Swift in 1992, which she drove for three years, and 200,000 miles. No major problems.

She currently has a three year old Honda Civic, with 200,000 miles and no major problems, and a four year old Ford Ranger 4X4, with about 140,000 miles, which has not been maintenance free. It's had no major engine or trans work, but eats brakes, exhausts, etc.

I currently have a 1997 GrandAM, with 134,000 miles, which has been a POS, costing me over $3000 to keep running, in the second and third years I owned it (Ibought it used in 2000), and has been reliable, except for a battery replacement a few weeks ago, since then. Hopefully, I'll see 200,000 with this car, which should be in about 2 to 3 years.

[broxy5]

Some old guy working here at the airport has 878,000Kms (546,000 miles) on an old Ford Taurus. Not really the car one would expect to be a high miler. It drives like it has every one of those miles too.

My old 1981 Toyota p/u (2.2 diesel) had just over 500K kms when I bought it, and I put another 150K on it before it was retired because of rust.
My fave vehicle to date. It would get 1000kms to a tank. Just over 45 mpg.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton

Wait....1500 miles in 6 months?!

Dude, my parents put at least 30k on their vehicles a year. I think, for North America, that's pretty unimpressive.

greg

Still pretty unimpressive, I put on 60K a year

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Athens

Still pretty unimpressive, I put on 60K a year

That's about what I drive. 130 miles a day 5-7 days a week.

(130 m/d*6 days/week)52 weeks/year = 40560miles/year

40560 miles * 1.609344 kilometers/mile = ~65,275 k/year

[ajprice]

Umm, I said I the car had done 6000 miles in 2 1/2 years because I thought it would be one of the LOWEST mileages.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by Railroader

That's about what I drive. 130 miles a day 5-7 days a week.

(130 m/d*6 days/week)52 weeks/year = 40560miles/year

40560 miles * 1.609344 kilometers/mile = ~65,275 k/year

But its hard to compare our cars, mines almost 20 years old, your cars are always less then 5.

How far do u live from work? I do min 75KM a day just going to and from work alone.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by ajprice

Umm, I said I the car had done 6000 miles in 2 1/2 years because I thought it would be one of the LOWEST mileages.

My bad

[cenutrio]

Ok, regarding cars owned in my family:

Citroen CX 25 RD 465,000 km
Citroen BX 19 TRD 430,000 km
Citroen BX 19 RD 405,000 km

All of them diesel, 9-11 years old before sold. Very cheap maintenance.

Funny thing is that Citroens have a bad reliable publicity. Go figure.

[tooki]

I had a friend with a Honda Prelude (~1989) that was pushing 400,000 miles...

tooki

[andi*pandi]

I had a subaru that I think was at least up to 275k... possibly 292k. I remember being sad that it died before hitting 300.

my mother in law wins for least mileage... 2000 camry that I doubt is over 4k.

where are the volvo owners to say their cars are at 400k?

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

Actually, the older carbureted V12s (pre-1985?) found in the XJ12 sedans and XJS coupes required a lot of maintenance (six 2-barrels) - and they had Borg-Warner automatic transmissions that failed prematurely. That's what created the reputation of unreliability for Jaguar. The six cylinder models (XJ-6) were relatively trouble-free.

Once the fuel injected 'H.E.' V12s were released along with a General Motors TH400 automatic transmission, pretty much all the problems were solved. You could expect at least 150,000 miles before the drivetrain needed attention. The stigma of unreliability never went away - which helps make the 1985 and newer XJS and XJ12 some remarkable bargains. It's a wonderful way to experience a (reliable) fuel injected overhead cam aluminum alloy V12 grand touring machine for under $8,000. It gets more attention than cars costing ten times as much.

Buy one, you won't be sorry - and you won't lose any money on it.

If only that had been true in my experience - our two experiences couldn't be anymore more diametrically opposite. Back in the late 90s my dad and I got on a used Jaguar kick and at one point had three 1984-1986 Jaguars - a very pretty XJ6 sedan and two XJS. They were fine cars when they ran, but reliability was not an adjective I would use. The XJ6 got terrible mileage but was likely the most reliable of the three. The XJ6 also had an hilariously poor turning radius, which made proper U turns impossible. The XJS were joys to drive but would overheat even on cold days. What appeared from the gauges to be a small rise in temperature one night resulted in major engine damage. On the other XJS, the fuel injector was calibrated improperly by our British mechanic, causing a small explosion that totaled it - I suppose I'm lucky to be alive. The end of the odyssey came about when our white XJS utterly failed to smog; we had to sell it for a heartbreaking sum. In my experience the cars richly deserve the reputation they have garnered. The experience turned me off to moderately used cars in general.

[Bandit240]

1980 Datsun 210 wagon, 254,000 miles, no major work at all.
1989 Nissan 240SX, 245,000 miles, rebuilt motor and an auto to 5sp swap.

[Kevin Moon]

I have a 2001 Mercury Sable with 103,000 miles. So far this car has needed a new transmission and numerous little things. So far in the last year I think around 3,000 has been spent just to keep it moving. The engine has had no problems just been everything else going out.

[anti-sleep]

From my '94 Accord about six months ago.

[SeSawaya]

Chevy Cavaliers

90 had 230,000 with a warped head gassket ending its life
91 has 210,000and still going with never a penny put into it other than oil and tires (and brakes)

great little cheap cars. Best engine GM ever produced according to their engineers.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Athens

But its hard to compare our cars, mines almost 20 years old, your cars are always less then 5.

How far do u live from work? I do min 75KM a day just going to and from work alone.

I'm not disputing that. You said to someone else "Still pretty unimpressive, I put on 60K a year". I simply was letting you know I drive more just going back and for to work.

I live 65 miles (104.6 km) away from work. That's 130 miles (209.2 km) back and forth.

How do you put 60,000 km on your car if you are only driving 75 km back and forth to work. You must do a LOT of pleasure/errand driving. I didn't even include pleasure/errand driving

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by SeSawaya

Chevy Cavaliers

90 had 230,000 with a warped head gassket ending its life
91 has 210,000and still going with never a penny put into it other than oil and tires (and brakes)

great little cheap cars. Best engine GM ever produced according to their engineers.

The engineers I used to work with who designed and refined the Buick 3800 would vehemently disagree with you.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by Railroader

I'm not disputing that. You said to someone else "Still pretty unimpressive, I put on 60K a year". I simply was letting you know I drive more just going back and for to work.

I live 65 miles (104.6 km) away from work. That's 130 miles (209.2 km) back and forth.

How do you put 60,000 km on your car if you are only driving 75 km back and forth to work. You must do a LOT of pleasure/errand driving. I didn't even include pleasure/errand driving

I run a computer business as well, onsite computer repair. I live in Surrey, my suppliers are in Richmond, I work in Vancouver, my customers are scatterd in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, New Westminster, Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey and my moms and all my friends are in Coquitlam, so I do a lot of extra driving.

Man you live far from work, thats to and back is almost the same distance to Seattle from Vancouver

[PB2K]

my Alfa Romeo GT junior bertone 1975 only has 5 digits, I bought it on 00200, its now on 12.000

[I was David B.]

Originally Posted by villalobos

i remember being in a Crown Victoria cab with 500k+ miles on it.... Was kinda surreal. The thing was not running gracefully anymore though.

I first recognized that taxis run for a long time, when I took a cab in germany that looked like 20 years old. I asked the driver about the mileage and he told me it was close to 1,000,000 km. I was very astonished. It was a 2.5 litre Mercedes diesel without turbo (from the 80s).

I went on asking taxi drivers and found out that a VW Passat turbodiesel is only good for 300,000 km, whereas the e-type Benz, when they survive the initial electronic problems, also runs forever (no numbers, because none of them has broken down so far ;o).

The trick is to keep the engine warm. I read about a test in Bremen, where the city busses are connected to a warm water circulation during the night. This keeps the temperature of the engine around 60 C and increases the operating life to astronomical values of 1,200,000 km average.

[IFLY2HIGH]

Most diesel's will almost always outlast a gasoline engine. Really hard to compare milage. Find some tractor trailer driver and ask, I bet those will be some of the higest milage engines around and most will run 24/7, pulling very heavy loads.

[SuvsareRetarded]

My wife's car has 225,700 some miles. Doesn't burn any oil between changes. Fantastic little car!

[teknopimp]

i've seen a toyota with over 400k miles on it.

[Kilopapa46]

Hey, nayr x, fraid ur girlfriend isn't even close. There's a guy in New York with 2.2 Million miles on his Volve P1800. My daughter just turned 500,000 kilometres on her lil 83 civic even and hopes to log more. That's about 310,000 miles. I've even got a Plymouth Minivan with over 350000mi on it. my boys just stuck another engine in it but the old one was still running just usin oil. I also just read about a fella with a 1990 pontiac firefly with over 500000 K on it and he's just left for Mexico from up here in Canada. 350000 miles is accessable from almost any car today if taken care of especially if they are mostly hiway miles. Tell her to keep tryin though, maybe she can beat the volvo P1800 eventually but I doubt it.

[Doc Juansinn]

Another near-year old thread dug up.

[Athens]

Well since its been dug up, I'll just update it, my current prelude now has 303 000km on it and still doing very well. A Jeep I had for a bit had 450 000km on it before some idiot crashed into it and made it a right off even though you couldnt even tell it was hit.

[baw]

The brake line burst on my Ranger. Bought a F-150 to take its place.

[iranfromthezoo]

a old 79 ranger (f100) with 654,325 miles on it...orignal engine and tranny...it is a 460 engine and still runs pretty smooth...

it runs off of butane so that could be a reason.

[faragbre967]

My '84 SAAB 900 says it has 272,000 mi, but the odometer only works around half the time, so I'm thinking it's closer to 325,000 mi.

[Buckaroo]

Well, my 89 Ford Aerostar is upto 388,000 miles.