High-mileage Club - Stories wanted

Despite that many car owners trade in their vehicles every few years, modern cars have the potential to drive over 100,000, 150,000, and even 200,000 miles with the right care and maintenance. In fact, as we analyze our recent Annual Questionnaire data, we have found thousands of Consumer Reports subscribers have entered the 200,000-mile club and we'd like to help others join the ranks.

While few vehicles see more than two million miles, like Irv Gordon's record-setting 1966 Volvo P1800 (shown here), many motorists have driven considerable distance. If you, or someone you know, has put more than 200,000 miles on a vehicle as the original owner, please visit the Consumer Reports Cars forums to share your experiences and tips in the 200,000-mile Club discussion. Be sure to include the car's year, make, model, and the state in which you live. We may want to contact those owners with the best stories and advice for a future report.

And for those who want to get the most from their car, new or old, click over to the forums to read the latest posts.

--Jeff Bartlett

Comments

[Justin]

I have a sports car a 1994 nissan 300zx thats pushing 232,000 miles and still running like a dream
and is a beautiful car too, some paint problems but used spray touch up paint and you can't even tell it. Injectors are pretty common to go out on these sweet rides and i was a victim, but its not a problem now. One more timing belt change and I think I can get over 300 and it really earn its name as a 300,000 zx.

[Paul W]

I've had two cars that ran over 200,000. Still drive one. 1997 Nissan Pathfinder 225,000 and still going strong. Body is getting a little rusty. Sold a 1989 VW GLI with 265,000 miles when I bought the Pathfinder. My wife also had a 1997 VW GLX with 196,000. That was a great car although a little expensive to maintain.

[Robert Wallace]

I purchased a 2000 Nissan sentra with 19 miles on the odometer. This car has 350,274 miles, still gets 36-37mpg! This car has been so great that it is easier to list the non tune-up parts that ave been replaced. The automatic trans was replaced at 290,200 miles. Alternator, two front axles (boot damage), a/c condenser core (road debris damage), and a thermostat. This baby still has the original cooling hoses. Best car I ever had--period.

[Hal T]

I purchased a brand new 1984 Toyota Tercel station wagon in October of 1983. I still own it. It has approximately 305,000 miles on it. It has had one (manual) transmission replacement, two clutch replacements, 3 radiator replacements (one because of a collision). Still the original engine. And it still gets more than 30 miles per gallon. It has been a great car. I'm a geezer now, so I also have a 2005 Toyota Highlander.

[Patty Bondurant]

I have a 1993 Toyota Camry with over 292,000 miles -- love this car and in another year, I will be giving it to my daughter who will turn 16! Probably will be the end of it then ( ha ha).

[kathy gragnolati]

1995 NISSAN PATHFINDER - "The last year they were made with the tire on the back!" It's been the best vehicle I have ever owned - no problems other than 2 alternators (but one was defective the mechanic said) and my AC just quit on me - I haven't even brought it in yet to have it checked out - so I don't know if it just needs to be recharged or something more. Other than that, regular 3-mo oil changes, tire rotation, fluid levels checked, air pressure adjusted in tires....that's it! I plan on driving it as long as it will run which I hope will be many years to come - I just love it. I'm sure I will stay with Nissans after this rewarding ownership experience!!

[Jon Flemming]

I've always been a car nut. From my fist MG through more than 35 cars. My worst car 1969XKE 2plus2 Coupe. We have 6 cars in my family now. 2000 saab 95T 150,000 miles, 2001 saab 95 wagon 145,000 miles on it, Jetta 2002 140,000 miles, 2000 MB wagon 110,000 miles, 2000 BMW 3 series wagon 78,000 miles and a 1998 slk230 135,000 miles this car has cost me the least amount on repairs. I run Mobile one in the BMW, E320 Wagon and the SLK230. Other cars with high repair ploblems a 1969 corvett it was new and a 1976 vett, 45 time in the shop for that one. The car I drove to the most miles 1998 volvo wagon from new to 250,000 mile and it just keep on going. Also a Mazda B2000 pick up truck, ran that for 265,000 miles and gave it away. What I would love to drive a can't afford 4 kids poor.

[jr]

2001 nissan frontier crew cab 340,000 miles.only main item replaced was a transmission at 225,000.bought this truck brand new.cannot beat the nissans.

[High School Student]

Nissan Maxima 99, just hit the 300,000 km mark. First owner was my dad who purchased it new. in its time it was winning car of the year, engine of the year like 10 years straight. Used for countless trips (toronto to Montreal/Buffalo) only in the family for 9 years. Dad maintained it like a jewel and sold it to me after buying himself a diesel benz (set to last another 10+ years). Replaced ingnition coils myself and now runs prime once again. Im now a maxima enthusiast and am definately looking into a newer maxima for my next car in the future. This kind of reliability is hard to come by.

[Louie]

We have a 98 tacoma xtra cab 4cyl stick we bought new and now has 425k on it ac works looks great we have resurfaced the head once changed the clutch once. I am now in the process of changing out the Rear axle assembly which broke last week wierd but scary. It is a nursery truck so it has a high box mounted on the bed and 80% of those miles are carrying a heavy load. Mostly southern cal freeways. We also bought a Nissan Frontier at the same time and we made bets which on would last longer, The Nissan Has needed 2nd gear replacement, A/C does not work and one clutch it has logged on 329k miles and it still runs strong too. But our drivers always prefer to take the Tacoma first and so it has logged on 100k miles more in the same time. The interior needs to be redone on both trucks but outside they still look nice and Shiny!!

[rose]

I have a 1972 Buick Skylark with over 300,000 miles on it.
It runs good, still. But I've restored 90 % of it... I used to drive it every day, but it's a classic now so it only goes out in nice weather these days.

I also have a Saturn SC2 for regular driving.

[Rick]

I have a Nissan Altima with 175,000 miles. I was thinking about getting rid of it sometime early 2010. I had to replace the ignition coil, a/c, and driver side window motor 3 times. This is my second car that I use mostly to drive to work. I have a GMC Envoy with 33,000 miles. I am very fond of my Altima since I bought it in March 2000. My GMC truck is nice but the interior is pretty basic. I might buy a Maxima or Benz in 2013.

[Stefan]

I used to have a 1997 BMW 528i. it had 285,000 Miles! I bought the car in 2002 with 180,000miles. Unfortunatly I was driving to work a couple months ago and totaled it on an intersection. It could have driven 300,000 miles plus with no problem.

[joe neisler]

I HAVE A TOYOTA TUNDRA 2000 MODEL WITH 349,000 MILES AND STILL RUNNING STRONG 1 TIMING BELT SPARK PLUGS AND OIL CHANGES ARE THE ONLY MAINTINENCE ON TRUNK AND TRANSMITION NEVER HAS BEN TOUCHED BOT EVEN A FLUID CHANGE NOW THATS O TOYOTA THEY BUILD THEM TOO WELL SO I JUST KEEP DRIVING

[Russell Smith]

Sold a one-(family)-owner 1990 Suburban with 295k miles a couple of years ago. Fantastic truck, was passed down to me from my parents (original owners) sometime right around the turn of the century. Tranny went out around 200k, rear end and axle had to be replaced at 220k, and the window motors went out. My parents replaced the alternator sometime around 160k and I put in a new fuel pump at 250k, but other than that it was just regular maintenance.

Iurrently drive a 2003 GMC half-ton pickup with 127k. Only thing to go out so far was the speedometer, which was a factory recall. Good luck other than that. I change the oil every 5k miles, the transmission fluid every 30k, and keep running it. Even has the factory brake pads still on it.

[Nick Ellingson]

1999 Toyota Tacoma Extended Cab Pickup- My dad gave it to me as a wedding present with 128,500 on the Odometer. I now have over 201,000 miles and it is still on the original clutch,with the only work done to it is a new battery and new water pump. Truck still pulls its weight in gold with 20 MPG or better in the city and 30 MPG or better on the highway. Can't beat a A Toyota for reliability or fuel efficiency.

[Michelle]

Had a 1984 Toyota Celica with over 225,000 miles that I stopped driving in 2002 when I my uncle gave me his 1990 Toyota Corolla. The Corolla is still on the road today and has just passed the 300,000 mile mark. It isn't pretty and it runs a little rough, but it still gets my husband back and forth to work every day.

[Pete]

my 2001 toyota tundra has 230 thousand miles on it and i think its finally starting to die..

[Steve Barry]

I bought a new 1997 Ford Ranger pickup on 01/07/1997. At the time I was commuting 150 miles a day. That commute ended in may of 03 and the truck had 314,000 on it. It has over 344,000 thousand today. It still has the original battery and exhaust. I have done 113 oil changes,redone the brakes 4 times, put five sets of tires on it. It has never failed me ever. I am just now doing a valve job on it and hoping for another 300,00 miles.

[peter]

My 1994 Camry has done 310 K and is still going strongly.It's kept outside so the roof paint is fading and the interior lining has dropped but it has never failed to start or get us to our destination. I think it will easily get to 400K. It is still a pleaaure to drive.

[E.B. of Northern Virginia]

My extended family has only owned Toyotas for about 20 years (although my mom and my oldest brother have now moved up to Lexuses). Only one out of the dozens we've owned has been purchased new (a 1999 Sienna that's still running fine). The rest have been purchased with relatively high miles, then driven and driven and driven. The highest mileage was in the 300,000s, although we all regularly have driven Toyotas with 200,000-plus miles. We're especially fond of the Previas -- one we owned had 259,000 miles before it was donated to a nonprofit, and they continued to drive it for a few years before it gave up the ghost. The only problem with the Previas was the A/C, which was too costly to fix.
It's interesting that people think that regular oil changes are the key to longevity. I would agree, but if you ask one of my brothers -- who's owned many high-mileage Toyotas over the years -- he'll tell you he doesn't "believe in" changing oil. He just adds when necessary. And he's had as much success with his Toyotas as the rest of us, who change oil religiously, have had.

[Doug]

Every one laughed at me at work when i told themI just bought a 1988 chevy silverado 1500 short bed 4x4 5.7L 350.

It gets 19 miles to the gallon every thing works with no accidents or rust issues next to nothing anywhere! and two small dents. It is a GM peeler hood ,roof, tops of fenders. purchased from the original owners son with 389,749 miles on the odometer.
It runs great and has an oil change book a 1/2 inch thick with every thing written in it from day one.(oil, brakes , air filter ect.) is this unheard of or what? Yes I've got pictures

[Ted Eaves]

I bought a 1972 Ford Van Econoline. It had 117K on it at the time I bought it. Worked with it and gave it to a friend with 209K on it. Saw him often and always asked about the miles on it and He had tripped it twice before parking it. That would be 400K + miles. He was looking for a good body to put the engine and Transmission in it. I put Cluch and Master Brake cyl on it during my owner ship time. He said he never did anything but replace the fuel pump and line the brakes. My son currently owns a F-150 with 230K+ miles on it and pulls a camper with it.
He and I both have had Ford Rangers that broke 200K miles. Foreign products are not the best...

[Bob Ellison]

I drive a 1999 Toyota Tacoma with a little 4 cyl in it. It just turned over 400,000 miles. I know it has another 100k in it and would drive it cross country if the need arose. My fiance is the original owner and we both love it.

[Gary O'Connell]

I have a 1993 chevy pickup with 388,000 miles and is still running.