97 4Runner wi 255,000mi... good to go
Posted on 07/29/2015 4:32:38 AM PDT by Olog-hai
In the age of Apple’s CarPlay, a lot of cars on the road still have tape decks.
The average vehicle in the U.S. is now a record 11.5 years old, according to consulting firm IHS Automotive, a sign of the increased reliability of today’s vehicles and the lingering impact of the sharp drop in new car sales during the recession.
Drivers behind the wheel of older cars aren’t enjoying some of the latest advanced safety features or infotainment systems that effectively turn cars into cellphones on wheels. Then again, they don’t have to worry about hackers finding their way in to the car’s computer network through the cassette or CD player.
IHS said U.S. registrations grew to a record 257.9 million cars and trucks, up 2 percent from a year earlier. …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
People can’t afford the new models, which are mostly made out of plastic anyway.
The government has a solution for cars lasting longer. It’s called gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol.
It has its share of nuisance issues. The A/C compressor blew up years ago and spewed charcoal through the system. The driver’s window motor failed last year.
I replaced my own belts and brakes though.
97 4Runner wi 255,000mi... good to go
‘97 Ranger, same thing with about 260,000 miles on it.
I just had the AC system refurbished for $1,100. I figure that’s 2-3 months payments and insurance on a new truck, so I’m ahead of the curve.
I’m currently trying to figure out why it keeps setting and clearing a P0200 (injector control circuit malfunction). It did this once before, and it was a broken wire in the control circuit, but I can’t find any evidence of that now. I may have to break down and send it to the shop. They have a lot better diagnostic equipment than I do.
My 2000 Toyota Tacoma runs like a top. Best vehicle I ever owned. My wife is a Toyota engineer so we’re a little biased. She almost gave up on me when she saw on her first date with me that I drove a Saab...
The last decade has forced many Americans, including myself, to accept the REALITY of vehicle economics.
For a good number of Americans, their vehicles are making them POOR.
I no longer take any form of pride in driving a new vehicle/debt off the lot. My wife’s 2000 Mitsubishi and my 2003 Acura run fine, and a couple hundred $ worth of annual maintenance, tires, etc. actually feels like a money-maker compared to the alternative.
Another indication of the consequences of the US following Castro’s example instead of continuing to do whats worked for 250 years.
2005 Mercury Montego here. Closing in on 120K miles, and the most I’ve done is change the spark plugs, keep the filters clean, and change the tires when they need it. Otherwise, she’s been a reliable vehicle and pretty good on gas considering it’s a V6.
Makes sense when you look at home ownership at lowest level since 1965 and labor force participation rate at lowest level since 1975.
Hard to afford a new car or a home when you have no job.
And yet the economy is booming. Unemployment is at 5%.
Amazing stuff.
Great heater, warm? Roll the window down. 5 digit odometer. Either 170,000 or 270,000. Not pretty, very economical, very reliable. I have replaced most of the suspension to make safe. Rides like a truck.
Still driving my 1994 Geo-Tracker with 150,000 miles.
Bought it used and primarily for the “everlasting” Suzuki engine/tranny combo.
I guess I’m about to be part of the problem since I have a 2006 Nissan XTerra with 176,000 miles. It was a daily driver until 2 years ago when I bought a brand new Toyota Corolla Sport to decrease my fuel costs. The XTerra is now a weekend-only vehicle for pulling my utility trailer to the Home Depot for materials and pulling a small RV for camping trips. It’s definitely going to be part of the statistics for some time to come.
:: I wonder what the average vehicle age is in Cuba ::
Which part? Factoring the age of the home-metalshop fabrications might get the entire vehicle close to that 11.5.
:-)
Quick! We need a new “Cash For Clunkers.”
My car property taxes went from $500/yr to $5.85/yr.
Gets great gas mileage, even has AC, and plays cassette tapes [heh]. I won't be getting any speeding tickets.
I do miss my heated seats, super disk brakes and infrared windshield wipers, though.
People stop me all the time to *talk* about their wagon, they once had. I'm thinking of charging people who want to take a selfie with my wagon. [It's named the *Ronnie Raygun* b/c Reagan was still prez in 1988]
B/c it's an *antique* by DMV standards, it doesn't have to go through emissions testing [another tax scam, in CT]
Right now, when that day comes, sorry Detroit but I want/need good reliability. Every Ford, Chevy, and Dodge I have owned since 1979 has had major issues. Even the current truck had a catastrophic engine failure requiring nearly a complete top-end rebuild, thankfully under warranty. Oddly enough, when it was towed to the dealership there were already three other trucks/SUVs in line ahead of it with the same engine failure. OTOH, every Japanese or German car we've had has performed admirably basically needing nothing but gas, oil changes, and tires well past 100K miles.
So yeah, in a couple of years I'll be trading in an 11 year old car. Right in line with the averages I guess.
01 Ranger here, 4wd, 4.0 liter 5 speed manual ... 136 K miles.
I’m driving it to 200 K miles or more. Detailing her today. She shines like new and takes me everywhere I need to go. Great in the snow and ice.
Permanent tags and no payments. Love that truck!
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