The 20 Cars Most Likely To Last 200,000 Miles

Bi ^ | 10-3-2014

[blam]

Alex Davies
October 3, 2014

If you're going to buy a new or used car, it's good to know that it's not going to break down after a few thousand miles. Even better is knowing that it'll have a good shot at crossing the 200,000 mile mark.

To find the vehicles mostly likely to reach that milestone, iSeeCars, which helps shoppers find good deals on used cars, analyzed listings for 30 million used vehicles from the past year.

Turns out that if you want to go the distance, your best choice is the Ford F-250, followed by the Chevy Silverado 2500HD. If you want an SUV that will hit 200,000 miles, take the Chevy Suburban. For a regular car, take the Honda Accord.

The trucks on the list are pretty big. So it's worth noting that there's a trend in the auto industry toward crafting pickups that are lighter in weight. Does that mean these trucks won't last as long, as aluminum replaces steel in their construction? That remains to be seen. But the bottom line right now is that when it comes to vehicles, a big old heavy truck is where you should go.

Obviously, there are some practicality issues to deal with. Not everybody needs a Ford F-250, a truck designed to absorb some punishment and do things like haul around large boats.

The iSeeCars data shows what percentage of each kind of car has 200,000 miles or more on the odometer, by model. So the chart below shows that 4.2% of Ford F-250 Super Duty trucks listed for sale have already driven more than 200,000 miles.

Here are the top 20 longest-lasting vehicles:

(snip)

[donozark]

Looks like the “strawberry milkshake” certain models of Nissan known for, is preventing them from achieving 200K miles. Except for Maxima.

[Nervous Tick]

>> They sucked when they were new, they sucked when they were on the road, and what is left of them is STILL sucking as it rots away in junk yards

lol

[al_c]

Any car can last that long if you take proper care of it. I hit 250K in an ‘88 Honda Accord before getting rid of it. 175k in a ‘97 Olds Cutlass before getting my current car … which I plan on keeping just as long as the previous ones.

Both of those cars, while having normal high mile issues, were running just fine when I was done with them. The Honda had a busted A/C hose and the Olds was just at the very beginning of transmission issues. Could’ve fixed both, but decided it was time for something new instead. Traded in the Honda in 2002 for a Trailblazer and the Olds in 2011 for a Mazda 6.

[CrazyIvan]

“My first car was a 1991 Dodge Shadow. It had over 262K before I finally got rid of it.”

I’ll bet you replaced the head gasket tho!

[laplata]

Toyota Tercel can do 300,000

---

Yes, my 1991 Tercel had over 236,000 on it when I got rid of it and the new buyer promised to keep me informed when it reaches 300,000.

[longfellow]

My Honda civic had 167,000.

[WayneS]

Although I have owned several Saab 900s (original generation) which made it well over 200,000 miles; usually with few problems.

My record was a 1984 900 turbo which had 385,000 miles on it when it died an ignominious death at the hands of a deer and a copse of trees while being driven by my daughter’s boyfriend.

Over its life, that car required nothing but normal consumable maintenance items, apart from a replacement turbocharger at 325,000 miles. My dream of getting a half-million miles out of that car died against a maple tree in Culpeper County, Virginia, in 2002.

[cornelis]

The 95-96 Camry is not on the list. Tells me the list is selective. My guess is that it’s tipped in favor of GM.

[fulltlt]

"My boyfriend has three 2000-2002 Chevy Cavaliers, two of which he’s already taken well past 200K. I believe one is approaching 250K."

Marry him asap. He knows how to fix things and keep them going.

[WayneS]

Any car but a 70s vintage Fiat, right?

;-)

[norwaypinesavage]

Interesting. Once you take out the US companies, the Japanese ones are on top.

[vette6387]

“I have driven 4 2500HD Silverado’s 250,000 plus without a single repair other than brakes and tires..., working on 2 more right now, one has 70k the other is new.”

We’re on our second Chevrolet Avalanche (really just a Surburban with a different back half). The first one, a 2003, went nearly 200,000 miles including pulling and Airstream trailer for us. When we advetised it for sale, we immediately had a half dozen offers and people bid on it to get it. Bought the new 2013 last fall simply because the model was going out of production and we like the configuration. The common thread between all the Chevrolets and GMCs is the Chevrolet LS engine. It is simply bulletproof! The GM automatic transmission is a good piece too.I guess it’s also possible that the 2500’s are running the Duramax diesel, which is also bulletproof. The only time the 2003 had to go in for service was for a 4WD shift encoder at about 130,000 miles.

[-YYZ-]

I think my ‘04 Honda Accord was a lemon, relatively speaking. At about 170,000 miles, when I sold it, it had a CEL and code which indicated that most likely it was going to need valvetrain work - probably a new chain and sprockets at the least. It also used a quart of oil every 1,500 miles or so, starting from when I’m not sure - I had (lazily) gotten out of the habit of checking oil levels because my previous Nissans had spoiled me by using hardly a drop between changes. Nissan builds really tough engines. Anyway, too bad about the Accord, because otherwise it was in excellent shape.

I think the large pickups and SUVs have another factor in play - these things actually have utility, and people are often willing to put money into them to keep them going. Older cars aren’t so desirable - the people who can afford to fix them want newer cars, and the people who end up with those older cars often don’t have the money for major repairs (transmissions, major engine work), or it’s just not economical for a vehicle that’s not worth much anymore.

I also find that small engines with automatic transmissions tend to burn out relatively young, because they spend so much time turning higher rpms. It’s not as bad with manual transmissions where you have more control over rpms.

[bert]

My diesel uses synthetic oil.

A sample can be drawn and sent to Blackstone labs. They will test and return a report listing any contaminants and the need to replace the oil. I get a report annually but for a fleet tests can be requested at shorter intervals.

That is, like my doctor running the numbers on my cholesterol, A1c and PSA a pretty good dose of number running on the engine can predicate treatment.

[Scrambler Bob]

Apart from rear brake lines that mysteriously rusted away —

Does the highway dept use Magnesium Chloride to melt snow on the highways?

It is nasty, corrosive.

[LostInBayport]

Dare I ask...what is the “strawberry milkshake”?

[Slump Tester]

My 98 s-10 has 90,000 on it and is running great. I expect it to rust away before the engine pukes. (And that’s a long ways off yet)

[SZonian]

I have heard similar from owners of other makes as well...I was just noting the lack of these makes on the list.

Didn’t make much sense to me...doesn’t matter what percentage of the market a brand is, if that brand can consistently get you beyond 200k, then it should be listed.

For the record, 2005 Honda CRV (bought new) is over 200k and 2005 F150 (bought used) is at 106k and both have not exhibited any major problems beyond normal wear and tear.

[Sans-Culotte]

My 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac has about 115,000 miles now. In any case, I will never buy a G(overnment) M(otors) vehicle.

[T-Bird45]

It's been my many years of experience that Japanese cars will get you to 200,000 far cheaper than American cars.

QFT - my Japanese vehicle experience started with a 1994 Isuzu Trooper that went to 2007 with 270,000 miles on it. The wife insisted I sell it when I changed jobs and was going to have a long commute twice a week. Bought a lightly used 2006 Nissan XTerra that now has 171,000 on it that's only had normal maintenance and is now a bit of garage queen/weekender as the price of gas sent me into a new 2014 Toyota Corolla S last year. I'm getting an average mileage of 35mpg with the Corolla and loving it.

The wife's last two SUVs have been a Toyota Highlander and a Nissan Murano. She gets nervous when the clock rolls over 100,000 miles but I think she's coming around to my way of thinking on getting extended vehicle life beyond what our parents experienced. One thing's for certain and that is I'm unlikely to return to an "American" brand. The last one was a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee that you couldn't keep brake rotors on. Dumped it for the Highlander and haven't looked back.