My car just rolled over 100,000 miles.

[crispini]

I have a 1998 VW Cabrio convertible. I've never had any problem with it. I had to get a timing belt and brakes, and that's it. 100,000 miles and the clutch (it's a manual) is still OK, woohoo! :woohoo: Apparently I'm a very gentle driver. I have always owned it and I've been pretty good with the service. I take it to the dealer because I don't want the hassle of looking for an independent mechanic. The dealer's always been good to me, and it's worth the little bit extra knowing that they will do the job right. Anyway, at what point should I start saving for a new one? Can I make this little guy last another 5 years at least? How old is your car?

[GOPisEvil]

1. I've got a '94 Infiniti (in which you have ridden). It's got almost 120k.

I just spent $1700 (!!!) on a variety of minor repairs. I think I can get to 200k easily!

[crispini]

3. I'd like to get to 200k.

The card was paid for long ago and so even a couple of thousand on repairs a year is cheaper than new! :bounce:

[GOPisEvil]

5. The service guy told me that the particular engine I have is stout!

He said he used to race them, and never broke one. He said to keep fresh oil in it (which I do) and it should last forever. I figure the car will fall apart around the engine, although the car is solidly built!

[LeftyMom]

2. I have a '97 Saturn with 130K miles.

I hope to get another 5 years or so out of it, and I don't think that's unreasonable since I see many older Saturns on the road and mine's never had a real problem.

I bought it two years ago at 104 K miles.

edit: When it finally gives up I want a minivan. I'm hoping it lasts long enough to allow me to save up for a nice one.

[crispini]

4. I want a hybrid.

Hopefully by the time I am ready for one they will have a nice variety of reliable gas-sippers to choose from! :)

[LeftyMom]

7. Toyota makes a hybrid van I want really bad

They don't sell it in the US yet, but maybe if my Saturn lasts closer to ten years I can get one when it's time. Of course by then it'll be about time to buy LK a car, so I won't really need a van. :(

[crispini]

8. Yep, you'll be downzising.

But check out the Mazda5



27mpg hwy / 22 city. And very cool looking!

[LeftyMom]

10. That's the one that seats six, right?

I was drooling all over it at Costco a while back if it is. I hear the rear AC sucks though and it's hot as hell here so that wouldn't go over well.

[crispini]

11. yep, seats 6. and cuuuuute.

too bad about the AC :(

[LeftyMom]

12. Hopefully they'll fix that.

I could see myself getting a used one in a few years if that issue's resolved. The milage would only be a small downgrade and I'd pick up two passenger positions. (As a practical matter, my car only seats four. The rear center position isn't safe or comfortable.)

[driver8]

6. My wife had a 1993 Saturn before we got married. The car had

130,000 miles on it and ran like a champ. We had it all paid off years ago. I got it all tuned up, new tires and it ran great. I was going to drive that car for another three of four years. We had it parked on the street, some asshole ran into it, totalled it, and took off.

I know it's only a car, but my wife and I were so sad...we loved that car.

[crispini]

9. Yeah, my favorite kind of car is PAID FOR.

I don't understand these people who get new cars all the time and always have a car note. WTF is that?

[Crazy Dave]

14. Even though I make enough to buy a new vehicle every year.....

I don't. I only buy one when I need one, literally, "when the wheels fall off" or it becomes too unreliable to be safe. Like with my stepdaughter off in college, my wife and I didn't want her broken down in the middle of the night somewhere, therefore justification for a new car.

I also bring a lunch to work everyday. Saves me about $200 a month.

The vehicle I drive currently, a 1998 Toyota Camry w/96,000 miles

[driver8]

16. I've got a 2000 Camry w/ 70,000 miles on it. It's a great car and

I will drive it until it dies.

[wildeyed]

25. Bringing a lunch, in addition to being frugal, is usually healthier,

plus it saves time. A big restaurant meal everyday is a lot of calories and time.

[wildeyed]

24. I got rear ended lightly in my old Nissan Sentra.

The damage was not extensive, but because the car was old and had so many miles, it had a low Blue Book value. I had to beg the adjuster not to total it. Where was I going to find a car half so reliable that I could afford? I got it repaired with salvaged parts, which allowed me to keep the car :) Drove it for another 5 years.

[rustydog]

13. .. just rolled over 100,000 miles, boy am I dizzy!

[CanuckAmok]

15. A friend of mine has a '97 Jetta VR6 with about 170,000 miles on it.

It's all in how well you maintain them. Your car has lots of life left. Just be sure to have the timing components changed, if you haven't already.

[Maestro]

17. My Dodge Dakota just did so as well.

Same clutch too!

[CC]

18. Cars and miles, if you take care of them they can

go a lot longer than most think. We bought a 1982 Nissan B810 from my mom in 1986 with 175,000 miles on it. In 1989 we sold it to a friend very cheap, had 279,000 miles on it. He still has it and has passed 750,000 mile mark. It is his rack the miles up car going to and from work. It had it regular maintenance and one valve job around 500,000 miles. We bought a Nissan Pathfinder in 1989, it is still running very well with 248,000 miles. Giving it to a friend now after buying a 2001 Xterra in 2001. If she keeps it up figure it will keep going. Soon as we buy a new car we figure out what payments would be and put that into the next car savings account so we never have a car payment, though it has come in handy for emergencies. You may have a long while to save for the replacement yet. BTW the Xterra just hit 25,000 miles last week. I have tried very hard to keep the driving down. The DH did get an F150 since we need a truck to haul wood etc. It is 1.5 years old now and just hit the 5,000 miles mark. We debated on smaller but when you drive to work on Sunday, and then drive it home from work on Thursday we figure we are using a lot less gas than the average person. And he really does need the bed when hauling stuff.

[Gold Metal Flake]

19. Don't worry about mileage in that car.

In VWs, it's mainly frequency of part failure that signals when to look for a replacement.

I have a 82 Rabbit pickup with over 200K. No way to know for sure what the mileage is because I bought it used and the odometer, like most A1 Rabbits, was broken.

All of my cars are old, but I do my own repairs. For you, have that timing belt replaced every 80K. You already get regular service, which is important. After a while, you may have to replace the front struts, rear shocks, CV joints, clutch, water pump and wheel bearings. These are common high-mileage failure parts. But, if they are not giving you any trouble, don't worry.

On high mileage cars, switches will eventually give problems. Turn signal, headlights, wipers. Not a big deal, just be aware.

Rust is a concern. Take care of rust as it appears.

Keep that car. You could be driving it not just in 200K miles, but 300K, 400K, who knows?

[crispini]

28. Thanks! Very good advice.

[Shine]

20. Hi Crispini!

We've got a '96 Ford Explorer (I know, not very PC, but oh well...). It's got over 128,000 miles on it! It's been paid off for over 5 yrs. My hubby's car will finally be paid off in about two months. I'd absolutely LOVE to have a couple of years with NO car pymts before we have to get another car...We're very good about regular maintenance, like you. Makes a big difference towards the longevity, doesn't it?
:hi:

[crispini]

29. Hi Shine!

:hi: Yes, it's nice to have no car payments, indeed!

[leftofthedial]

21. I told you you should have left your parking brake on.

that's some hill!

[snacker]

22. My father-in-law has 270,000 + on his car....

he just traded it in.

[Rabrrrrrr]

23. Must have had a hell of a head of steam to roll that far!

I think I'd :puke: after an accident like that.



In seriousness, for new cars, especially a VW, you probably got 250,000 in that one.

[wildeyed]

26. We have a Subaru Impreza that has over 100K.

But with Subarus 100K is just the warm up. I inherited a Chrysler minivan from the in-laws, so can't complain about a free vehicle. It only has 75K, even though it is pretty old. The in-laws are retired, so no commute, which kept the miles down. Both run great. I see no reason to replace either one. It is nice not to have a car payment, too.

[RevCheesehead]

27. Hi, Crispi.

I copycatted you (and CA Peggy)!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=4557929&mesg_id=4557929

[tjdee]

30. I have 114K on a minivan and I hate every day I drive in the POS, LOL.

Just got an oil change and they "can't find anything wrong" with it, but it makes a weird creaky sound when I come to a stop or start moving again. Granted it's an old bag, LOL, but I always expect it to do something horrible, like a wheel to come off or something to pop off, it's so old (1997) and has so many miles on it. Plus, I bought it used so I can't vouch for the previous owners.

I'm looking forward to owning a program car by next year. I use my car for work and I can't be worrying about it all the time like I am, and I actually avoid going places on weekends and such, which can't be good.

[fudge stripe cookays]

31. Sweetie, you know I love you, but....

gentle?

You do remember my expression of abject terror, and my white knuckles clutching the dashboard, right?

:P