You can buy one car new today and run it for 500,000 miles
Discussion
When I was looking for a sports car that I planned to keep I had reliability/longevity as one of my key factors as I intend to hold onto it for many years to come. In the end I got a Nissan 370z as they are (certainly post 2013 facelift) well put together and reliable. My thinking was a small(ish), car with a big relatively unstressed engine (330bhp from 3.7 litres) that whilst not light is at 1500kg not overly heavy. Not too much in the way of complex electrics - at least nothing that would impair your ability to proceed. They have no major failure points and there are loads in the US that have done over 200k miles with no problems. The highest mileage one I have seen had several years ago done over 350k miles so with regular servicing probably as good as anything else. Service it you will as they need an oil change every 9000 miles, which is likely one of the reasons they do the miles. Not available new anymore though as they stopped in 2021...
For a normal run of the mill car I suspect a Toyota Prius would be a good bet. I have been in several that have done over 500k km if not miles.
For a normal run of the mill car I suspect a Toyota Prius would be a good bet. I have been in several that have done over 500k km if not miles.
If you look how motoring has changed over the last 15 or 20 years, I really don't think you can plan that far ahead.
IC cars could be a joke well before then.
Today's EVs and hybrids will be several generations oboslete and their batteries will mostly have died.
I won't be surprised to see cab firms sweat 500k miles from hybrids they run 24/7.
While the 'cockroach cars' have more survivors than most, I think if you could actually drill down into the data, the vast majority of nearly all models are long gone at 15 years. You still see 52 plate Micras, but it's an event now and you notice, whereas ten years ago there was one under every streetlamp.
Likewise not many cars survive a combination of ten years and high mileage.
An awful lot of older cars are owned by older people who don't do many miles.
Plus today's cars are more heavily loaded with tech. In ten years' time, today's new car will be like owning a ten year old Android phone that's been left out in the rain.
IC cars could be a joke well before then.
Today's EVs and hybrids will be several generations oboslete and their batteries will mostly have died.
I won't be surprised to see cab firms sweat 500k miles from hybrids they run 24/7.
While the 'cockroach cars' have more survivors than most, I think if you could actually drill down into the data, the vast majority of nearly all models are long gone at 15 years. You still see 52 plate Micras, but it's an event now and you notice, whereas ten years ago there was one under every streetlamp.
Likewise not many cars survive a combination of ten years and high mileage.
An awful lot of older cars are owned by older people who don't do many miles.
Plus today's cars are more heavily loaded with tech. In ten years' time, today's new car will be like owning a ten year old Android phone that's been left out in the rain.
If motorway most cars will do that with good servicing and frequent oil changes. Rust will be the problem not the engine. If you are prepared to change some parts that are not normally consumables. 500k not sure but certainly 200-300 are easily achievable… desirable it’s another story…
Since you made no mention of fuel economy: Ford Mustang 5.0. Normally aspirated petrol, available in manual, will barely be breaking sweat at (legal) motorway speeds, no badge tax when it comes to repairs, and primarily designed for the US market where they expect cars to last for multiple six-figure distances without going expensively wrong.
Been in a few Addison Lee E220's with 250k + miles on them and they were all comfortable and the drivers say they are very reliable with regular servicing.
I think the main problem with the AdBlue emissions systems is underuse, we have a few Vito's with the 190bhp 2.2 CDI engine in them and they all run fine. They are used 5 days a week always run up to temperature usually covering a couple of hundred miles a day so get regular top ups with fresh fuel and AdBlue. The Vito's are from 2019 and I can't remember any of them going in for anything other than regular servicing, tyres and brakes.
I think the main problem with the AdBlue emissions systems is underuse, we have a few Vito's with the 190bhp 2.2 CDI engine in them and they all run fine. They are used 5 days a week always run up to temperature usually covering a couple of hundred miles a day so get regular top ups with fresh fuel and AdBlue. The Vito's are from 2019 and I can't remember any of them going in for anything other than regular servicing, tyres and brakes.
t…
Mercutio said:
... what would you choose?
This is partially a genuine dilemna (I want to buy a keeper, something to run for 15 to 20 years doing major mileage) and part of it is sheer curiosity because I'm a bit of a high mileage nerd.
What I'd love to buy is a car from new, with these specs:
- A manual car if possible
- Six speed gearbox with a cruising gear for motorway travel
- No major preference on engine size or capacity, but shouldn't struggle on hills or motorways
- Would do 60k mileage a year
- Is reliable, in a sort of "everyone raves about the cockroach status of these cars' reliable. The way people spoke about the K11 Micra, or the 1.9 TDI PD Volkswagens of a certain era, or the 90s Volvos that racked up crazy mileages.
What I'd be trying to avoid is
- Any 'sealed gearbox' nonsense or things that aren't easily serviceable
- nothing against 'mild hybrid' but it worries me the more there is to deal with at servicing time
So yeah, here's the challenge again.
One car, to be ordered or bought today, with the intent of running it for 500,000 miles or more.
Who out there is making simple, durable cars that properly last the distance?
Thank you in advance for playing!
-
If I had to buy one new car today and run it for 500,000 miles, then I would choose something electric, like this Tesla Model 3. This is partially a genuine dilemna (I want to buy a keeper, something to run for 15 to 20 years doing major mileage) and part of it is sheer curiosity because I'm a bit of a high mileage nerd.
What I'd love to buy is a car from new, with these specs:
- A manual car if possible
- Six speed gearbox with a cruising gear for motorway travel
- No major preference on engine size or capacity, but shouldn't struggle on hills or motorways
- Would do 60k mileage a year
- Is reliable, in a sort of "everyone raves about the cockroach status of these cars' reliable. The way people spoke about the K11 Micra, or the 1.9 TDI PD Volkswagens of a certain era, or the 90s Volvos that racked up crazy mileages.
What I'd be trying to avoid is
- Any 'sealed gearbox' nonsense or things that aren't easily serviceable
- nothing against 'mild hybrid' but it worries me the more there is to deal with at servicing time
So yeah, here's the challenge again.
One car, to be ordered or bought today, with the intent of running it for 500,000 miles or more.
Who out there is making simple, durable cars that properly last the distance?
Thank you in advance for playing!
-
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312225...
Original battery packs are good for around 3-500k without losing too much capacity.
There aren't really any new cars like what you have described. You have just described a van!
Maybe this Seat Leon 2.0 TDI estate? The tech is fairly mature by now, so should be pretty robust
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310283...
BMW 218d
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401296...
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff