You can buy one car new today and run it for 500,000 miles
Discussion
... 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!
-
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!
-
A lot of taxi drivers around here run Prius's - and I regularly see them with 3-400k miles on, with all the systems still working. I wouldn't want to do that kind of mileage in one though.
I'd probably pick something like a Mercedes E220 diesel auto. They're not uncomplicated, but if you keep on top of things like fluids, bushes, etc then they last a long time. There's a reason why they are used as taxis all over Europe.
I'd probably pick something like a Mercedes E220 diesel auto. They're not uncomplicated, but if you keep on top of things like fluids, bushes, etc then they last a long time. There's a reason why they are used as taxis all over Europe.
I think you'd struggle to deviate from Toyota these days.
Think I read somewhere that the XC90 was one of the least reliable new cars on the road so Volvo has gone down the pan.
I'd probably go for a Land Cruiser but even then they've long since ditched the straight 6 diesel, which seems to be inherently the best layout for ultimate longevity.
Tesla Model S is probably the boring and cheapest overall answer. Plenty of those running over 300k in the states with virtually no servicing.
Think I read somewhere that the XC90 was one of the least reliable new cars on the road so Volvo has gone down the pan.
I'd probably go for a Land Cruiser but even then they've long since ditched the straight 6 diesel, which seems to be inherently the best layout for ultimate longevity.
Tesla Model S is probably the boring and cheapest overall answer. Plenty of those running over 300k in the states with virtually no servicing.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235427619582?itmmeta=01...
Lexus V8, to burble along in, unlikely to give any trouble, extremely comfortable and quiet, isn't a manual though.
Lexus V8, to burble along in, unlikely to give any trouble, extremely comfortable and quiet, isn't a manual though.
I really wouldn't want to do 60k / year unless I was getting paid for it but either way a manual gearbox would become a huge chore pretty quickly unless it was nearly all motorway. I'd bascially be trying to focus on comfort above all else to avoid back / health issues.
Taxi drivers tend towards Mercedes diesels, Prius / Corolla or VAG saloons - probably a good starting point for getting to 500k+.
Taxi drivers tend towards Mercedes diesels, Prius / Corolla or VAG saloons - probably a good starting point for getting to 500k+.
A Landcruiser is probably the toughest and most durable vehicle you can buy new in 2024, but they are not cheap.
If you want something smaller and cheaper, then any small/medium Toyota is probably a good shout. Corolla or Prius or whatever.
Nothing is immune to rust. Some kind of underbody rust treatment from new is probably a good idea, if the car is to last 15-20 years.
If you want something smaller and cheaper, then any small/medium Toyota is probably a good shout. Corolla or Prius or whatever.
Nothing is immune to rust. Some kind of underbody rust treatment from new is probably a good idea, if the car is to last 15-20 years.
trickywoo said:
Why say 500k miles and 60k a year for 15-20 years. The latter is nearly double the former at the low end.
Very fair. I think the worst case scenario is 60k a year, the best is 20k I'm just looking at cars which go, and go, and go without complicated gubbins breaking.
Comfort is important, but reliability is way more important for me with some of the challenges I have to work with daily.
Jazoli said:
I'd probably go for a Lexus IS300H, 10 year warranty, comfy, auto (sod changing gear literally millions of times over 500k) and absolute reliablility.
Loving this Lexus recommendation. The devil in me loves the RC F just because of the engine and the proposition, but the IS300 H is the more real world solution. If I had the money it would be an S5 sport back diesel. Love my A5 but the manual gearbox drives me nuts at times. My work situation is likely changing soon and I’ll be looking at upward of 300 miles a week. Won’t be able to afford such a car but I think I’d be looking at a C220/250 but I don’t know if you can buy those brand new anymore in coupe style?
Reliability wise I’d take a used 220/250 any day but the S5…
Reliability wise I’d take a used 220/250 any day but the S5…
Dr Interceptor said:
A lot of taxi drivers around here run Prius's - and I regularly see them with 3-400k miles on, with all the systems still working. I wouldn't want to do that kind of mileage in one though.
I'd probably pick something like a Mercedes E220 diesel auto. They're not uncomplicated, but if you keep on top of things like fluids, bushes, etc then they last a long time. There's a reason why they are used as taxis all over Europe.
Pre adblue maybe, I did over 300k miles each in three E220 CDi's with no issues.I'd probably pick something like a Mercedes E220 diesel auto. They're not uncomplicated, but if you keep on top of things like fluids, bushes, etc then they last a long time. There's a reason why they are used as taxis all over Europe.
Todays diesel Mercs with their complicated emissions control, no way.
Monkeylegend said:
Dr Interceptor said:
A lot of taxi drivers around here run Prius's - and I regularly see them with 3-400k miles on, with all the systems still working. I wouldn't want to do that kind of mileage in one though.
I'd probably pick something like a Mercedes E220 diesel auto. They're not uncomplicated, but if you keep on top of things like fluids, bushes, etc then they last a long time. There's a reason why they are used as taxis all over Europe.
Pre adblue maybe, I did over 300k miles each in three E220 CDi's with no issues.I'd probably pick something like a Mercedes E220 diesel auto. They're not uncomplicated, but if you keep on top of things like fluids, bushes, etc then they last a long time. There's a reason why they are used as taxis all over Europe.
Todays diesel Mercs with their complicated emissions control, no way.
Trouble with new is you can only hope from recent models if the car will be a cock roach.
The ones really known for this are much older. D5 manual V/XC70, PD130 Vag's etc are the older cockroaches.
I would have x2 lower/mid value cars on rotation and buy and sell frequently to try and minimise the depreciation hit whilst having some variety?
The ones really known for this are much older. D5 manual V/XC70, PD130 Vag's etc are the older cockroaches.
I would have x2 lower/mid value cars on rotation and buy and sell frequently to try and minimise the depreciation hit whilst having some variety?
Mercutio said:
Loving this Lexus recommendation. The devil in me loves the RC F just because of the engine and the proposition, but the IS300 H is the more real world solution.
Go for the RC F, take a look at this 220k IS-F https://youtu.be/mYAfQNn6xsg
https://youtu.be/HT-DZ2ukqAs
Toyota Corolla Hybrid, I've just bought one. (Facelift 140hp with the 10 inch infotainment and digital dash, remote start/etc all as standard on the base model Icon.) 5th generation of the original Toyota Prius engine, so very well proven worldwide.
Over 500k miles your fuel economy plays a big part of your costs - my average mpg for mostly long motorway trips is 53, better than a diesel V40 I used to own.
Below 50mph I can regularly hit 65-70mpg in the Corolla accelerating normally, and the reprogrammed power delivery on the facelift cars is quite torquey so not much of the mooing anymore. Better handling than the V40 too.
I've had several cars up to 120k miles but would like to hit 200k+ miles in a car.
As I do 20-25k miles a year I'll be at 200k within 10 years in the Corolla - I'm not expecting any expenses apart from tyres and maybe 1 or 2 sets of front brake pads. FYI the '10 year' Toyota warranty ends at 100k miles if you do more than 10k miles a year.
There is someone online (I assume a taxi driver) who has just hit 200k miles in his 2019 Corolla - with no repairs and still on the original brake pads.
My old Auris hybrid was still on the original pads at 60k+ miles, the newer cars are better at using regen braking so the pads should last longer.
Over 500k miles your fuel economy plays a big part of your costs - my average mpg for mostly long motorway trips is 53, better than a diesel V40 I used to own.
Below 50mph I can regularly hit 65-70mpg in the Corolla accelerating normally, and the reprogrammed power delivery on the facelift cars is quite torquey so not much of the mooing anymore. Better handling than the V40 too.
I've had several cars up to 120k miles but would like to hit 200k+ miles in a car.
As I do 20-25k miles a year I'll be at 200k within 10 years in the Corolla - I'm not expecting any expenses apart from tyres and maybe 1 or 2 sets of front brake pads. FYI the '10 year' Toyota warranty ends at 100k miles if you do more than 10k miles a year.
There is someone online (I assume a taxi driver) who has just hit 200k miles in his 2019 Corolla - with no repairs and still on the original brake pads.
My old Auris hybrid was still on the original pads at 60k+ miles, the newer cars are better at using regen braking so the pads should last longer.
Edited by Whataguy on Friday 16th February 15:18
I would go for a simple diesel auto, plenty still available without adblue and then a remap later you have the same hp as the adblue version (no adblue are slightly detuned for emissions).
Auto for 60k a year, I did 52k in a year and would have liked to have had an auto.
I would also go for a lower trim that doesnt have lane departure/blind spot monitoring/auto brake etc and then spec the interior up to the finish you want. Less ti go wrong imo.
Auto for 60k a year, I did 52k in a year and would have liked to have had an auto.
I would also go for a lower trim that doesnt have lane departure/blind spot monitoring/auto brake etc and then spec the interior up to the finish you want. Less ti go wrong imo.
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