Is 150,000 miles a lot for a car?

[SuperchargedVR6]

Z064life said:

When I was younger, I was under the impression that when a car reaches 100,000 miles, it means it needs an imminent change.

I've heard that same bullsheet for 35 years. On the whole, people in the UK are just complete idiots when it comes to cars. And a lot of them shouldn't even be driving them, let alone be imparting worthless and outmoded advice to youngsters.

[FiF]

battered said:

bagusbagus said:

Nah... The rust is the car killer!
My Grandpa still drives a 1987 audi 80 with like 300k miles, Almost Zero rust on it anywhere and more or less everything can be fixed with a hammer

Not any more. Find me a car with terminal body corrosion these days, other than exceptions like MX5s. When did you last hear of a car needing a new sill for the MoT? Back in the 80s that was currency. Your Audi 80 is a simple beast that will show up few electrical foibles, try the same thing with a 2007 Audi that's putting a dash light on and nobody knows why. "You need a new ECU mate, £1100". I recently had a chap telling me that he;d had an electrical fault on his ABS, cost to fix £1400, but it "wasn't too bad in the end, it was only £900". That's more likely these days to send a car to a breaker than corrosion.

Local garage had a modern Vauxhall van in for repair that had failed mot test because of an issue with the daylight running lights. I thought DRLs weren't testable but that's by the by, it got a fail.

These guys are no mugs, they have lots of decent kit and good at tracing faults. In the end it had to go back to dealer for installation of some ridiculously priced box of electronics. Imagine getting that when it's 8 or 10 years old, it would just get binned if the fault really was cause for a test fail, something where I remain unconvinced.

[Sa Calobra]

mybrainhurts said:

Only had the clutch replaced, alternator pulley, one ball joint and a few suspension bushes, courtesy of Sheffield potholes.

Runs as smoothly as a baby's bum.

Just passed 402,000 yesterday.

Trying to figure where that, it's Either Edale or Castleton way but I can't figure any of the distinctive bits to navigate

[FredClogs]

My Bora is on 167000, just had a new wheel bearing, the passenger side went at 80,000 - the drivers side at 160,00, I can't keep replacing wheel bearings every 80,000 miles, they cost best part of £20!!! Aside that I've had a new catalytic converter at £110 a welded up repair on the back box at £15 cash and discs and pads twice. It's literally just run in.

[FiF]

Sa Calobra said:

mybrainhurts said:

Only had the clutch replaced, alternator pulley, one ball joint and a few suspension bushes, courtesy of Sheffield potholes.

Runs as smoothly as a baby's bum.

Just passed 402,000 yesterday.

Trying to figure where that, it's Either Edale or Castleton way but I can't figure any of the distinctive bits to navigate

My guess is somewhere up over Ringinglow.

[vsonix]

njw1 said:

vsonix said:

Corrosion problem has improved but still only lasts a certain amount of time, the rot sets in eventually and if anything these days once it does set in kills a car a lot quicker. The last two years have been very hard on the front wings of my E46 and it's not even seen much winter use.

The problem with e46 front wings is that the arch liner traps all the crap coming of the road and holds it against the arch with inevitable results, it's a bit of a poor design by BMW IMO. The sill covers on the e39 do exactly the same thing.

Yup. They fixed the rear arch problem that plagued the E36 and transferred it to the front. Still, much less hassle swapping a front arch on a 46 than having to cut and weld on the 36, only to have a rust bubble pop up on the join 18 months later. Stupid bodyshop.

[K12beano]

mybrainhurts said:

Runs as smoothly as a baby's bum.

Baby's bums aren't as smooth as they used to be though....

....well not after 402,000 miles

[Patrick Bateman]

mybrainhurts said:

Only had the clutch replaced, alternator pulley, one ball joint and a few suspension bushes, courtesy of Sheffield potholes.

Runs as smoothly as a baby's bum.

Just passed 402,000 yesterday.

What engine?

[Willy Nilly]

mybrainhurts said:

2008 V70, just passed 401,000 and driving as though it's just left the showroom.

Your car has probably done 10,000 operating hours or more, depending on the type of journeys it has been doing and I don't doubt you've looked after it, but I very much doubt it's just like it's left the show room. It's possible that the engine is is fine fettle, but things like gear linkages, pedals hinges, steering, suspension, door catches, switches, stalks etc have all be used countless times and will be nothing like as tight as a new one.

[ZX10R NIN]

Have you owned it for all 402,000?

[mybrainhurts]

Patrick Bateman said:

mybrainhurts said:

Only had the clutch replaced, alternator pulley, one ball joint and a few suspension bushes, courtesy of Sheffield potholes.

Runs as smoothly as a baby's bum.

Just passed 402,000 yesterday.

What engine?

2.4 5 cyinder diesel

[mybrainhurts]

ZX10R NIN said:

Have you owned it for all 402,000?

Bought it with 30-40k on it.

[mybrainhurts]

Willy Nilly said:

mybrainhurts said:

2008 V70, just passed 401,000 and driving as though it's just left the showroom.

Your car has probably done 10,000 operating hours or more, depending on the type of journeys it has been doing and I don't doubt you've looked after it, but I very much doubt it's just like it's left the show room. It's possible that the engine is is fine fettle, but things like gear linkages, pedals hinges, steering, suspension, door catches, switches, stalks etc have all be used countless times and will be nothing like as tight as a new one.

That's what I would have expected but, no, EVERYTHING is as solid as a rock. Not even a rattle anywhere.

I'm going to regret saying that, aren't I...?

[mybrainhurts]

FiF said:

Sa Calobra said:

mybrainhurts said:

Only had the clutch replaced, alternator pulley, one ball joint and a few suspension bushes, courtesy of Sheffield potholes.

Runs as smoothly as a baby's bum.

Just passed 402,000 yesterday.

Trying to figure where that, it's Either Edale or Castleton way but I can't figure any of the distinctive bits to navigate

My guess is somewhere up over Ringinglow.

Top picture is the Scotsman's Pack road from Hathersage up to Burbage, looking back towards Hathersage.

Bottom pic is on the top of Rushup Edge.

[Patrick Bateman]

mybrainhurts said:

2.4 5 cyinder diesel

That's impressive. Is that not meant to be the less reliable Euro 4 engine compared with the older Euro 3 engine?

[mybrainhurts]

Patrick Bateman said:

mybrainhurts said:

2.4 5 cyinder diesel

That's impressive. Is that not meant to be the less reliable Euro 4 engine compared with the older Euro 3 engine?

I don't know which Euro it is, but I've been very careful with it after my 06 previous model D5 suffered an engine failure at 230,000.

This does not, of course, mean that she doesn't get a regular thrashing.

Just to keep the cobwebs away, you understand...

[anonymous-user]

Willy Nilly said:

mybrainhurts said:

2008 V70, just passed 401,000 and driving as though it's just left the showroom.

Your car has probably done 10,000 operating hours or more, depending on the type of journeys it has been doing and I don't doubt you've looked after it, but I very much doubt it's just like it's left the show room. It's possible that the engine is is fine fettle, but things like gear linkages, pedals hinges, steering, suspension, door catches, switches, stalks etc have all be used countless times and will be nothing like as tight as a new one.

BINGO. For some bizarre reason everyone obsesses over how the engine is running at high mileages, as if anyone has actually worn out an engine from the last 20 years without the most astounding abuse.

Firstly by 100k the suspension on any car is well off the performance of a new car, along with rubber mounts for the engine, subframes, and anything else.

As you say by the time they really get on and have been used heavily absolutely everything that moves, flexes, or vibrates is nothing like it was new. Steering pumps become noisier, the rack has more play, AC components become noisier, fan motors vibrate more, it goes on and on but all adds up to a car that is quite obviously not like a new car.

Yes a 150k mile car is probably going to be acceptably reliable. With a suspension refresh it'll probably drive fine. No, it really doesn't "drive like new" and it never will. You can also expect to have to replace more wear and tear components and have more component failures. You pay your money and take you chances!

[Digby]

mybrainhurts said:

Willy Nilly said:

mybrainhurts said:

2008 V70, just passed 401,000 and driving as though it's just left the showroom.

Your car has probably done 10,000 operating hours or more, depending on the type of journeys it has been doing and I don't doubt you've looked after it, but I very much doubt it's just like it's left the show room. It's possible that the engine is is fine fettle, but things like gear linkages, pedals hinges, steering, suspension, door catches, switches, stalks etc have all be used countless times and will be nothing like as tight as a new one.

That's what I would have expected but, no, EVERYTHING is as solid as a rock. Not even a rattle anywhere.

I'm going to regret saying that, aren't I...?

Not long after getting my first Volvo, a car dealer and Volvo fanatic pulled in to a garage and chatted as we filled up with petrol. He said they had an 850 in recently with over 300k on it so they cleaned it all up and he said it came out looking as new. No rust, nothing broken, nothing falling off, nothing loose..

This engine bay, for example, is almost 30 years old with around 170k on it. A quick clean by the owner...




My friend who lives near me used to be in to Mk2 Granadas, but he's now in love with Volvos. He just can't believe how well built they are (talking pre-2000 here for us) and how they simply refuse to rust. Under the bonnet of his P reg 850 it looks exactly like the shot above. Again, nothing broken, nothing falling off, nothing loose, no rattles. Currently sat on around 180k and still feels like it's made of granite.

It's a shame so many get abused because of how well built they are, but the difference is, I know cars which are cosseted yet still fall apart.

Sure, like any car, they will need bushes etc and routine maintenance, but I have never known a car like them in terms of build quality.

[Olivera]

Digby, look out for my readers cars entry soon on my V70R, it isn't going to be pretty reading.

[Digby]

Olivera said:

Digby, look out for my readers cars entry soon on my V70R, it isn't going to be pretty reading.

I asked up the page what was broken on it.

Have you got an abused example? :/