Is 150,000 miles a lot for a car?
Discussion
Digby said:
I asked up the page what was broken on it.
Have you got an abused example? :/
Not abused at all, I paid top money but lots proceeded to break over 18 months of daily driving. I'll list it all on my readers cars thread.Have you got an abused example? :/
The engines, boxes and shells are strong on 850s/V70 phase 1, but a hell of a lot of the rest is junk.
dme123 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.
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!
Earlier I said:
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...?
I'll give you the air con bit. It is a little noisy. However, my post, that you're discussing, was about how well the car drives.I'm going to regret saying that, aren't I...?
If you want to check my claim, I'd be happy to take you for a thrashy run through the Peak District at dawn....
Depends on the type of mileage done ie motorways, around town/short journeys. Also depends on the type of driver for example do they have any mechanical sympathy do they ride the clutch, do they bounce it off kerbs etc etc. So many other variables like does the driver keep to the service schedule or do they only take it in when something's wrong with it? Do they throw the cheapest oil at it or do they buy what the manufacturer recommends? same with tyres and parts too.
I use high mileage cars for my commuters because I do a lot of miles with work so don't see the point in buying low miles only to devalue it. For reference OP, my current commuter car is a 2006 E90 320d with 182k on - no problems to report apart from consumables and I'm doing 1k miles a week in it. the last one was a 2002 Audi S3 that I sold with 210k on! and it was still going strong.
I use high mileage cars for my commuters because I do a lot of miles with work so don't see the point in buying low miles only to devalue it. For reference OP, my current commuter car is a 2006 E90 320d with 182k on - no problems to report apart from consumables and I'm doing 1k miles a week in it. the last one was a 2002 Audi S3 that I sold with 210k on! and it was still going strong.
dme123 said:
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.
I'm pretty sure I have. I had an Alfa 33 (1992, boxer 1.5) throw a rod at about 80k and scrap the engine, I didn't have the full history on that but it had some service history so not "astoundling" levels of abuse. I had a Vectra (2002, 1.8 petrol) (for which I had a book of service stamps), the engine was pretty well worn on that after 120k, it burned plenty of oil. I had a Volvo 440 (1992 2L petrol) that again had a reasonable selection of service stamps, again after 120k it was consuming enough oil to be considered well on the way to worn out.So that's 3 that were worn out or well on their way well before 150k, they weren't "astoundingly abused". You're right in that *most* engines will be OK, but there are still a few duds that are ready for the bin before any 150k.
Ill echo what many have said, my main daily car is a 2001 B6 a4. 210K miles and adding 1200 a month. You can change most parts at a cost to keep the car going but it soon ends up like triggers broom. I recently had the clutch replaced with an almost new re-con one so managed to get that done as a reasonable price. Whilst it was in I had the belt and water pump changed again. I dont mind changing these parts but its the smaller parts on the car now which are well past their use by date such as rubber engine mounts, rubber around the windows, rusty wheel hubs (?) and rusty wheel arches which will put the car in its grave.
Looking at the manual a few days ago I was also supposed to have all the air bags replaced at 15 years old!
Looking at the manual a few days ago I was also supposed to have all the air bags replaced at 15 years old!
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