Buying a High Mileage Vehicle

[plowjockey]

Anyone had good luck with one?

There are plenty of cars and trucks for sale with 175K to 230k miles, still with (reasonable )asking prices of $2-9K +. Jeep Cherokees, Ford F150, Subaru legacy, Nissan Pathfinder.

Are the owners just getting tired or pouring money into them, are they dumping them before they start to go south? I have always been in the "run em until they are ready for the scrap heap, camp.

Assuming these are in the running shape the seller says they are, is it possilbe that there is enough life left, that one can get a few more years out of them? Can one get another 100k miles out of them?

I'm looking for one that I can pay cash for, but if it's iffy transmission repairs, or mystery running glitches, in the future, then I may be better off buying something newer. I can do brakes, exhaust, struts, door electrics,etc. , but I don't have time (or expertise) for more serious engine/trans issues and I certainly don't want a repair shop queen.

[PhilJohnson]

Myself and my parents have ran a lot of high mileage vehicles. They had a two very high mileage Astro vans that they sold still running and driving fine. The one had 240,000, had the transmission rebuilt around 170k. The other one had 220,000 when they bought it. Got rid of it when it had 280,000 miles on it. They also bought a 97 Taurus with 230,000 on it which my Mom still uses to commute 30 miles one way to work. The all time record for them though was a 87 Buick Skylark with 330,000 miles on the original motor and trans. I myself have owned a lot of vehicles that had over 200,000 on them and didn't have much trouble with them.

I've found if a vehicle makes it to 200k it usually means two things, one it is one of the more durable cars made, and two it has been well maintained. I would not buy a high mileage car though if it was very ratty. I look for very clean looking cars.

[jacqueg]

I've always owned high mileage used cars.

Get it checked out by a mechanic before you put your money down.

It often seems to me that people will sell old faithful when the mechanic says, well, it needs about $1000 worth of work. That's when they decide to get something newer. My current car, an 88 Ford, I bought at about 100,000 miles, and it is now coming up on 300,000 miles, engine is in great shape, and no troubles with the transmission. I paid $2800 for it, spent about $1000 on brakes and fuel line issues (computer chips), and it has been just fine since. It had always been a fleet car, so I believe that the oil had been changed regularly.

It does matter that the car was originally well-built, but with a high mileage, older car, the single most important thing is how well it has been maintained. If you are in the habit of running your cars into the ground, then I wouldn't want to buy from you!

I am superstitious about keeping the oil changed. I also don't drive or brake or shift fast or hard. I do drive several times a week.

Take your time looking. You'll find a decent one.

[Beeman]

I can do the work but I try to steer away from over 150k vehicles. Usually any major component failure in a later model vehicle is too expensive to make putting that money in a high mileage vehicle. I do better buying lower mileage that need work and going through them thoroughly. Drive trouble free for years and generally get my money back.

[Troy]

Well I will tell you this. I've bought cars that had less than 100k (2000 S-10 4x4) I paid $9500 for it. In less than 2 years I spent another $4000 in repairs (Front drive train , Trans.) would never do it again. Then again I've bought cheap vehicals ($400 1994 Astro van) with over 300,000 on it and have never done anything other than reg. maint. it is now pushing 400,000. I also bought a 1985 Toyota P/U 4x4 paid $1500 had 200,000 on it that truck is the toughest thing I've ever owned. It has 535,962 miles on it that just won't die. It is used everyday on a friend of mines farm. The bed rusted out and came off , the frame rusted into and had to have plates welded in place , every gasket leaks oil , but when nothing else on his farm will start the Red Beast will fire up and go. I am not afraid to buy a high milage vehical if I know enough about it's history.

[clovis]

I've had great luck with high mileage vehicles.

My sister has a 99 Mustang with 184,000 miles, and I'd guess it will go another 100,000. That is one awesome car. If I needed a car, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to buy that one, but then again, it has been well maintained and garage kept.

[Bandit]

I never hesitated to buy a car with hi milage if the body is decent and the motor looks clean and sounds ok with no signs of leaking and/or burning oil for myself or a friend.
I give them a tune up , change the oil and filter , the belts and hoses and anti-freeze . I have changed a water pump before too do to weeping . check the brakes and pack the wheel bearings and not touch it again till something breaks .

[GoldenCityMuse]

IF you can do light vehicle maintenance, then go for the well kept hi mileage cars. But if you have ALL you car work done by a shop, tehn it most likely won't do you too well.

[Haven]

Originally Posted by jacqueg

Get it checked out by a mechanic before you put your money down.

It often seems to me that people will sell old faithful when the mechanic says, well, it needs about $1000 worth of work. That's when they decide to get something newer.

I think thats the big factor.

I like Jeeps because they last forever. I would think twice about buying a lot of other high miles cars.

[wind power]

I have a 95 ford ranger, the smaller size pickup....it has 193,000 and still going strong on that V-6.
I just cant see myself parting with it....and thats being said with my Father-in-law being a fomer Ford employee until he retired....He can obtain sizable discounts on new vehicles and I could do good if I ever wanted a new one.

I've had to put in a new clutch some time ago and a new headgasket when I was "rawhiding" it once.
Other than that, I feel it will last another 1000,000

[blufford]

I have had mixed results with high mileage cars. The best one seems to be one or two owner daily runners that have not been sitting for long periods of time. When they sit gaskets and seals dry out and gas lines begin to rot. I also like an current registration. It really hurts to have to start dumping money in a car that won't pass emissions.

[DW]

I would not buy a sm engine car w/high mileage but yes, to good trucks. We bought a lg engine 3/4 T Chevy w/200,000 that was a work truck, well kept up & had it 7yrs (until hubby totaled it). Only pd $5,000 for it. It was a great truck. Next one, 2005 w/100,000, pd twice as much but it is really like a new truck and better gas mileage, too.

[oz in SC V2.0]

My truck just turned 200,000 miles.

I bought it with 70,000 on it.

In that time,I replaced the lift pump,injection pump and one front hub.Lift pumps are notoriously bad on this truck and so can go out at any time.

Injection pump failed due to lift pump failing.

Hub just wore out from 190,000+ miles on it.

I personally look at condition rather than miles,and see how that compares to price.


If you think about it,a 1998 vehicle driven 15,000 miles a year will have 180,000 miles on it....

[willow_girl]

I think I'd spend a little more for a lower-mileage vehicle.

I try to estimate how long a vehicle will last based on the number of miles I drive in a year (~25,000). I'd like to see 150,000 miles out of a vehicle. I bought my current truck with 75,000 miles on it, expecting it to last 3 years, at a cost of roughly $3,333 a year or $277 a month, not including maintenance. That was affordable in my scheme of things. A vehicle with 100,000 miles would have to have been priced at less than $6700 to be comparable.

Luckily, my truck has exceeded expectations, and still is running strong at 165,000. I've had to make a few repairs, but the powertrain is good, and it still looks nice -- no rust! Hoping to get 200,000 out of it.

[Deb862]

It's such a coincidence that you posted this! We are currently needing to purchase a new used vehicle and can't make the decision whether to buy an older cheaper model w/high mileage (90K+) or go with a 2007/2008 model that still has a warranty but we'll end up having a monthly payment of about $250-275.

We currently have a 1988 Chevy 4-door sedan, bought 7 years ago with 143K miles on it. It currently has 240K. It was a 1-owner vehicle (an old man who didn't drive much and kept it garaged) and we paid $1800 cash for it. One of the best cars we've ever had! Very dependable. I think that over the last 7 years we have maybe put $2000 into it with repairs, both repairs done by DH and the 2 that needed a professional. Some would say it was not smart to put $2000 into an $1800 car but to us that just means for 7 years we only paid $3800 to own a dependable vehicle with no payments! Not too bad in my book.

One thing that is currently making our decision difficult is that DH is 61 and is tiring of working on vehicles so much, especially in cold weather. If we had a heated garage it might be a little different, but all in all he's getting older and it's getting harder for him. Although when we went out looking at newer cars the other day we couldn't believe what they want for them! 15, 18, 20, 22,000 dollars!!!! with what we consider to be large payments ($225+ per month). Don't get me wrong, we can afford it but don't really like to take on debt. Left us wondering how people can afford these types of payments??

In our experience, if you look around and find an older vehicle that has been well maintained, sounds good, and checks out good, you should do okay, although there is no guarantee. The thought of having to put in an engine or tranny into a $10K car/suv 6 months to a year or so after we buy it is what is bothering us also currently.

[elevenpoint]

This is what I did this year....I went to the Ford dealership and saw what they were getting for a F-150 4x4, then sales tax, insurance rates, etc.
I found a 1986 F-150 4x4 on the side of the road for $450.00, granted it had the crankshaft hanging out of the block, but the truck had a straight body, minor rust, like new interior and a/c. I got another 302 fuel injected engine and had it rebuilt from the pan up with top of the line everything....of course then I found out the transmission was burnt up, had that rebuilt. As soon as it was driveable for the first time all the front axleshaft u-joints were shot, as I had the vehicle back I tore the front axle all the way down and rebuilt it from hub to hub. Then all new brakes, calipers, wheel cylinders, etc., radiator, exhaust, tires,, ball joints, all steering components, and many small items. My price so far is about $5500.00, and I feel for this amout of money I have a nearly new truck, more important is I know the history of everything and how it will be maintained....now is it brand new? not in the dealership sense, but it is also about one-fourth the price of a new truck and the insurance is less than $200.00 a year, sales tax was $27.00, not $1700.00.
I won't pay the new price, leary of a truck for $4000.00 or so when I don't know the history.

[michiganfarmer]

we boguht a 91 honda accord last winter. It had 299,000 miles on it. It has 215,000 on it now. Havent had a problem with it. Paid $400 for it

[michiganfarmer]

2 years ago I bought an 89 mercury sable for $700. It had 89,000 miles on it. Ive replaced a power steering line, but thats it. It just runs.

If a high mileage vehicle is cheap enough, Ill buy them.

Id buy an old ford pick up with a straight 6 even if it had over 100,000 miles on it.

[GrannyCarol]

Our daughter wanted a Honda Accord in the mid 90's. There's a lot of them for sale about $3000. She ended up buying one from an airplane mechanic with 179,000 miles on it. It's been well maintained with all the records, he put over $1500 in it the year before she got it, it came with a full set of studded snows and she got it for $2800. Its a great car, I have no worries as to the miles. Sure, she's going to have some maintenance on it, but you have that on any car, it may even need $1000 or so, but basically its in great shape and she will take good care of it.

We drive a Dodge Grand Caravan that we bought new and put 180,000 miles on and love to death. We finally got the brakes done this summer, its been a great car! If a car is well maintained and hasn't been crashed, they will go a lot of miles. So much better to drive a car that is paid off. We plan to drive the Caravan until it dies and will more than likely buy a well used car when the time comes. We bought a Kia with 120,000 miles on it, great little car, but it got backed into in the parking lot and "totaled" according to the insurance company - runs fine, looks ok, there's a pretty good ding in the front involving more than one body panel (cosmetic). The only real problem is it needs a new radiator, which we can put in. The insurance company gave us enough money on it to do all the work we'd wanted to do on the Dodge and send me and my daughter on a trip in her car! hehe

[HermitJohn]

Originally Posted by michiganfarmer

Id buy an old ford pick up with a straight 6 even if it had over 100,000 miles on it.

I'm happy enough just to find something with enough room to stuff a Ford 300 into. If you can gear it to cruise at 1600 to 1800 or even bit less in a lighter vehicle, then it even gets decent mileage. And its a simple, robust engine, easy to work on and the parts are still reasonable. Other than boring the block or turning the crank, I can rebuild one easily myself. Alas they havent been made since 1996 and time relentlessly marches on. None of my favorite engines have been made for at least 15 years, most ceased production long before that. Newer cars, when I open the hood, I barely recognize whats there as an engine. And anything with more than one cam, variable displacement, and all rest of the golly gee whiz stuff, I know is a lost cause far as being economical to repair. Simply not something anybody is ever going to fool trying to repair after first 100k miles. Very complex and parts are priced like they are made of solid gold.

Guy I knew in 80s said the only tool he ever carried was a screwdriver. He bought cheapest vehicles he could find that would start and stop, and when they quit being able to do that, he pulled over to side of road, got out that screwdriver, removed the license plate and stuck his thumb out. Afraid thats only rational choice on most modern vehicles. Even something that used to be simple and cheap like a front wheel bearing is complicated and expensive. And I'm talking 2wd pickups here. 2000+ Ford 150 now requires you buy a hub assembly with bearing already installed for few hundred dollars instead of old style bearings you could replace for $25. There are some work around retrofit parts but still talking lot hassle and $$$ to do conversion the first time. So exactly how is anybody going to maintain such a vehicle when it becomes a $500 beater??? If you can only afford a $500 car, not likely you can afford another $500 for each and every little repair part.