High mileage - how high is high?

Jo12

Hi all,
I have a Corsa 56 plate with 105k on it - had it about 6 years now. So far, its been great and only been towed once (last week) when a water pipe blew. Its been reliable to date (am touching wood now ) and I love it. Have it regularly serviced and get everything done that needs doing.
Not sure how much more I can get out of it? I do contract work, so only guaranteed work until next April and whatever Im saving needs to go on the mortgage, rather than a newer car. I do probably about 1k per month


What I don't want to do is change it for another car and find out Ive got a dog - is it a case of better the devil you know? I know people who have them still going strong at 130k - would you risk it? I live somewhere where there is no public transport and need a car for work, so cant be without one for long.


Whats the opinion out there?

vansboy

You are looking after it, assuming the service work is as it should be, there will be no reason to not keep running it.

Quality oil and filter change at minimum 10000 miles, is worth doing.

Anything else that shows up, your mechanic will advise if its worth a repair, depending on the cost.

And when I had my business, my Maestro van had 335000 miles on it, when it was sold.

My Astra now has 118000, 54 Reg.

VB

philgr

I've had vehicles get on for 200k and still run well. Keep it serviced and bin it it when it costs you big bucks to fix. I anticipate my current car (Rover 45) will reach 175,000 without many issues and hopefully more

forgotmyname

I buy cars with approx 120,000 to 130,000 on the clock they are cheap and fingers crossed so far not had a bad one.

Normally i do 6000 or less a year, But i have pushed this car to over 170,000 miles.

scotsbob

A chap in our car club is having a party, which he reckons will be about mid September, to celebrate 200,000 in his Mazda MX5.

As has been said above, with frequent oil changes and regular servicing, modern cars will easily do these sort of mileages.

jaydeeuk1

Nowt wrong with high mileage. If a car can get to 100k with little expense, chances are it will make 200k. A car that has had loads spent before 100k imo will become a money pit.


In general, if you want to see how likely (rough guide) a particular car is with high mileage look on autotrader.


A ford ka for example, there are 1535 old models for sale, surprisingly 75 of these have managed to reach over 100k, chances are they're all nails...


Now look at something like a lexus GS, similar time period to the ka. 111 for sale, 36 of these done over 100k, and will probably manage another 100k. Ok, not completely fair, but interesting nonetheless x

benham3160

I own a 26 year old, 170,000 mile 1.6 litre petrol engined car - it's solid mechanically.

A well warmed-up-and-thrashed motorway mile muncher that is serviced on the button is an infinitely better proposition than a town mile car, never gets warm, never exceeds 4000rpm and is serviced once a decade.

Cars, despite what 'the trade' will tell you like to be driven..........

What ruins cars is town miles, stop starting and never being warmed up. Like an old sage said to me once (with a 200,000 mile Vauxhall Belmont) "Who is fitter, a lazy, fat teenager or a seventy year old marathon runner?"

As said, keep the oil clean; nothing else promotes engine health like it.

[Deleted User]

Local takeaway delivery guy has 230K miles on his car and just passed MOT.

philgr

another thing worth paying attention to on older cars but is often neglected is the cooling system.

Make sure that has a flush and coolant change every couple of years or so to ensure the engine runs nice and cool as few things will kill an otherwise healthy engine faster than overheating..

bod1467

A work colleague a few years ago has a Saab 900 that went through the 250k miles mark when he owned it.

Sportacus

If it's had regular oil changes up till now as you say then it should run on for many more years (10s of thousands of miles), just make sure the cambelt is changed when it should be.


Another question is what would you replace it with? Another used car whose history you don't know? A new car and lose 1000s in depreciation?


Keep it!