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Reliable 200k mile cars

11K views 153 replies 72 participants last post by  Mule Skinner  
#1 ·
Which cars or trucks are on your short list when looking at a 200k mile vehicle? Certain cars I wouldn't look at not matter what the cost such as a Nissan Sentra with a CVT or a Kia Optima but there are plenty of decent vehicles that have stood the test of time both in reliability and "cool factor".

I haven't had many 200k cars or trucks but a few years ago I bought a 1996 Toyota T100 with the 3.4l engine and that thing was stellar, it had just the right amount of "character". I bought that truck for cheap and had my mechanic do a once over he installed a timing belt and a few other small things $500-600 (?) but it just felt right, it ran great and I wasn't embarrassed to be seen in it. I sold the T100 and bought a 1995(?) Toyota Tacoma with 4 cylinder, once again I had my mechanic give it a once over and that thing just ran without issues, not as cool as the T100 but it was a very basic truck that I could work on it was reliable and to some extent is timeless(?).

If you were looking for a 200k mile car or truck which vehicles would be on your short list and which ones wouldn't be on your radar?
 

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#11 ·
I hear from mechanics that the Lexus is almost "bullet proof." I've owned my Chevy Silverado since 2004. It has 132000 miles on it. It's been a great vehicle, but it's currently parked with an electrical issue.
I had a Lexus not that long ago it had dual climate control that was acting up ($1300), catalytic converter issues and it was using oil with "only" 130k miles. That's not to say that Toyota doesn't build great cars but sometimes simplicity isn't a bad thing.
 
#9 ·
was looking at the used market for a few months >>> lots of majority mfged overseas vehicles on the market with previously (before Biden) repairable mechanical problems >>> NO SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE

insurance companies "totalling" the vehicles - some are body damage - need body panels vs body pound out & Bondo - ...

some totally repairable with the skill/knowledge + scrap yard scrounging ....
 
#12 ·
I own and like Toyotas and Hondas. I currently have a 2014 Toyota Corolla and my Daughter has a 2010 Honda civic. Both will easily go over 200,000 miles with regular maintenance. I had a 2010 Corolla with 165,000 miles, but got it totaled in December of 2021. It was uber reliable and I hated when I got crashed and it totaled.
My 2014 Corolla has a CVT transmission, and I have no concerns about it lasting. I believe the key to CVT's (at least Toyota) is to regularly change the fluid. Every 20-25,000 do a drain and refill.
There was publicity around a couple Toyota Tundras going over 1 million miles without needing any major repairs. Of course, they were the V8 variety.
 
#13 ·
My old Chevy 2000 K1500 went almost 200,000 with zero issues other than normal maintenance. My current is a 2003 that is getting up there too. I've always had Chevys so maybe prejudiced, but they do last. Also the old Jeeps with the I6 are pretty incredible, I had 2 of them and mechanics talked like they were good for 400,000.....? I never heard anything bad about Toyota either that I recall....
It would depend more on the use that you want....Car/Truck/SUV? Choose that first and then go find your vehicle.
 
#19 · (Edited)
According to Consumer Reports, Toyotas (such as the Corolla) and Honda Civics are among the most reliable high-mileage cars. However, because of this they also tend to be pricier even at 200k miles, than other similar cars.

Lexus is also up there. However they tend to be more expensive.

However---almost any car built in the last 10 years can easily be in great shape, even at 200k miles. It all depends on how it was taken care of.

I commute with a 2007 Ford Focus, that is now at 180,000 miles. I purchased it new, and have always taken care of it. It's never given me any trouble. And I think it could easily have another 100k in it.

A well maintained Chevy Malibu or Ford Focus, is still better than a poorly maintained Corolla.
 
#21 ·
I know many on this board are fans of "older" vehicles. However there are two considerations for getting something "older" (say, more than a decade or so).

The first is parts availability. Once a car gets older than about 10 years, some parts start becoming unavailable. Especially the OEM ones. The first scarcities seem to happen most with interior body parts. Such things as with the seats and the upholstery. Door knobs, dash components, etc. They may be available at junk yards, but are often in just as bad shape as the one you are trying to replace. They are also overpriced. In addition, many junk yards no longer carry parts for vehicles more than 10 years old.

The second is safety. There has been a big improvement in safety factors in cars the last 5 years. Sure---you may have "warm and fuzzy feelings" about your 25 year old "cool factor" car. But if you (or someone in your family) is in an accident, do you want to be able to walk away from it unscathed? Or taken away in a body bag?
 
#30 ·
Almost any vehicle purchased these days can go 200,000 mi. But there's a couple of caveats.

The first one is how you drive it. If you're a jackrabbit starter, aggressive passer, wait till the last minute to apply the brakes, ect, your vehicle is not going to last as long.

The second is how it's maintained. A garage kept car that strictly follows a maintenance schedule is going to last longer and have fewer problems.

Third is how complicated the vehicle is. It's hard to find a modern car without a bunch of computers and electronics in it, but the less the better. You get a vehicle with a sunroof, 15-way power chairs all around, three quadrant climate control, etc, you're asking for trouble. Even all wheel or four-wheel drive will detract from the lifespan of a vehicle.

My opinion is that Honda, Toyota Mazda, and Subaru vehicles generally have a reliability advantage right out of the gate. I feel like American vehicles can go extremely high miles, but past about 150,000 you're going to start getting nickel and dimed with small issues that are going to make you want to get rid of the car.
 
#33 ·
The second is how it's maintained. A garage kept car that strictly follows a maintenance schedule is going to last longer and have fewer problems.
Very true. Replacing parts before they break can prevent a lot of cascading problems. Most replaced parts will still be functional and can be kept as emergency backups.
 
#34 ·
Lots of good posts already.

I like Toyota vehicles, and if I had to pick a brand name, that would be the one. I do understand, though, that they're EXPENSIVE, probably because most everyone knows they're generally good vehicles and there is a desirability factor that keeps prices up there. They're also not perfect and had some models/years that had some issues.

I can't say I'm all that impressed by anything new these days so older would be what I'd be shopping for. Love the Toyota Tacoma pickups, but if I couldn't find a bargain there, I wouldn't have a problem looking for something like a Ford Ranger or Mazda B series (pretty much the same truck). With good engine maintenance and a manual transmission, they can go a very long time, well past 200k miles. Even the automatics, which aren't as robust aren't usually that bad to fix. Some of the older F150's and Chevy/GM1500's can be good, probably good to get online and figure out what years had the most (and least) problems and what. An older vehicle has lots of history among owners who tell all. Sometimes we lust after the wonderful 10 speed automatics the new vehicles come with but some of the older 3 or 4 or 5 speed automatics may be a whole lot easier to rebuild if/when needed. If you haul anything, some of those old F250's are built like tanks (check out the rear end on some of those, very stout).

Cars, I don't have a good handle on but know that both Toyota and Honda make really good engines as a general rule. I've seen some Nissans go a long way, too, though some of their transmissions are questionable. Those old Ford Crown Vic's are known as police cruisers but the Mercury Grand Marquis is basically the same car, different fru-fru but not usually used by police departments. Lots of people like some of the old Chevy cars, which were sometimes a little bigger and more comfy, I can't think of the names other than Celebrity, kinda not much to look at, but some of 'em would run and run and run.

There were good years and not so good years with almost all of 'em. Not sure if there is a really easy way to figure that out other than just poking around the web and/or talkin' to lots of mechanics.
 
#37 ·
I think it depends on how the mileage is counted. Here in Montana 200K is just getting started since we drive a lot of highway miles. Not much just sitting in traffic. I don't think you can compare apples to oranges.
An example; I had a new Buick regal when I lived in Las Vegas. 37,000 miles in the first 6 years, daily driver. Moved to Montana, had 200k on it in 16 months. I guarantee the hours on the engine were higher on it in the first 37,000 than the rest.
I like the early to mid 2000's Buick sedans. The 3.8 liter engine is bullet proof.
 
#79 ·
I think it depends on how the mileage is counted. Here in Montana 200K is just getting started since we drive a lot of highway miles. Not much just sitting in traffic. I don't think you can compare apples to oranges.
An example; I had a new Buick regal when I lived in Las Vegas. 37,000 miles in the first 6 years, daily driver. Moved to Montana, had 200k on it in 16 months. I guarantee the hours on the engine were higher on it in the first 37,000 than the rest.
I like the early to mid 2000's Buick sedans. The 3.8 liter engine is bullet proof.
I'm surprised more people haven't mentioned them, the 3800 series engine has a great reputation.
 
#38 ·
Some of the personal & work vehicles that have been very reliable for me:
1977 F150 4x4 400M auto, mileage unknown but 35+ years of abuse as an all terrain well drilling support truck with very little maintenance. This truck would start when nothing else would (COLD outside), probably belongs on display at the Smithsonian.
'95 corolla 1.8L 5 sp, ~270k mi. - rust got to it. Junkyard used it as a yard car for a time.
01' GMC Savanna 3500 5.7L/4l80e, 280k+ and going strong.
'99 Nissan Frontier 2.4L 5 sp., 218k current daily driver. Bonus points for being easy to work on.
'98 Land Cruiser 4.7L, 265k rusty but trusty.
Had a V8 swapped (350/th350/9" rear) 82 S10 that never let me down and I was not nice to it - mileage unknown.
FWIW GM series 2 & 3 3800s and Ford 300" inline 6s have been very reliable in my experience.