How Many Miles are Too Much?

[re_guderian]

They don't quickly become beaters, but they can quickly become money pits to new owners that are trying to catch up on overdue maintenance and repairs that haven't been properly addressed if you're not careful though.

Beaters, no. Money sucking leech? possibly.

I don't even agree with that. I've being reading this forum for 4 years. I've seen a guy ruin a cruiser by submerging it. Can't recall any other PM related failures. Tranny failures occur without warning, even to those who pour hundreds of dollars into preventative drain and fills. Diff failures are usage and design based. The ignition will snap at random too, regardless of how frequently you change your oil. Never seen a timing belt break, at least not with an OEM belt. I recall a recent serpentine belt tensioner failure, but that's not even a regular pm item, no? In short, where are all these lack-of-pm failures that everyone is alluding to??? Where are the high mileage failures???

 

[bamachem]

I didn't say that a lack of maintenance would cause you to spend money due to FAILURE. A lack of maintanance on a rig that is newly owned by someone who is anal about maintenance can be an expensive venture.

Two totally different things...

 

[re_guderian]

Gotcha...

 

[SWUtah]

I didn't say that a lack of maintenance would cause you to spend money due to FAILURE. A lack of maintanance on a rig that is newly owned by someone who is anal about maintenance can be an expensive venture.

Two totally different things...

I think I agree with both of you. Members tend to fall in love with their Hundys. I got my latest at 107k miles. It was maintained by the book at the local Las Vegas Lexus dealership from new. Mostly highway miles based on the rock chilps and not much off road travel. In the last year and 12k miles I've done brakes, all fluids, T's, new OME suspension, wheel bearing repack, and Slee rock sliders, and new plugs and all filters replaced. That is a pretty good investment, but I'm good to go for another 60k miles except for Oil/filter and tire rotations. It will take me 5 years to cover the next 60k miles. I don't think the investment is that much to drive a dependable Hundy. JMHO

 

[Telly]

I'll chime in. My Mom was a rural mail carrier and she drove 1980's era Toyota Corolla's on her route, which was 100 plus miles of rough wash board gravel roads with stop and go driving everyday. She would buy another one after about 250,000 miles. Typically, the suspension would be the only part that would wear out beyond repair. You should have seen these cars...full of dust, under carriage packed with mud, engine caked with dirt and grease but they would just run without a problem. That basically sold me on the reliability of Toyota's.

 

[yeti in ga]

I will be surprised in a another few years if anyone with over 300k can sell them for more then parts. But to keep one you have worked on and keep up with maintenance , mine will reach that and beyond already pushing 210k. In other words , I would not buy one myself with more then 200k but with only 100k - 150k , I wouldn't even think twice and buy one with mods because anyone who mods their truck had plans most likely to keep it....

 

[re_guderian]

I will be surprised in a another few years if anyone with over 300k can sell them for more then parts. But to keep one you have worked on and keep up with maintenance , mine will reach that and beyond already pushing 210k.

I dunno. It's becoming more and more common to see them on AT with more than 200k miles, at considerably more than parts prices. That was not the norm several years ago. The times, they are a changin'...

 

[super90]

I will be surprised in a another few years if anyone with over 300k can sell them for more then parts.

I sold my super-clean, well maintained 80-series for $5k with 250k miles on it, and the buyer was ecstatic ! And is still happy with his purchase three years later.

Sooooo....be prepared to be surprised.

 

[2TonTater]

I dunno. It's becoming more and more common to see them on AT with more than 200k miles, at considerably more than parts prices. That was not the norm several years ago. The times, they are a changin'...

Yup. I bought 2000 in august with 223k. Found it at a local used car dealer and was "willing" to pay $9800. Now, it had wonderful maintenance records (Toyota dealer), timing belt done at 178k, reman'd front rack and pinion, new Michellin m/s and shocks all around with less than 1500 miles, brush guard, in tact leather, third row seats, etc. and runs like a dream. I'm on a mission to keep it forever.

That said, I'm socking away $200/ month as maintenance funds and can do basic stuff myself.

I'm embarrassed to admit that the prior vehicle was a new (NEW) 2013 Audi A6 that I had for 10 months and, except for open highway driving, I developed a deep, abiding hatred of it. I mean despised it. Walked into the dealership, held out the keys and said "here, I'm over my midlife crisis".

Oddly, I think it's now that I'm enjoying my midlife crisis. I am so happy, and my wife even notices it. If you pay cash and sock a bit away for the every now and then repairs, you'll have a very comfy ride and a capable, long lasting beast. Just don't get AHC or nav. Stuff you don't need and will eventually become a PIA expense to fix IMHO.

GOod luck with your search and decision.

 

[mikeacs]

I will be surprised in a another few years if anyone with over 300k can sell them for more then parts. But to keep one you have worked on and keep up with maintenance , mine will reach that and beyond already pushing 210k. In other words , I would not buy one myself with more then 200k but with only 100k - 150k , I wouldn't even think twice and buy one with mods because anyone who mods their truck had plans most likely to keep it....

Thats why I decided to trade my 99 last week. I loved the thing, but It had 244K, and the dealer offered $6000 trade. It was worth more, but I had no response on C/L or the classifieds (because of the high miles I suspect), and a deal came up on another vehicle.. My cruiser ran great, but the paint and interior were tired, it was about to need brakes and rotors again...etc..I thought that if I waited much longer, I might ended up having to deal with a Tcase or tranny repair..or even an serious engine problem, and then it would be a total loss.

Still, a Landcruiser with 100K or so is barely broken in.

 

[suprarx7nut]

190k 99 here and the thing feels newer than most any other car I've ever driven. Mileage is a poor indicator of health for most any vehicle, particularly a Toyota.

I've got a Supra with 330k miles that nobody can believe. It's all about the maintenance and how often the vehicle's been abused or unattended.

All this being said, if you're not one to do car work yourself in your garage at home you may want to steer clear of older cars. Paying someone else to do car work gets expensive fast.