Whether by necessity or choice, U.S. motorists are holding onto their
cars for longer than ever, with the age of the average vehicle on the
road at a record-high 10.8 years, according to the research company R.L. Polk
in Southfield Mich. By comparison, the average life expectancy of a new
car in 1930 was a scant 6.75 years. Fortunately, today’s cars are more
than up to the task of going the distance.
“Owners who keep their vehicles beyond the manufacturer’s warranty period are able to have greater peace of mind that vehicles are becoming increasingly more dependable,” says David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates.
How long can a typical car or truck last these days? We recently checked the used car classifieds at AutoTrader.com and uncovered a long list of creampuffs in all vehicle classes that were not only pushing the limits of longevity, but had enough left in the tank to be seeking new owners. These included a 1983 Isuzu Rodeo SUV with 381,960 miles on the odometer, a 1993 Honda Civic coupe with 355,720 miles, a 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser SUV with 332,357 miles, a Nissan 300ZX convertible with 330,000 miles and a Ford F-150 regular cab pickup that’s clocked 290,000 miles.
Today’s cars are built to last as long as 250,000 miles or more with simple routine care,” says ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician and Chicago Tribune auto-service columnist Bob Weber. At that, some models are easier to keep running than others. An owner is more likely to put forth the effort to hold onto a vehicle for an extended length of time if it’s amenable to own in the first place, doesn’t suffer from chronic breakdowns and isn’t overtly costly to maintain or repair. With those criteria in mind we dug deep into the available data to assemble the accompanying slideshow of 10 model-year 2013 vehicles that, with proper attention, can reasonably be expected to keep up with traffic for at least 250,000 miles
Admittedly, this methodology favors time-tested models that have clocked at least a modest ownership history and tends to exclude both promising newcomers like the Chevrolet Spark and Dodge Dart, as well as cars that recently received extensive mechanical redesigns like the Ford Fusion and Escape. What’s more, we left several otherwise amenable and reliable hybrid cars off our 250,000-mile list, including the extended-range electric Chevrolet Volt, because of what could be prohibitive costs to replace their batteries at some time during a prolonged ownership period.
However, as with any new vehicles to roll off the production line, you’ll need to follow the automaker’s maintenance schedule to the letter in order to garner maximum mileage out of our top picks. Car-care expert Bob Weber suggests heeding a manufacturer’s so-called “severe use” schedule, which includes more frequent engine-oil changes. By definition it applies to those who frequently drive in stop-and-go traffic, live in extremely hot or cold climates or dusty areas or who tow a trailer (in other words, the majority of motorists).
“Owners who keep their vehicles beyond the manufacturer’s warranty period are able to have greater peace of mind that vehicles are becoming increasingly more dependable,” says David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates.
How long can a typical car or truck last these days? We recently checked the used car classifieds at AutoTrader.com and uncovered a long list of creampuffs in all vehicle classes that were not only pushing the limits of longevity, but had enough left in the tank to be seeking new owners. These included a 1983 Isuzu Rodeo SUV with 381,960 miles on the odometer, a 1993 Honda Civic coupe with 355,720 miles, a 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser SUV with 332,357 miles, a Nissan 300ZX convertible with 330,000 miles and a Ford F-150 regular cab pickup that’s clocked 290,000 miles.
Today’s cars are built to last as long as 250,000 miles or more with simple routine care,” says ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician and Chicago Tribune auto-service columnist Bob Weber. At that, some models are easier to keep running than others. An owner is more likely to put forth the effort to hold onto a vehicle for an extended length of time if it’s amenable to own in the first place, doesn’t suffer from chronic breakdowns and isn’t overtly costly to maintain or repair. With those criteria in mind we dug deep into the available data to assemble the accompanying slideshow of 10 model-year 2013 vehicles that, with proper attention, can reasonably be expected to keep up with traffic for at least 250,000 miles
Admittedly, this methodology favors time-tested models that have clocked at least a modest ownership history and tends to exclude both promising newcomers like the Chevrolet Spark and Dodge Dart, as well as cars that recently received extensive mechanical redesigns like the Ford Fusion and Escape. What’s more, we left several otherwise amenable and reliable hybrid cars off our 250,000-mile list, including the extended-range electric Chevrolet Volt, because of what could be prohibitive costs to replace their batteries at some time during a prolonged ownership period.
However, as with any new vehicles to roll off the production line, you’ll need to follow the automaker’s maintenance schedule to the letter in order to garner maximum mileage out of our top picks. Car-care expert Bob Weber suggests heeding a manufacturer’s so-called “severe use” schedule, which includes more frequent engine-oil changes. By definition it applies to those who frequently drive in stop-and-go traffic, live in extremely hot or cold climates or dusty areas or who tow a trailer (in other words, the majority of motorists).
