Regresar al GuidesNew cars are expensive, and most people want their hard-earned money to go as far as possible. Because of that, most buyers look for a car that will go as far as possible. Good used cars that cost less but will last just as long are also a top priority. Wear and tear are expected over time with any vehicle, but there are tons of factors that can affect a car’s lifespan.
Most modern cars can accrue between 150,000 and 200,000 miles on the odometer under normal circumstances with proper maintenance and without any major issues. The average car is driven about 12,000 miles per year, meaning that a typical used vehicle could be between 12 and 15 years old by the time it reaches that milestone.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, any vehicle can last as long as long as its owner is willing to spend the money to keep it running. Most Americans are unwilling to go that far, but they are also keeping vehicles longer than ever before as well. Keep reading to see how to get the most out of your car and to find out more about how many miles a car can last.
Factors That Can Affect a Vehicle’s Longevity
Multiple factors are at play when talking about a vehicle’s longevity. These can include things over which you have total control and things over which you do not. If you focus on the factors you can control and understand the factors you cannot, you will likely be able to keep your car running for years without many problems.
Routine Maintenance
The largest factor in maximizing your car’s life is to keep up with regular maintenance. Simple things like oil changes, transmission fluid changes, and even making sure to run your car regularly to prevent it from sitting too long will have a profound effect on its overall functionality and lifespan.
Though not always the case, even vehicles with known issues and design flaws can provide years of life as a result of good maintenance practices.
Driving Habits
Some may not like to hear it, but your driving habits also have a profound effect on how long your car can last. Driving your vehicle like you stole it can cause premature wear and tear on components as they have to work harder to do what you are asking the car to do.
Things like accelerating too quickly before the engine reaches the proper temperature, always driving in stop-and-go traffic and never on the highway, and slamming on your brakes when you have to stop rather than saving your brake pads and applying the brakes gently will decrease your vehicle’s overall lifespan.
Likewise, stop-and-go driving and highway driving are very different, and they typically have different effects on vehicle longevity. Highway miles are usually much less taxing on a car and its components than city driving. Stop-and-go driving with constant starting, stopping, and transmission shifting is much harder on your vehicle’s powertrain.
Automotive Technology
Advancements in technology have allowed modern vehicles to reach higher average mileage than ever before. Things like advanced safety features have also kept vehicles out of more accidents. New vehicles are certainly more expensive than used vehicles, but buying a new car can help you get higher mileage than buying a used car that is not as technologically advanced.
Old cars can be excellent for collectors and those looking for cheap options, but advancements in technology have also allowed manufacturing techniques to become better as well. The oldest vehicles will often have to have been meticulously maintained in the past and meticulously maintained moving forward to get the highest mileage possible out of them.
Climate
Climate is one factor that car owners cannot control that can affect a car’s lifespan. Those who live in cold climates are more susceptible than those living in consistently warmer climates to having corrosion affect their vehicles. Road salt and grime can be harmful to a vehicle’s paint, undercarriage, and frame, increasing the potential for rust.
Additionally, climates that experience four distinct seasons can affect cars as a result of the large heating and cooling cycles that frequently occur. Large swings and temperatures can cause premature wear and tear on seals and gaskets throughout your vehicle from expanding and contracting. Batteries are also especially known for being susceptible to cold temperatures.
Complexity
New vehicles are much more complex than they have ever been in the past both because of technological advancements and the regulations that govern automakers. Not every vehicle is as complex as the next, though. A high-end BMW, for example, is much more complex than a base-level Nissan Versa.
There is no guarantee that the BMW will have some kind of major issue before the Versa solely because the BMW has more complex features and systems. Added complexity simply adds greater potential for major issues to pop up, even if they never do. Complex vehicles also tend to come with higher maintenance costs than simpler ones.
Individual Vehicles
Not every vehicle is created equally. No manufacturer wants to make a bad car that has inherent flaws, but some vehicles tend to have fewer issues than others. Some makes and models have common issues because of an engineering flaw or bad component design. Toyota and Lexus, for example, both typically have stellar reputations for reliability, in large part because of their excellent quality control program.
Just remember that no vehicle is perfect, and even Toyota and Lexus still have vehicles in their lineups that have common issues.
Common High-Mileage Vehicles
Both Consumer Reports and iSee Cars gather yearly data surrounding high-mileage vehicles. They have compiled lists based on this data to give buyers an idea of which vehicles have the highest mileage potential.
Consumer Reports survey results show that several Toyota models have proven to have some of the fewest major issues in the industry and should have no problems reaching 200,000 miles or more. The Toyota Camry, Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Corolla, 4Runner, and Highlander all make CR’s 200,000-mile club list. Four Honda models also make the list, including the Accord, CR-V, Civic, and Odyssey. The Ford F-150 is the sole American-made vehicle on CR’s list.
iSee Cars produces their list from vehicle data rather than member surveys. It is more comprehensive than the Consumer Reports list, and they have been conducting vehicle longevity studies since 2013. iSee Cars’ list displays the vehicles most likely to hit 250,000 miles or more. The Ford F-350 Super Duty heads up this list with a 49.1% chance of hitting 250,000 miles on the odometer, a 4.2X higher chance than the average car.
Following the F-350 are the Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Sequoia, Ford F-250, Honda Pilot, Toyota Tacoma, GMC Sierra 2500HD, Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, and Toyota 4Runner in that order. Each of these vehicles has over a 40% chance of seeing 250,000 miles.
Cars like the Toyota Avalon, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Honda CR-V, Acura MDX, Subaru Outback, and Honda Accord all have over a 20% chance of reaching the 250,000-mile mark. Even the last car on iSee Cars’ list, the Toyota Camry, has a 20.4% of reaching 250,000, a 1.7X higher chance than the average car.
None of this data means that your particular Ford F-350, Toyota Camry, Honda CR-V, or Toyota Prius will be problem-free for 250,000 miles, but this data can help guide car buyers when they go car shopping at a dealership or online if vehicle longevity is a top priority.
Tips to Maximize Your Car’s Lifespan
Now that we know that multiple things can affect a car’s lifespan, there are a ton of practical and simple steps that you can take to maximize your car’s life.
Stick to the Maintenance Schedule
Routine maintenance is paramount in making sure that you get the most out of your vehicle. Regular oil changes and transmission fluid changes are particularly important to your vehicle’s powertrain. The powertrain is what gives the vehicle its life and allows it to run. Its components are also some of the most expensive things to repair when something breaks.
Other important items like appropriate coolant levels, any necessary valve adjustment intervals, and timing belt replacement intervals can be found in your owner’s manual alongside the maintenance schedule for everything else in your vehicle. It may be your vehicle after you drive it off the dealership lot, but the manufacturer built it and knows what it needs to stay healthy.
Review the Maintenance History
If you are planning to buy a used car, the first thing you will want to do is get a copy of its vehicle history report and check its maintenance records. This will give you a good idea of how well the car has been maintained to this point. If a car has been meticulously maintained, you should not need to worry that much if it is already past the 100,000-mile mark when it comes into your possession.
Practice Good Driving Habits
We have already mentioned that good driving habits can help elongate a car’s life. That can be hard to do if you live in certain areas of the country where traffic is high and quick maneuvering is necessary to stay safe. There is always something little that you can do to be a better driver, though. It may be something as small as taking a route that costs you 30 extra seconds of driving time but has three fewer red lights. Even that can add up over time.
Research, Research, Research
A high-mileage car does not have to be a scary prospect if you know what you are getting into after you purchase it. The internet has thousands of resources with which to research different car makes and models, the typical problems that previous owners have encountered with them, and the benefits that each one provides.
Even if you buy a car with a history of known issues, you may be able to proactively solve those issues or prepare for them before they happen. Perhaps you can prevent that issue altogether if you can find a guide on how to get ahead of it.
If you want even more peace of mind, you can search for warranty options to add a layer of protection for yourself so that you can keep your car for as long as you need without having to pay enormous maintenance costs when problems arise. Knowledge is power, and researching what your car is, where it has been, and how many miles it may accrue will help you get the most out of what it has to offer.
