I do try to keep up and make sure all the maintenance items are kept up to date. If you don't take care of your car it'll die on you in a heart beat. Especially these newer, more sensitive cars.
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A good friend of mine was pretty high up in Honda. Said I could forget about having a newer Honda that would last 200 - 300k anymore. At least not without incurring incredible expense.
"Customers want comfort and good looks" he said, "that's about it". "And they trade in their cars more often, if not lease them". His point? Why build cars to last 200 - 300k if the cars won't be driven that long anyway?
He actually made that comment 15 years ago. And it seems true, people do appreciate having a new car more often. And cars have become more comfortable and fuel efficient.
I kept a 1991 Accord on the road for 270,000+ before it was totaled in a high speed accident in the rain. (Was hit by a guy with bald tires and left the freeway sideways)
Even then, it got to be quite expensive to keep the car in good repair over 200,000. Radiator, fan motors, another timing belt, water pump, spark plug seals (in the head) another set of CV boots and shafts, a new clutch of course, motor mounts, and then all the things I had never even heard of before.
I used to think it was cheaper to keep an old car on the road. Maybe it was back back then (1950's - 1980's?) now i'm thinking 150,000 or anytime it's due for a lot of expensive work after 125,000. What do you guys think?
Keep in mind -- the engine might be solid as a rock. But there's a lot more to a car than an engine. And nothing is cheap.