According to Consumer Reports, the average car will last 150,000 miles. If you’re buying a newer model and maintaining it properly, it can last up to 200,000. That still leaves a few car-shopping expeditions in the life of the average consumer. For many of us, buying a car fills us with fear. That’s why we want to start with a car that’s naturally inclined to last longer than average.
Honda and Toyota still lead the pack in producing the most reliable cars. But according to a 2010 edition of Consumer Reports, General Motors is stepping up its game to improve on previous models, and some new models, like the Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox, and Buick LaCrosse V6 have a reliable rating from the start. Ford remains the most reliable of the American-made models, while Chrysler is ranked the lowest. And the car hailed by Consumer Reports for offering the best predicted reliability was the Porsche Boxster.
Retired school teacher Irv Gordon drove his red 1966 Volvo P1800 for 2.5 million miles and holds the current Guinness World Record, certified in the mid-1990s. Of course, such occurrences are extremely rare. But there are services available and steps you can take to increase the longevity of your car, most of which relate to proper care and maintenance according to the vehicle manual.
A good start for any car owner is to read the manual. Check back often and don’t be afraid to bring any questions to the dealer. Another simple step is to keep the car clean. You don’t need to spend a ton of money, but you do need to make sure you keep up with routine maintenance. Check your fluids every few months (or as the car manual suggests) to make sure they are staying at proper levels. These include radiator coolant and brake, washer, power steering and transmission fluids. This is very important because these fluids lubricate different parts to reduce friction, heat, and general wear and tear that can occur over time. Check your manual to see how often the oil and oil filter should be changed; the answer may differ depending on the number of miles you drive.
So if you want to buy a car that will last more than the average 150,000 miles, start with a car that has a reliable reliability rating, like a Honda, Acura, Subaru, or Ford. If you’re buying used, be sure to run a vehicle history report. You can save time searching for your car by using a car search engine like Piefind.com. Piefind searches multiple classified ads to provide you with a list of relevant possibilities, saving you time and energy.