How many miles should I keep my car?

How many miles is OK for a car?

Two hundred thousand miles. A whisper of asphalt, a lifetime etched in oil. Each revolution a story. My old Honda, she hummed past that easily. A million miles, perhaps. More than miles, though.

• Timeless journeys. Across deserts shimmering with heat, mountains piercing the sky… the road unwound, endless.
• The heart of the machine. A rhythmic pulse, a loyal friend. A symphony of gears and pistons. 200,000? Child’s play.
• A car’s soul. Not just metal and glass. It lives, breathes. It carries memories. The scent of pine needles from that trip to Tahoe, the salty air of the coast.

My grandpa’s Ford, though… different. Barely hit 150,000 before giving up the ghost. Neglect. Neglect kills, even cars. Careful maintenance. That’s the key.

• Regular oil changes. Crucial. The lifeblood, you see. Every 5,000 miles, religiously.
• Tire rotations. Essential. Even wear. Balance. Harmony.
• Brake pad replacements. Stopping power. Safety first, always.

Two hundred thousand. A number. A milestone. But it’s the journey that matters. The miles melt into a tapestry, woven with moments, with laughter, with sunrises. Each car a unique story, a legend in the making. My little Toyota? She’s aiming for three hundred. Three hundred thousand whispered tales.

Is 200,000 km too much for a car?

Two hundred thousand… kilometers. A shimmering horizon, seen through rain-streaked glass, maybe. Kilometers, they whisper stories, etched onto metal. Not always bad stories, no.

200,000, it hums. What matters… oil. Black gold, coursing, keeping time. Service records, they’re the key. I know that’s true.

• Maintenance Rituals: Oil changes are important.
• Rotating Tires: A small kindness, extending life.
• Tune-ups: Like a violinist tuning, keeping harmony.

A car with 200,000 km can be…good? Yes. Like my grandfather’s axe. Replaced the head, the handle, but still…his. It still has value, eh?

Consider things.

• History of the Car: Was it loved? Or driven hard and forgotten?
• Inspection by Mechanic: The truth teller. Sees beneath the surface.
• Test Drive: Listen, feel. Does it sing? Or cough?

Distance isn’t everything. What is love, if not kilometers travelled, but loved? 200,000, I’ve heard.

What mileage should I get rid of my car?

Mileage whispers, fading paint, the stories etched on dashboards. Decisions hang heavy, a cloud of exhaust.

Seven… no. Ten years, maybe. A decade witnessed in rearview mirrors. Mileage, just a number, yeah?

• 200,000 miles: A line in the sand.
• Maintenance costs: The serpent in the garden.
• The siren call of new car smell: Irresistible.

I traded my Honda Civic at 180,000 miles. Regret, sweet, sharp, lingers. Rust ate the soul, or so I told myself.

70k, 100k? That dreaded maintenance window! New belts, hoses replaced. Like shedding an old skin.

• Transmissions whisper warnings.
• Engines cough, then roar.
• Tires sing their swan song.

High mileage is relative, isn’t it? Depends on the car, the care, the karma. My neighbor’s truck hit 300k.

Used car cutoff? 80,000 miles. Suspicion blooms, a dark rose.

Get rid of it when… when you feel it. The turning point. The wrench, the constant fear, the uncertainty… when it outweighs the pleasure. That’s the whisper you listen to.

How many miles should you be putting on your car?

200,000 miles? Seems… a lot, right? My old Honda Civic, she barely made it past 150,000 before the transmission gave out. Heartbreak. Pure heartbreak.

Ten thousand miles a year? Hah. More like five, these days. I barely leave the house.

Mileage depends entirely on the car itself, I think. And how you treat it. The oil changes. Those tiny details.

Things I wish I’d done differently:

• More frequent oil changes. Seriously.
• Better attention to minor repairs. Ignoring rattles turned into expensive problems. A lesson learned the hard way.
• Less highway driving. Stop-and-go is brutal. My car hated that.

This year, I’ve barely driven 3,000 miles. The car sits, mostly. It’s sad. It’s… lonely.

How many miles should a car do in its lifetime?

A car’s lifespan? It’s surprisingly variable. 200,000 miles is a decent benchmark for a conventional car, but think of it more as a starting point, not a finish line. My uncle’s ’98 Honda Accord? He drove that thing over 350,000 miles before finally trading it in last year – a testament to consistent maintenance, I suppose.

We often forget the human element. Driving habits matter hugely. Aggressive driving? That’ll eat up miles faster than a toddler demolishes a box of cookies. Gentle acceleration and braking? That’s your car’s best friend.

High-mileage potential exists, exceeding 300,000 miles in certain meticulously maintained models. Think luxury cars, German engineering, or specific Japanese makes known for their reliability. It’s a matter of quality, design and driver care.

• Consistent Maintenance: Regular oil changes, tire rotations, and addressing problems promptly are key. Neglect is your car’s enemy.
• Driving Style: Smooth is better than aggressive. Seriously.
• Vehicle Quality: Some manufacturers simply build longer-lasting cars. Do your research; this varies greatly by model and year.

The average US car age hovers around 12 years now. That doesn’t directly translate to mileage, though. A 12-year-old car could have 100,000 or 250,000 miles, depending on the owner’s habits. There’s a complex equation here. A well-chosen car, though, can easily outlast that average, potentially doubling the mileage, maybe even more with luck and good driving. Life is full of uncertainties; car longevity is no exception. Think about it.

My own 2018 Subaru Outback, for example, is already pushing 80,000 miles – and feeling fine! It’s all about responsible ownership. The end is never truly predetermined. Or is it? I’m still not sure.

How many miles per year is reasonable?

Fourteen thousand miles a year. That’s what they say, right? Seems…a lot, doesn’t it? Especially when you think about it… lying here, three AM.

My Honda Civic, she’s seen better days. 2018. Probably closer to twenty-five thousand this year. I drive a lot. Work, you know? Back and forth. That’s what eats up the miles. It’s a curse and a blessing. The job…it’s all I got.

High mileage. Yeah, I know. The mechanic, Frank, he keeps saying I’ll need a new engine soon. My stomach clenches. A new engine. That’s a big chunk of money. Money I don’t have.

• Average mileage: 14,000 miles per year (according to the survey)
• My mileage: 25,000 miles, easily.
• My car: 2018 Honda Civic. Getting old.
• Frank’s warning: Needs a new engine. Soon.

It’s tiring. Driving. The road blurring into a dull ache behind my eyes. I feel the weight of it. The weight of those miles. The weight of everything.