Any ideas as to why some cars can get >250,000 miles and others can't get past 150,000?

Question

Mechanically, why do old Volvo's, BMW's, Mercedes, etc., get more mileage than many American cars of the same value? What do these manufacturers do to create engines that go >250,000 miles (I've had 3 old Volvo's and have gotten >300,00 out of each)?

Answer 1

Its mainly in the maintenance, and how the person cares for their car. My 2001 Silverado has 225,000 miles on the original motor and purrs like a kitten all day for me. I have been ridiculous in the care for it. It is pampered, and I keep up on the oil and fluid changes. I had a 1994 Silverado that now has over 300,000 miles on the original motor and tranny. It received the same care as my 01.
I also have a 1999 Chevy Prizm with 201,000 miles that still runs OK. The previous owner abused it and its starting to reflect that cause it runs rough. But it still runs OK and gets 34 mpg, but i guess mainly cause it is pretty much a Toyota. lol.
Like I said though, keep up with the maintenance and don't rag the hell out of it, and it will last. Some does have to do with the brand, but any engine can crap out early.

Answer 2

You have been very blessed with these mileages. But I would have to say that Volvos, MB's and BMW's have endured such distances because of Good Craftsmanship, Good Production Materials and Excellent Overall Maintenance.

I have seen some American cars go over 300k and even Toyotas that have a 450k on their belt as well. The only consistency that I have found in this comparison is that the owners and the maintenance shops that they were in had religiously did the oil change and inspected for wear and tear every time it was scheduled for the check up. I also found out that the cars were not abused and the miles were mostly highway miles.

Answer 3

I've had a few domestics with over 200,000 miles on the clock, too. While a few engines are particularly overbuilt (and yes, most Volvos fall into this category), I would say the most important thing is regular maintenance.

Answer 4

I think the correlation is similar to the research that shows red wine drinkers live longer. When you look at people who can afford to drink a glass of red wine everyday they tend to be wealthy, have access to medical care, and lead healthier lives with fewer risk factors for disease.

Having owned a Volvo myself, I don't think they just build better cars, I think they attract wealthier buyers who are able to keep up with the day-to-day maintenance issues that leaner budgets can't afford. If you can afford to drop 40K on a new car, like a BMW, then you're going to get regular oil changes, new spark plugs, etc, etc.... That all adds up to a long-running vehicle.

I don't believe they are inherently better, but better maintained.