What wears down a car more--years or mileage?

Question

I have a 2003 car with almost 80,000 miles on it. It's only 4 years old so it seems silly to think about getting a new one, but it's getting up there in mileage. It's a Saturn Ion. I've maintained it pretty well but I'm wondering if cars just start having all sorts of problems around 100,000 miles, even if they are only 4-5 years old?

Answer 1

If you have taken care of the car with 3,000 mile oil changes and transmission fluid changes you should be good to go for quite awhile with that car yet, make sure you have the brakes checked for wear and a tune-up to the motor and you will see another 80,000 miles easily.

Answer 2

Welcome to the Age of the Disposable Automobile...

Thats right... from the 1980's on often cars were designed believe it or not to be used for somewhere between 80,000 to 175,000 miles then thrown away...

hence the parts for these were also less durable in design than those from say the 50's and 60's of which nearly everything was rebuildable...

the parts on the disposable cars are not rebuildable, often are heard to get, expensive or not available at all because they are obsolete or discontinued by even the original Dealer parts counter

Walt

while well maintained examples can see mileage of 125,000 or more when compared with the number of those which died before ever reaching this kind of mileage

Answer 3

What wears down a car the most is lack of maintenance! I've seen cars with 300,000 miles on them with original engine and trans running fine. I have also seen a car with 36,000 miles on it that needed a new engine because the owner never changed the oil! If you like the car, keep it. It's a "high mileage" car so you wouldn't get much on a trade in. And don't forget the cosmetic maintenance - a weekly wash and a quarterly detail will keep it looking new too!

Answer 4

It depends. Age can take a toll on a car if it is not driven much, or allowed to sit unused for long periods of time. Case-in-point... I bought a '98 Dodge Durango in '05 with less than 70,000 miles on it. At the time it seemed like a good deal to me... But it sat untouched by the seller for over a year. I had to replace the entire front suspension after I owned if for a few months because seals dry rotted and everything rusted out.
I now have a 2002 Chevy Impala with 120,000 miles on it and I have no problems at all.

With your car, regular maintenance will help keep it running without major issues for well over 200,000 miles. Plus, it's a Saturn, I have a buddy who has over 300,000 miles on his '95, and it still runs strong.

Answer 5

What wears down a car more? The treatment of the person who owns it. If you take care of a vehicle, follow recommended maintenance schedules, keep it in good repair, don't abuse it and take care of problems as they come up, a vehicle can last you several hundred thousand miles. If you don't take good care of a vehicle, it can last you only several thousand miles. I see this everyday in the shop I work at. It only takes a little thought to keep your car maintained. Find a good mechanic and listen to what he (or she) tells you about your car. I've seen many cars with over 200,000 miles on them that I would not hesitate to drive anywhere, anytime.

Answer 6

in case you're utilising your motor vehicle on a daliy foundation, once you're clocked in at paintings, then you definitely can deduct your mileage (you may deduct placed on and tear, depreciated fee - if it is paid off - and different expenditures, inspite of the incontrovertible fact that it is milage or the different, no longer the two). you may no longer deduct your shuttle to or from paintings till you reside a undeniable style of miles away out of your job. it is greater low priced so you might declare your mileage than the actual expenditures. at this minute, the federal quantity is .485 cents consistent with mile... it averaes ok in case you do any style of using. As for deducting you funds, you won't be able to deduct sufficient to truly make a distinction (returned, mileage is greater low priced), and your motor vehicle coverage you may carry via regulation besides, so which you won't be able to deduct it. the best thank you to do it, is to touch a tax consultant or accountant on your section, and that they'd have the means to tell you precisely what you may and would't deduct. Our corporation reimburses us the quantity we tension based on the federal quantity at that factor, after which the corporation deducts the expenses that they'd deduct, it makes our taxes plenty much less stressful. wish that facilitates, reliable luck!!!!

Answer 7

It's pretty much a toss-up, a lot of miles with a poor maintenance schedule will kill a car. If you've been religeous about following the owners manual service intervals to a T drive on my dear. Crankcase oil changes, trans fluid, radiator / cooling system service, brakes, rotors and tires will push you on to 200,000 -400,000 miles or more with ease.
If you live in any state except NY winter road salt will not disintigrate the body and paint off your car.
I have to suffer with NY winters very near where the salt is mined for your popcorn and our winter roads to melt ice, snow and truck and car bodies.

Don't trade her in. Speak to her nicely and drive it till she dies a natural death 10 - 15 yrs. from now.

Answer 8

maintance
is the trick to keeping a car for a long time
yes milage has something to do with it
but age will rot the rest
most saturns get to about 150xxx when maintanse is taken over by money to rebuild

Answer 9

Mileage, no question about it. Cars don't necesarily start having problems at 100k, a lot of people just stop taking as good care of them as they do when newer.

Answer 10

Mileage. If you have car for a long time and don't use it much, it'll be fine, but if you don't have it that long but use it a lot, it'll be worn down.