Can anyone give me the typical "lifespan" on these cars?

Question

I want to buy a reliable used car. In the price range I'm looking at (no more than $8000) some of the cars have a somewhat high mileage (already 100K miles or more). Soooo, the reason I'm asking about "lifespans" is to know how long I can expect each to last....

Toyota Corolla
Honda Civic
Nissan Sentra

K thanks! 10 points to the best answer!

Answer 1

All these cars are roughly equivalent in terms of long-term reliability. There's not enough difference for you to make it a major factor in your buying decision. It's the characteristics of the specific car that you're considering that are more important.

What's the car's current condition (have a qualified mechanic look it over)? Has it ever been in a major accident (get a CarFax report)? Has the previous owner maintained it properly? Does it have any known problems? How are the tires? Belts? Oil? Brakes? Exhaust system? Transmission? Can it pass an emissions inspection? How does it drive?

Answer 2

The Honda Civic would be my choice for reliability, safety, resale and a proven history.

Whether you buy a used car from a dealer, a co-worker, or a neighbor, follow these tips to learn as much as you can about the car:

Examine the car yourself using an inspection checklist. You can find a checklist in many of the magazine articles, books and Internet sites that deal with buying a used car.

Life-span: If taken care of and properly maintained this vehicle can go 200,000 miles easy.

Test drive the car under varied road conditions - on hills, highways, and in stop-and-go traffic.

Ask for the car's maintenance record. If the owner doesn't have copies, contact the dealership or repair shop where most of the work was done. They may share their files with you.

Talk to the previous owner, especially if the present owner is unfamiliar with the car's history.

Have the car inspected by a mechanic you hire.

Life Span: If properly maintained this vehicle could go 200,000 miles easy.

Answer 3

Jack B is correct. You can not predict life span on a vehicle. The amount of care and maintenance that went into a car will typically determine how much longer a car will last.

A car that was badly abused will fail significantly faster.

The best thing you can do is take the car you are planning to purchase and have it tested by a mechanic.
I recommend getting a compression test to help you determine the conditions of the rings and valve seals.

The transmission is a whole other story. You should also get this checked out. Transmissions do need to be maintained, and many people forget about them until they fail.

Answer 4

All three are great cars, but the Corolla and Civic are a tad better in overall reliability than the Sentra. I have personally seen more Civics with over 200,000 miles on them then Corolla's. You really can't go wrong with either one. I like the styling of the Civics than the Corolla though.

Answer 5

The only thing that matters is how well each car has been maintained. None of these cars were predestined to outlast the other two. Any well-maintained modern car should go 250,000 or 300,000 miles. Buy from someone who has kept all records on routine maintenance and has fixed all problems with the car. Buy the car which has been most meticulously taken care of. 'Lifespan' will depend solely on this. I would have to say that the 'average lifespan' would probably be about 190,000. But that's fairly irrelevant.

Answer 6

I'm on my 5th Honda. 3 ( 2 Accords and 1 Civic) have had over 200,000 miles. I bought 1 Accord with 96,000 miles and the other one new. My current Civic (1998 DX) was new when I got it. Current milage is 210,000. I plan on making it through another Ohio winter...

Answer 7

Toyota's hold their value for a long time. They are also known to run well over 200,000 miles. As for the others, I don't know, sorry.

Answer 8

toyota has an unparalleled reputation for quality, and even my honda-loving brother has made the switch as a result!!