There are a few factors to consider when purchasing any vehicle that is over 100k miles. The life of the battery, its past history, accident reports, and the last time the owner took the Prius to get a tune-up.
Should I Buy A Prius With Over 100k Miles
But if the owner has already replaced the battery, within the last year, then it should be fine. But a Prius with 100,000 miles on it that has a brand new battery will not be as cheap as a Prius with its original battery.
The Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) is a common high-mileage problem with Jeeps, according to Car Complaints. The website listed this issue as one of the most prevalent issues for a number of vehicles, including the 2011 Grand Cherokee (avg. 51,000 miles), the 2007 Compass (avg. 110,000 miles), and the 2012 Wrangler (avg. 52,000 miles). There is an internal fuel pump relay in this arrangement. And if the TIPM malfunctions, your automobile may stall.
Servicing your car after 80K miles helps you get back on track with optimal efficiency, performance, and safety while preventing many common issues due to poor servicing practices. However, there comes a time when we all end up needing a towing service. With these tips for servicing your vehicle, you can keep your car on the road longer.
Your shocks and struts are part of the suspension system that keeps your vehicle moving smoothly over bumps and dips in the road. After 100,000 miles, these components can wear out and cause significant problems with your ride quality and handling. Changing them is usually not a difficult task. However, you should consult with a professional shop before attempting any repairs yourself, as this type of work can be hazardous if performed incorrectly.
If you notice a rumbling noise coming from your car, it could mean the exhaust system needs replacing. Exhaust systems are made of metal, which can become damaged over time and must be replaced. A good indicator that your exhaust system needs replacing is if you start having trouble with emissions testing or if you hear loud noises from the engine when you accelerate.
You should note a few checkpoints: do all your tires have ample tread left? Are you looking for signs of uneven tire wear? Are all the belts and hoses in good shape and show no deterioration? Do you hear odd noises when you step on the brakes or accelerate? It is vital to keep up with vehicle maintenance for a reliable ride. However, if your vehicle breaks down, New Image Towing can help!
Many Toyota Prius year models experience similar lights and engine problems. The 2007, 2008, and 2010 year models are the least reliable, with each having a plethora of reports of headlights malfunctioning or blowing out and over-consumption of oil. These you should avoid at all costs.
Ok so depreciation is when something loses value over time because it gets worn out. You can see why this is an issue with cars what with their tendency to age and add mileage. Carfax offers this metric:
I owned a Honda Odyssey 2000 van which I bought new and it was the worse purchase I ever made. Transmission failed at 60,000 miles. Rebuilt transmission cost $4,000 but they gave me $3,00o credit. Then rebuild transmission failed at 90,000 miles along with radiator, and catalytic converter. I had someone tow it away and sold it for scrap. A friend of mine had the same thing happen. These transmissions were well known for being underpowered and prone to failure. I will never own a Honda again.
I drive a 2011 Toyota RAV 4 that I bought new. It has just shy of 100,000 miles and has never cost me a repair. I keep up with my annual maintenance and hope to keep it on the road for many more years.
Hmmm. Maybe I should have waited. A few months ago, I replaced my 9yo Versa hatchback ( owned 7 years), with a 2yo Honda Fit that was just off-lease. Maybe I could have found a slightly older one, but the +10 average mpg and the fact that my insurance cost went DOWN ( better safety features the agent said) make me very happy. And the fact that for the first time in my 64 years I had saved up enough to pay cash?
I prefer used older model with low mileage. I bought a 2008 Subaru forester for $10k but it only had 58,000 miles. I hope it will last another 8-10 years and my 13 year old will drive it as her first car. I figure we generally spend $1500 per year when factoring in purchase price, maintenance, depreciation and life span. Not bad, if you ask me. My last car was a Toyota Corolla and that averaged less that $750 per year. I think with patience you can find a low mileage older vehicle that will last for years and cost relatively little per year.
Oh, and I aspire to spreadsheet things as often as you do. I also intend to but somehow never start or never keep up with it as long or thoroughly as I should. This is true for everything from vehicle maintenance to those big household expenses you showed before. Thanks for being a good super nerd example!
I am currently driving a 2012 Toyota Rav 4 (4wd). I bought it one year ago. The owner of the car lot had used it as his vacation vehicle for when he jetted down to Florida (we live in Kentucky). So, it was six years old when I bought it and had 26,000 miles on it. I paid cash, and even got him to come down a little on the price. Hope to drive it for many years to come. Love Toyotas. My 16-year-old son is learning to drive in my 2009 Toyota Camry. I bought it used in 2012 with the plan to pass it on to him when he started driving. Hope it gets him through high school, college, and beyond!
Thanks for the analysis. It is true you always run the risk of a lemon. My previous car, 2000 Ford Taurus, I got in 2011 with 89,000 miles for $2,000 cash ran me $4,000 of fixes in 18 mos. Then I lost my job in NJ and two and a half months later got a job in So. Florida. I made the best of my bad options and financed a 2006 Nissan Sentra with 62,300 miles in Dec 2012.
I love the Frugalwoods philosophy for many aspects of my life. However, I am on the opposite end in terms of car purchases. The way I view frugality is to buy new cars with a very high trade in value. For this type of car there is another flat line slope between 30 and 60K miles. Even a car dealer will eagerly offer a premium for this type of trade in. I advised both of my sons to trade in three year-old Subaru Imprezas for newer models. They were impressed with the outcome and enjoy driving their new Imprezas. In this situation, I would advise against a private sale, since the full sales tax on the new car would have to be covered. With a trade-in, only the sales tax difference is charged to the buyer. As a former owner of high mileage cars who was stuck helplessly with many thousand of dollars worth of repairs, I have made a vow to never drive a car with over 100K again. The financial and emotional headaches are not worth it for me. I prefer depreciation of my car instead of time and money spent for tow trucks, loaner cars, and repair shops.
This is such good info!! One other thing for people to consider-I bought a 2013 Nissan Leaf with 10.5k miles on it for a little under $9,500 (and paid all cash). This price for a new 2013 Nissan Leaf is about $29,700. I think this car was so inexpensive because it is a shorter range electric vehicle and it can go about 80 miles on a full charge (depending on if you are driving on a highway, blasting AC, etc.) as opposed to other EVs that can go over 200 miles.
I have a 2007 Honda CRY with 140,000 miles. I paid $5000 for. We just bought my daughter 2004 Honda Civic with 94,000 miles for $5000. We found this car salvage place that only accepts Honda with front in back end damage. Engine untouched. They fix them all up, repaint them after we put down $500 deposit. It was ready 6 weeks later. I love the car so much not sure if I can give it to my daughter when she turns 16. Great gas mileage. We have had no maintenance needed. Just oil changes. It is so nice to not have car loans.
Wow, your first rear brake job lasted 1 1/2 years and 15k miles. There is nothing frugal about that. As an auto tech for 45+ years, either those first pads were poor quality, or the rotors should have been replaced to the first time, or the workmanship was deficient.
Yes , I understand about saving money and all but I did buy my Corolla in 1996 brand new and I am still driving it today at 456739 miles later, never replaced a motor, still the OEM motor and trans , how could buying my car new be bad?
I understand some makes do last longer with regular maintenance but new car cant be all that bad.
A 10-year old Honda Civic driven infrequently with only 80,000 miles on it can often be purchased by a savvy car purchaser for the exact same price as a 10-year old Honda Civic with 160,000 miles on it.
GM engineered and provided the powertrain for the lunar rover that NASA sent 238,900 miles to the moon in July 1971. The Tahoe at Napleton had seen 313,761 miles pass under its wheels. The Tahoe's upholstery showed little wear. There were no dings, dents or rust visible. The paint shone. Condition of the lunar rover: unknown.
A scan of used vehicles for sale at franchised new-car dealerships around the country showed there's a change afoot. High-mileage vehicles taken in trade used to be automatically disqualified for retail sale at such dealerships. Vehicles with 150,000 miles or more usually were shipped to auctions, where they were snapped up by the independent dealers who operate buy-here, pay-here lots. Not anymore.
"200,000 miles is the new 100,000 miles for a lot of people," said Brian Moody, executive editor of Autotrader. "It's completely common for something like a Chevrolet Tahoe or a GMC Yukon to have well over 200,000 miles and still sell for a decent amount of money."
At Lexus of Seattle in Lynnwood, Wash., a shiny silver, three-owner 2005 Lexus GX 470 SUV with an asking price of $14,350 looked like a great deal in today's market. It had been driven 202,568 miles but had a clean Carfax report showing 53 service history records for factory-recommended maintenance and repair of a few broken components.
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