128,000 miles - most I've ever had on a car

[disneysteve]

I turned 128,000 miles on my car today. That is the most I've ever had on one of my cars. I traded in the last one with something over 127,000. I don't remember the exact figure but I know it was between 127K and 128K. Of course, I bought the last car new and bought this one with 11,000 miles on it so I'm not responsible for all of the miles, but it is still the longest I've had a car, both in miles and age. It is a 1998 Toyota Camry. Since it actually came out in 1997, that makes it 13 years old. In August, it will be 12 years that I've owned it.

So to all of those folks who think you must always have a car payment, I submit this as evidence to the contrary. Even if I had financed it for 6 years, which I didn't, I'd still be going on 6 years without payments. In reality, It is nearly 9 years since I paid it off. It can be done.

[zakity]

128,000 is nothing! I laugh at your 128,000 miles. We have over 361,000 on the Nissan. The thing won't die.

And, yeah, not having car payments is a good thing. That is part of the reason we have so many miles on the Nissan. It is cheaper to keep fixing it than it is to buy a new car. And, if you upkeep a car well, they last forever.

[irmanator]

Yea that is nothing, I have had vehicles close to 200,000 miles on.

[maat55]

I drove my 88 chevy silverago to 175,000 then gave it to my father-in-law. It still runs, but I don't know the mileage.

[creditcardfree]

That is great!! We've been over 120,000 but they weren't all our miles either.

[asmom]

12 years, 128,000 miles? I envy you. I have that many miles on my Jeep and I've only had it for 5 years. Thank you very much Atlanta commute.

[disneysteve]

Oh, I didn't think 128K was a lot. I know lots of people with more miles and most in fewer years. It is just the most I've put on a single vehicle.

[GREENBACK]

100k seems to be the new 75k. I have two 4wd trucks with well over 100k(1998 & 2003) and they're running great. With proper maintenance you can get a lot out of vehicles these days. Unless you just have a itch for a new one I'd push to see what you can milk it for. I'll bet you can double the mileage if you try. Just a thought Most I've done is 135k but that's older cars.

[bjl584]

My Elantra just rolled to 100K late last week. I used to own a 94 Sonoma pickup that had 125K on it when I sold it, and I had a 85 Bronco II that was at 141K when I got rid of it.

[gpoitras]

I've got a paid off 2006 Honda Civic with 52k, I told myself I'd keep it till at least 100k, longer if it's still going strong. The best thing about it, it's paid off.

[MonkeyMama]

I think most of our vehicles were bought with more miles than 128k.

Not to "one up" you, but to totally agree on the financing thing.

The thing is, you don't have to buy mega old cars to go the cash route. We paid cash for my dh's vehicle in 2001 (had about 10k miles). The thing has 110k miles today. It's barely had a repair. Even if we financed that car for 5 years we could have banked another 4 years of payments by now, for a replacement. (Without a car payment, $74/month x 9 years would buy a similar replacement car. You don't have to spend a fortune for a reliable car that will last a decade. OF course, I presume it will make it to 150k, easy, and wouldn't be surprised if we keep it to 200k).

[Scanner]

My 1999 Ford Taurus is sporting the exact same mileage as you, DS.

I haven't made up my total mind that I am paying as much in repairs vs. a car payment (would have to do analysis) but my suspicion is I am.

I am guessing for the last 6 months I have probably sank $1200 in repairs on it. . .so, the question is, what can a $200 monthly payment with $0 down buy me?

[wincrasher]

Drive a 12 year old car? How depressing!

So do the ladies in your office think you are broke, or just cheap?

[Scanner]

Just cheap. . .but they know I am divorcing too. . .so you can add in pathetic to that

Actually, I punched the numbers. . .a $200/month auto payment will sport me a car costing $6600.

TERMS:
3 year loan
6% interest

[wincrasher]

LOL. That was directed at Steve - he's a rich doctor, you know.

One of the guys at work wanted to look at one of my new cars. He didn't ask how much it cost, just how much per month. I laughed and said "nothing"!