Vehicle Maintenance - Make it Run Forever
- Thread starter Clonedogg
- Start date
Sounds steep, but sometimes a few of the plugs on a 6 or 8 cylinder can be hard to reach without a lot of work, worst case, removing the engine.
A. Buy older Toyotas
B. Maintain them.
Wife has an LS460 that believe it or not is still under warranty as a 14 w 140k. Best $5000 I’ve spent on a car as the headlights were $2100 EACH.
I’ve got a 2020 Tundra 1794 w 115k that I won’t be trading off until they bring back a v8.
Also got a 06 SC430 with 200k I bought at a Richie Brothers equipment auction. It’s my cheap German ‘midlife crisis’ convertible.
If anyone wants a 230k mile 2001 RUST FREE TX Land Cruiser in excellent mechanical condition as a builder…hit me up. Bought it for kids…don’t ever drive it as it doesn’t scratch an itch I don’t have a solution for already.
But I want it to go to a good home and up there a rust free 4x4 is a lot harder to find.
B. Maintain them.
Wife has an LS460 that believe it or not is still under warranty as a 14 w 140k. Best $5000 I’ve spent on a car as the headlights were $2100 EACH.
I’ve got a 2020 Tundra 1794 w 115k that I won’t be trading off until they bring back a v8.
Also got a 06 SC430 with 200k I bought at a Richie Brothers equipment auction. It’s my cheap German ‘midlife crisis’ convertible.
If anyone wants a 230k mile 2001 RUST FREE TX Land Cruiser in excellent mechanical condition as a builder…hit me up. Bought it for kids…don’t ever drive it as it doesn’t scratch an itch I don’t have a solution for already.
But I want it to go to a good home and up there a rust free 4x4 is a lot harder to find.
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85,000 got a lot of life there, if Midwest car cancer, isn't eating it up too much
I read up on this a few months ago when I was looking at early 2010 Audis and BMWs. Carbon build up was a common issue on all direct injection cars of that vintage, but the performance impacts were more noticeable on some than others. Since then, fuel systems have continued to evolve and it's not as much of a problem anymore.
I ended up getting a 2009 Cadillac CTS (direct injected).
Garaged its entire life. Little spot of rust on front other than that it's perfect. Little old lady church car.
Our 2015 Rav with 90,000 miles and some battle damage is the one we'll keep until the bitter end.
Nothing great about the thing other than being a low mileage Toyota
As vanilla as a car can be. Driving experience? No.
Anecdotal for sure, but in my experience Ram/Stellantis isn't gonna make it in the 'run forever' category. Work vehicle (Ram classic 1500) has 69K on it, I've had it for just under 2 years. Been in the shop now for 9 of those ~100 weeks (and Is in there now, for at least another 1.5 weeks...)
Most of it I believe is ham fisted technicians breaking things during routine maintenance, but its all been things that this model is notorious for breaking (oil filter/cooler related items, and fall out from bad repairs)
To protect the likely guilty party, I will spare the name of the Ankeny located dealer that has performed all the work...
My brother in law got it up on his lift says it looks good as he was checking the brakes, struts, tie rods, tires and such before my daughter took it over. Didn't want to put her in a death trap.
Back on topic, I just do what's in the manual/pops up on the dash. For oil changes that's put me around 5-6k miles (Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Civic). Only have the post-purchase fluid/filter changes on the Caddy and my other kid's 1998 Beetle so far as we bought them in October and August.
The Beetle has lots if little things - passenger door handle and window, a coolant temp sensor circuit issue (reads fine above about 100°, but reads -11° at ambient), speedometer flakes out above 45 mph, airbag light, fuel door and trunk latches, falling headliner... it's a first car. Got it for $1500. Drives well and gets pretty good mileage.
The Caddy needs new headlights as they have water inside. The sunroof is also a little flaky - doesn't always open and occasionally makes lots of wind noise above 70 mph. Had to clean out the sunroof drains when I bought it, but no leaks. Paid $4500 for that one.
I'm really bad about tire rotations, but pretty good about fluids, filters and breaks. I do as much as I can myself, but I admit its a privilege to have the space and tools to be able to do that. The biggest thing for me is time. As long as I can get the job done in a weekend, I'll take it on. If I don't know, I outsource it. Thankfully most things are pretty quick.
The Beetle has lots if little things - passenger door handle and window, a coolant temp sensor circuit issue (reads fine above about 100°, but reads -11° at ambient), speedometer flakes out above 45 mph, airbag light, fuel door and trunk latches, falling headliner... it's a first car. Got it for $1500. Drives well and gets pretty good mileage.
The Caddy needs new headlights as they have water inside. The sunroof is also a little flaky - doesn't always open and occasionally makes lots of wind noise above 70 mph. Had to clean out the sunroof drains when I bought it, but no leaks. Paid $4500 for that one.
I'm really bad about tire rotations, but pretty good about fluids, filters and breaks. I do as much as I can myself, but I admit its a privilege to have the space and tools to be able to do that. The biggest thing for me is time. As long as I can get the job done in a weekend, I'll take it on. If I don't know, I outsource it. Thankfully most things are pretty quick.
I've heard VW/Audi are know offenders on GDI carbon buildup.
Never Chrysler or whatever they call themselves these days…owned by Fiat makes it even worse.Anecdotal for sure, but in my experience Ram/Stellantis isn't gonna make it in the 'run forever' category. Work vehicle (Ram classic 1500) has 69K on it, I've had it for just under 2 years. Been in the shop now for 9 of those ~100 weeks (and Is in there now, for at least another 1.5 weeks...)
Most of it I believe is ham fisted technicians breaking things during routine maintenance, but its all been things that this model is notorious for breaking (oil filter/cooler related items, and fall out from bad repairs)
To protect the likely guilty party, I will spare the name of the Ankeny located dealer that has performed all the work...
I either work on my own rigs or have close friends that can help. A buddy with a lift is pretty valuable.
I prefer old GM Trucks, GMT 800 Silverados, Tahoes, etc. Have a couple of Suburbans, Silverados, and with the exception of the 4l60e transmission, these are rock solid old trucks. The 2500 and 3500 gas rigs with the 4L80 e trans are among the best medium duty trucks that have been made in recent history. I dont really need a diesel, but tow my car trailers and utility trailers often with these trucks.
I daily drive a VW gti with 312k miles on it. Runs strong, and I change oil, trans fluid and coolant religiously (on all rigs).
Personally i would not touch a Kia, Hyundai, and newer Fiat/Chrysler stuff. New gm trucks are also not what they used to be. I dont need bigger touch screens and multiple cameras to get to work and play. That **** is all overpriced, bound to fail, quickly outdated junk.
I prefer old GM Trucks, GMT 800 Silverados, Tahoes, etc. Have a couple of Suburbans, Silverados, and with the exception of the 4l60e transmission, these are rock solid old trucks. The 2500 and 3500 gas rigs with the 4L80 e trans are among the best medium duty trucks that have been made in recent history. I dont really need a diesel, but tow my car trailers and utility trailers often with these trucks.
I daily drive a VW gti with 312k miles on it. Runs strong, and I change oil, trans fluid and coolant religiously (on all rigs).
Personally i would not touch a Kia, Hyundai, and newer Fiat/Chrysler stuff. New gm trucks are also not what they used to be. I dont need bigger touch screens and multiple cameras to get to work and play. That **** is all overpriced, bound to fail, quickly outdated junk.
I hate working on cars. I do routine maintenance at the dealership for my wife’s car, she gets the new, nice ones.
I’m driving a 2011 Highlander with 170k miles. I basically get the oil changed every 10k and keep it topped off. It burns so much oil it doesn’t really need refreshed per se. When I get it changed I use a small time mechanic just to see if anything major is on the horizon. As soon as he says a major repair is coming I’ll buy something else and trade it in.
I’m driving a 2011 Highlander with 170k miles. I basically get the oil changed every 10k and keep it topped off. It burns so much oil it doesn’t really need refreshed per se. When I get it changed I use a small time mechanic just to see if anything major is on the horizon. As soon as he says a major repair is coming I’ll buy something else and trade it in.
2018 Volvo S90 with 145k (120k mine)
2019 Pacifica with 80k (40k wife)
1993 F250 with 118k
I used to work on cars a ton but stopped because it turned into maintenance only which kinda sucks. I liked the modification part. I was a big Jeep guy in my teens and 20s and burned through about 8 or 10 of them with some significant work done on a couple of them. Started having kids and off they went.
Recently started back into it with the cost of taking them somewhere and pulling the 93 out of a pasture where it had been sitting for almost a decade. I’ve been doing all the routine maintenance and repairs at the house.
Got the truck up and running with some new parts and fluids. I find myself driving it almost always if I’m not commuting to work and back. I like the simplicity and the old school vibe. I had a decently equipped 25 F250 most of the summer from work and I still drove the beater. Nothing like rowing gears and listening to the hum of the 460.
I’ll soon be looking for my oldest and I’m leaning towards a straight 6 jeep or an older 4 Runner. They seem to last forever.
2019 Pacifica with 80k (40k wife)
1993 F250 with 118k
I used to work on cars a ton but stopped because it turned into maintenance only which kinda sucks. I liked the modification part. I was a big Jeep guy in my teens and 20s and burned through about 8 or 10 of them with some significant work done on a couple of them. Started having kids and off they went.
Recently started back into it with the cost of taking them somewhere and pulling the 93 out of a pasture where it had been sitting for almost a decade. I’ve been doing all the routine maintenance and repairs at the house.
Got the truck up and running with some new parts and fluids. I find myself driving it almost always if I’m not commuting to work and back. I like the simplicity and the old school vibe. I had a decently equipped 25 F250 most of the summer from work and I still drove the beater. Nothing like rowing gears and listening to the hum of the 460.
I’ll soon be looking for my oldest and I’m leaning towards a straight 6 jeep or an older 4 Runner. They seem to last forever.
That’s really interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing.
I remember those wagoneers. Someone at my gym drove one. I looked it up and the sticker price for that particular model was $110k! I thought “who the hell is buying these things?!” Our first house was $129k…
In my experience that does't sound half bad.
Sometimes getting to the spark plugs requires a lot of work in itself.
