Low Miles ??

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RPMagoo

RPMagoo

Just An Old Motorhead
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When looking at vehicles, on craigslist, and other places - I often see, for example, a 15 year old vehicle, with 135,000 miles, listed as "low miles". -- Sellers seem to judge "Low Miles," by the number of miles per year. -- So by that philosophy, a 1965 car with 250,000 miles is a "Low Miles" car. -- I guess not. -- Comments ???
 
Craigslist liars thinking saying it makes it so.

There are only three major manufacturers that 135,000 is probably low miles.

Honda
Nissan
Toyota
 
Well most 65 era vehicles would not have MADE it 250K without major work, and quite a few would not have made it 100K, LOL.

My "beater" 97 Dodge 1500 has nearly 190K on the clock, and it still runs great. On the other hand, I really don't know it's history. I suspect the torqueflite was rebuilt
 
The 68 GTS I bought out of SW Indiana showed 95K on the clock. I was amazed to see when it got here that it had a sticker on the windshield saying, last registered in 1974 !!
I then checked to be sure that is was numbers matching drive train. OHH Yeah !!
When I removed the drive train and disassembled the car, I could tell that it had never been apart before. Just got LUCKY I guess !!
 
abodyjoe said:
You forgot a jeep with a 4.0 in it. Hell 200k is still low miles for those. :)
Click to expand...

Got one o does too. Had 205 when the guy gave it to me. Leaked really bad from the main rear seal, and had no power. So I repowered it. Arr, Arr Arr. Great Now !!
 
I have a 97 GMC 2500 series pick up with 255 thousand on it. trans was redone at 210. Motor is original. Burns a quart every thousand miles.
 
Our old Accord, 497,000
Nissan, 495,000

Both of those with original motors, but the second trans on the Honda.
 
TrailBeast said:
Craigslist liars thinking saying it makes it so.

There are only three major manufacturers that 135,000 is probably low miles.

Honda
Nissan
Toyota
Click to expand...

I so super duper disagree with this statement!

I picked up my '79 Dodge Magnum from the original owner who kept paper work on EVERYTHING he did to the car down to wiper blade and light bulb change out.
He stopped recording after 10 years with 323,000 plus miles when his daughter got handed the keys for collage at slightly 6 hours away and mused on how she would be home every weekend for laundry and friends for 4 years!

After his daughter used the car for collage, his son, 4 years younger was handed the keys for his 4 year run at the same collage. I asked if he was home every weekend with a smirk on my face and he replied "Thank God no, but I did get pictures and post cards from St. Louie, Niagra Falls and Onterio Canada" etc... The list went on for 30 seconds. Yep! Him and his bro's went traveling and I'm sure with keg in car.

Well, the list doesn't end there. He then used the car as his daily driver again for traveling to work. It was almost a dead exact 80 mile round trip in and out of N.Y.C. as a fire fighter for 10 years.

How many miles are on this engine?

I took it out and about and then home. The original I rebuilt engine burned 1/2 a quart of oil between changes. I updated the ignition from the unbelievably still working lean burn, added dual exhaust off the exhaust manifolds and was promptly rewarded with 19-20 mpg's along with the Edelbrock Performer intake manifold and 600 cfm carb.

My wife's Durango was just given to a friend in need with 245,000, burn very little oil.
My '03 Dakota quad can V6 has a tick over 260,000 (IIRC) and uses almost no oil. The truck is ready willing and F'in A able at anytime to do anything!

Take care of your vehicle and use top quality materials regularly and your vehicle will take care of you!

Low miles maybe a point of view but it is also a state of condition.
I do have a hughe issue believing people selling there car because most people just want to dump it and/or your money. Most people have no second thoughts about screwing the next guy.
 
rumblefish360 said:
I so super duper disagree with this statement!

I picked up my '79 Dodge Magnum from the original owner who kept paper work on EVERYTHING he did to the car down to wiper blade and light bulb change out.
He stopped recording after 10 years with 323,000 plus miles when his daughter got handed the keys for collage at slightly 6 hours away and mused on how she would be home every weekend for laundry and friends for 4 years!

After his daughter used the car for collage, his son, 4 years younger was handed the keys for his 4 year run at the same collage. I asked if he was home every weekend with a smirk on my face and he replied "Thank God no, but I did get pictures and post cards from St. Louie, Niagra Falls and Onterio Canada" etc... The list went on for 30 seconds. Yep! Him and his bro's went traveling and I'm sure with keg in car.

Well, the list doesn't end there. He then used the car as his daily driver again for traveling to work. It was almost a dead exact 80 mile round trip in and out of N.Y.C. as a fire fighter for 10 years.

How many miles are on this engine?

I took it out and about and then home. The original I rebuilt engine burned 1/2 a quart of oil between changes. I updated the ignition from the unbelievably still working lean burn, added dual exhaust off the exhaust manifolds and was promptly rewarded with 19-20 mpg's along with the Edelbrock Performer intake manifold and 600 cfm carb.

My wife's Durango was just given to a friend in need with 245,000, burn very little oil.
My '03 Dakota quad can V6 has a tick over 260,000 (IIRC) and uses almost no oil. The truck is ready willing and F'in A able at anytime to do anything!

Take care of your vehicle and use top quality materials regularly and your vehicle will take care of you!

Low miles maybe a point of view but it is also a state of condition.
I do have a hughe issue believing people selling there car because most people just want to dump it and/or your money. Most people have no second thoughts about screwing the next guy.
Click to expand...

Well yea, a 1979 :D

That was awhile back you know? LOL
 
I have a 2000 Dakota I bought new, it has 229K on it. It has been a very good vehicle, very little trouble with it, doesn't use oil.

I had a 74 B300 Dodge van I bought new, it was a major piece of ****. From new it needed a quart of oil every 1100 miles. It had major build quality issues such as developing a half turn of play in the steering after a week. It had problems that were not correctable. In spite of all of that,I grew to like it and kept it. Had to go through the engine at 80K because it was sucking oil like mad. Drove it 160K in 12 years, ultimately had to junk it because of terminal rustout that made it unsafe to drive.

The Dakota has very little rust, I hope to keep driving it for a while. Vehicle quality is light years ahead of where it once was. I also bought a 69 Dart new, build quality wasn't too bad but it, too used a quart every 1100 miles.

I find it incredible that 79 Magnum lasted as long as it did, good care or not, because build quality went steadily downhill during the 70s and bottomed out around 80 and then slowly started to improve.
 
Old man ray said:
I have a 97 GMC 2500 series pick up with 255 thousand on it. trans was redone at 210. Motor is original. Burns a quart every thousand miles.
Click to expand...

Ditto, my 2000 Silverado.

Approaching 300K miles. Replaced a planetary gear at 217K, Engine is untouched, and it still doesn't burn oil, either. I credit a steady diet of Mobil One (since new) for that.

I'm a believer that maintenance ( not brand) is the key to longevity.

Prior to this I sold a 1986 Dodge B150 Ram Wagon "Royal" with 301,000 miles on it to a friend Who put another 104,000 miles on it, and then He sold it. Original 318, and 999 Trans, 405,000 miles with no major mechanical issues. It was another Mobil One vehicle. I've since lost track of the van...

I've done the same with a 57 Ford, that I purchased from the original owner back in 1965. I logged 286,000 miles in that car before selling it, with no major repairs.

IMO, "low miles" is a product of previous care, maintenance, and use vs. the alternative.

I've seen cars/trucks with 80K miles on them that I wouldn't touch, and cars with 200K miles on them that I wouldn't think twice about buying.

While odometer readings are a factor when making a purchase, the maintenance records are a much bigger factor, as is the seller's driving habits.
 
Well never thought I would say this BUT, 2007 Edge with 160K on the clock, bought it new and NO problems with it so far. Runs and looks new.
 
A lot of people out here in the country put a lot of miles on their vehicles simply because it's a long drive anywhere. To them anything under 200k is 'low miles'.

I've had 3 different suppliers that ran Chevy pickups that had over 400k on them without any engine problems. One had to have the auto trans replaced at about 350k but one currently has 440+ on it and only recently had to replace a sensor in the trans, no overhaul.

I see a lot of American brands that have over 300,*** on them around here.
Dallas
 
lot depends if road miles or city driving too. and Dallas you forget Ozark drivers sometimes add a little "shine" to the gas for valve lub!?????
 
The OE owner of my Magnum was super very good at record keeping and the oil changes were nearly as good as the famed Swiss watches are accurate.
As Frankie said, keeping up on the vehicles parts is key. Not just the motor oil. The previous owner did anti-freeze, transmission and rear axle oil changes.

This doesn't mean every vehicle will last, but doing so will certainly help in getting there if it is possible.
 
It not necessary mileage but condition.
I have an old 78 power wagon that I bought off the original owner, I think all he did was change the oil, because when I went thru it a grease gun had never been used.
Every tie rod, u-joint, wheel bearing etc was wore out, the truck had 79,000 mile on it when I bought it 3 years ago.

In retrospect I have a 03 wrangler since it was almost new, it now has 78,000 miles and is in great shape, because I have maintained it.
I figure since it is a 4.0 5-speed it should last me at least another 20 years.
 
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