I've had my daily driver for 16 years

[Murdoc]

1997 Ford Ranger 2.3l, 2wd, 5 speed manual.
Purchased in January 2000 with 40,000 miles.
Currently has 230,000 miles.
Has gotten me through college and a few different jobs. And several moves for me, friends, and family.
Has been cheap and reliable transportation.
The most serious issues I've had with it were ball joints and rear axle seals. Still on original clutch!
New York winters are starting to take its toll with rust. Otherwise, I could see it serving me well for several more years.

Anybody else held on to their daily driver for a long time? Tell us about it.

 

[Kaido]

Wow! I'm not very handy with cars & I've always worked a lot of hours at my various jobs, so I've leased for the last ten years or so for convenience. Now I drive too many miles to lease, so I just bought a Jeep Renegade a couple months ago & plan on keeping it for at least the next ten years, until I can pass it down to my kids in high school. Hoping it holds out as long as yours did, 190k miles by yourself is amazing!

 

[DaTT]

I bought my Mustang brand new in 2005. She is my daily. 172k KM on her. Only ever been repaired twice, once for tie rods, and another time for lower control arms (Ball joints).

It owes me nothing.

 

[Yuriman]

2000 Honda Insight

I haven't had a car that long, but when I bought it in 2014, it had 150,000 miles and a single owner of 14 years. I put close to 50,000 miles on it in the last year and some change, so I don't think I'll be able to hold onto it for another 14 years, but looking at his meticulously organized maintenance records (all from the Honda dealer):

*15 Oil changes
*New 12v battery (once)
*New set of brake pads on the front at 140k
*New tires twice, the third set being the ones I'm still using
*Had the dealer put in a new IMA battery in 2009, a month before the warranty was up - I suspect this was unnecessary at the time, but he'd likely have had issues before 2015 if he hadn't

Lifetime mileage, as per the computer, was ~63mpg.

Since I've had it, I replaced the 12v battery again, the cabin air filter, 5MT transmission fluid (despite it being "lifetime, just to be sure), 5 oil changes, and put a new set of wipers on it. It still drives like a new car, with no rattles or squeaks, though some of the fabric on the seats is a bit frayed, and there is some minor staining in the hatch carpet.

EDIT: The headlights were also yellowed, which I cleaned up.

According to my fuel logs, the last 50,000 miles cost me $1,260.33 in gas.

 

[imported_Irse]

2001 Tacoma bought new in Feb 2001. Has almost 200,000 miles on it. Was my DD until this year when I got a new Forester. Still keeping the truck for the times I need one.

 

[nk215]

Have my 97 Wrangler 4.0 since new in 96'. Now it has 180k miles on it and still going strong. I put the wrangler away in storage for 7+ years from around 2006-2015. During that time, I ran my 2002 BMW to 178K miles. Just traded in the BMW last week. The wrangler is still going strong as my DD since I took it out of storage earlier last year.

Since I like to keep my vehicles forever, I am thinking about getting another small vehicle to share the DD duty (looking at a 335i BMW).

 

[UnklSnappy]

My daily driver is a 93 Mazda MX6 with about 76k miles. It doesn't get driven a lot and spends most of the winter garaged since I have a company vehicle.

 

[KentState]

My DD is a 2003 Mazda 6. Parents originally purchased it new and only put 60k miles on it when they sold it to me in 2013. Besides the clearcoat on the bumpers starting to come off, it hasn't had any problems. Only thing I've had to do is oil changes, tire rotation and airbag recalls. Wonder how many years it will go?

 

[buddyholly1969]

My daily driver is my '71 Chevelle. My grandmother bought it new in '71 and I have driven it since '87. Currently has something over 600,000 miles on it. It is currently pro touring set up with way more modern parts than original. I do all my own work so I have written notes to myself all over the inside of the car so I get to see them next time I revisit the inside or doors, under dash, etc.

 

[yh125d]

My coworker drives the cleanest 1999 green Dodge Durango you will ever see. Nearly 300k miles on it now I think.

He makes over 100k a year, no wife/kids, and live in a $400/month house that he's rented for the last 20 years from the same old couple. My uncle has known him over 30 years and this is only the third car he's owned in that time.

 

[Greenman]

My daily ride was replaced last year, 12 years and 267000 miles. Had to replace the rear bearing seals, EGR valve, and maybe the water pump, I don't really remember.

 

[KentState]

My coworker drives the cleanest 1999 green Dodge Durango you will ever see. Nearly 300k miles on it now I think.

He makes over 100k a year, no wife/kids, and live in a $400/month house that he's rented for the last 20 years from the same old couple. My uncle has known him over 30 years and this is only the third car he's owned in that time.

Hopefully he enjoys his money in some other manor.

 

[SearchMaster]

I've never gone that long (probably because I used to drive too much per year) but I do keep my cars a long time.

'91 Eclipse - 0-170K miles (11 years)
'00 Maxima - 30K-210K miles (10 years IIRC)
'98 Accord - 170K-260K miles (3 years)

 

[bigi]

My 1st car was manual '87 Accord - purchased with 124,000 Miles.

I sold it when it had 280,000 Miles in 100% working condition.

 

[nakedfrog]

I had my '04 Sebring for ten years, ex got it in the divorce.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

2000 mazda protege bought with around 110K miles on the clock in 2006. I DD it for around 4 years then passed it to my son to learn on. It now has 230K miles and still runs/drives OK. AC works, heat works, electronics work, etc. Its a miracle considering the abuse and general neglect both he and I have heaped upon it. I just pulled it off the road two months ago and now need to figure out what to do with it..... RallyCross? LeMons? Demo Derby? Hmmmm....

 

[ra1nman]

Had a 00' Tundra that I used as a DD until December of 14'. I purchased it as a gift to myself after getting my 1st job after getting my degree.

I ended up hitting a patch of ice on the highway and running it into a ditch. It wasn't so bad hitting the ditch....unfortunately there was Durango that landed in the same spot minutes prior. Insurance considered it a loss considering the age of the truck and had just shy of 100k on it. On the plus side I got a touch over $10k for it. I miss using it for camping

 

[pbroussard]

2000 Safari cargo I bought new has 205K on it first 120K was brutal, lot of cargo hauling and pulling. Hasn't been the most reliable thing, have done 3 compressors changes, 4 radiators (all replaced free with lifetime warranty from O'reilley's). Just put the 2nd waterpump in it, while it was down I gave it a new timing chain, harmonic balancer and steering box. Waiting in the wings is the updated spider injector that should restore mpg to 20mpg. And an oil cooler since I can't stop a leak @ the factory "cooler" in the radiator. And a new front grill.

 

[WackyDan]

Hopefully he enjoys his money in some other manor.

Yes... His upcoming retirement. Smart dude right there.

 

[iamwiz82]

Yes... His upcoming retirement. Smart dude right there.

Typically someone who lived like that their entire life will not suddenly enjoy their money in retirement. He will end up with a huge estate in probate.

 

[WoodButcher]

2000 Safari cargo I bought new has 205K

My '97 has just a couple more, 285 or thereabouts. While I've replaced or rebuilt almost everything I have not rebuilt the engine. Considering the number of times I've gone out in the a.m. and she has taken my tools and I to the job, hauled material and whatever else I needed to move from point a to b the few times she came home on a flatbed are forgiven.

I was so pleased with my '97 in 2013 I went and bought a '93 to build my hot rod.
http://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=127&t=17922

 

[HeXen]

Wife has 2005 Civic...under 50,000 miles still. lol

 

[thecoolnessrune]

When I go down to Georgia to see my family I still use our 1995 Ford Bronco as the Daily Driver while I'm there. I think a little over 190,000 miles. The only maintenance aside from the usual was the distributor needing replaced, as well as the Ignition Control Module. I believe he also had to replace the transfer case solenoid as after not using the 4WD for nearly 4 years of the truck's life, the engagement system rusted up and broke the solenoid when he tried to use it. Now he makes sure to use the 4WD system at least once a month to keep everything lubricated.

Overall, for a 21 year old truck, its in fantastic condition, and since it's been in Georgia, there's little to no rust underneath the truck, and nothing on the exterior body. I love going down there and driving the truck on the Georgia backroads with the windows down. Brings back a ton of memories.

 

[RichieZ]

1999 Toyota Camry since 2003 when i got my sisters old car, i think it had 30K when I got it and it just hit 189K today

 

[natto fire]

I guess I am a lot harder on cars than many. I have been through at least a dozen in my 16 year driving career. Then again, they have mainly been higher mileage cheaper vehicles.

My uncle's '03 Chevy Express 2500 has over 380K on it, with lots of towing and fully loaded. Original transmission and engine, it has the 5.3 LM7 motor. Always have to laugh when I hear the phrase "they don't make them like they used to" in reference to automobiles. They are so much better nowadays.