Glanced down at my odometer last week and realized my Lexi had crossed 100,000 miles!!!
Woo!
Went to humble brag about it over on Twitter because what proud parent wouldn’t?!, and was quickly put to shame by just about the entire financial community, haha…
Here’s what I wrote:
And then here’s what I had to deal with:
- “Is 100,000 a lot to some people?” – @freedomthirty3
- “Add another 100K and that’s when we buy them.. 🤣” – @FleaMrktFlipper
- “I’ve got a 2014 Subaru at 112K, a 2004 VW Touareg at 120K… And a 1988 Land Cruiser at 219K. #TRIPLEFrugal” – @MikeyFriesen
- “Your membership will be considered. We have a 2008 Toyota van with 178k and a 2004 Dodge Stratus with 127k.” – @spyguy1108
- “My Ranger has 204k lol” – @jakecalbillo116
- “Not until you hit 150K 💁🏻♀️ …my Tahoe is 209K” – @VoluptuousZ
- “You’re just breaking in. Just breaking in my friend! 177k here.” – @Smallbudgetret1
- “Rocking 190,000 with my car from high school. 💪🏼” – @colleen_mcadams
- “221k for my 06 Toyota Camry!” – @m2010l
- “05’ vw jetta tdi 274,849 miles.” – @TravisH62571317
- “Still driving my 2009 Lancer 285,000 and ticking” – @mikethecdn
- “Currently at 295k on the Camry. Someday junior, someday…” – @Z1pD33
And my favorite:
- “Hold my beer…..VW Passat B5- over 350k :)” – @Mrti99671953
So basically, I’m still a rookie ;)
But every mile further gets me closer to the club!!! Which is actually a real thing, it turns out! There’s a logo and t-shirt to prove it, haha…
$25.04 and free shipping right now at Amazon ;) (Well done Ty and Miss Mazuma!)
But despite the prodding, you can clearly see the “100,000” in small print, so I’m very happily putting that win in my pocket and continuing forward as a proud member…
Because having a paid off car is one thing, but having a paid off car that keeps going for decades and decades is a whole other! And from what I can gather, being able to run it into the ground is now the “cool” thing, haha… Anyone who’s anyone is doing it – PEER PRESSURE!!!
But seriously, it really does save you tons of money so do it ;)
And while I hesitate to put this out there again just to get laughed at more, I am curious to see who else is a member of this rather elite club??!
If you’ve got over 100,000 miles on your ride right now, let us know in the comments, along with the make and model and year! Maybe we can find a 500,000’er up in here to help lead our club into the future, since clearly I can’t be the one to do it? ;)
Pass those applications over!
PS: Shout out to the person who sent me this article to make it sting even more: What, You Only Have 100K Miles on Your Car? That’s Nothing
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I’m at 190k (virtual high five) on a 2013 Subaru and she’s just getting started. She was also paid off in 3 years so I’m maintaining a few thousand in reserve for expenses like the rattle in the exhaust – I blame the road salt on that one.
Congrats on whooping me!! People LOVE Subarus around here… I feel like there’s a secret club I’m missing or something ;)
Driving Volvo XC60 with approximately 125K. Previously purchased a car with over $100K and drove for another $100K.
You drive cars with $100k in cash in it??? Where can I find one of these?! ;)
Obviously a typo on my part – meant to say “Previously purchased a car with over 100K miles and drove for another 100K miles. If I ever post again, I’ll make sure to read and reread to avoid getting such a response.
Haha… I was just giving you grief ;) You can probably find at least 13 typos in every article I publish on this blog! So believe me, you’re all good!
2008 Honda Accord just recently crossed 140k. I bought it new 10.5 years ago.
Nice!! I want an email when it hits 240k, please! :)
Sure do! A second hand 2008 Prius at 120k and an second hand 2008 Odyssey that’s still a baby but almost at the mile high mark . Both paid for with cash, no car loans!!
that’s the way to do it right there, well done….
(although now that I think about it I don’t think I’ve ever bought a car in all cash??? One time I even put it on my credit card – hah! (But I always pay them off super fast, so hopefully that counts for something :))
What counts? Mileage on car or miles drove by yourself? We bought our Seat Ibiza two years ago with 132k km (82k miles) and now we are about to reach 150k km (just over 93k miles). So technically we are only 11k km away from the HMC membership but most fo that was already in the car. So?
I’ll relay it over to the judges, but for now let’s count it ;) Since after all – the point of having a well worn car is for frugality reasons, which can only be made by the owner of it who is you!
Ha! We’re definitely in the “buy them with upwards of 100K on them” club. My Prius has 134K (although we did buy it at around 65K) but I hope to get many more years out of it! We just bought my husband’s Honda Pilot with around 120K miles but we’ve heard they’ll go strong until 250K+ (we hope!). That’s the great thing about Toyotas and Hondas. And someone mentioned a Land Cruiser? Those things will go forever! My dad has one from 2004 and it’s just getting started. :)
Haha yeah – someone joked the other day that it was a requirement of all FIRE people to own a Honda or Toyota for those exact reasons :) And if you scan the models here, most of them are!
2012 Honda CRV with 106,200 and a 2007 Chevy Silverado with 129,600. I also have a 2018 Honda Pilot with around 9000 miles. Its just a baby.
those are some big cars! you use them for lots of yard saling or something?? :)
I just did the same thing. My 2008 Prius passed 200,000 last week so naturally I posted a pic of the odometer on my Facebook page. Within minutes I had friends posting pictures of their cars with 300,000 plus. Oh well I am still proud of my car and even more so that I am not buying or leasing a new car every 3 to 5 years. Congrats on your milestone!
Haha agreed.
And at least you have trounced my odometer screenshot! :)
Running 192k on my 2006 Chevy Silverado that I bought brand new. And the last 3 years I don’t put many miles on her because because work provides me a truck. Hoping to pass her down to my kid someday.
Very nice!!! Work cars are awesome!! (Provided you don’t have to always be in there??)
I’m still driving a 2002 Toyota Tacoma from just out of college – 138,000 on the odometer. I had quite a bit of maintenance work done last year, and my mechanic told me that we were just breaking him in! Haha! I will consider a new car when our house is paid off – 6 years at our current (accelerated) pace!
Love to hear that!!! Going to have so much cash free’d up on that beautiful day!!
I have a 2008 Honda Accord with 205,100 miles on it. Hoping to get at least another 100,000 out of it. Bought it in 2009 with 4,000 miles on it. I still remember the salesman pushing the new ones on me. Haha, riiiiiight! I’m just kicking myself for not taking the basic auto mechanic course in high school rather than the sixth useless p.e. class because it was fun. YouTube is awesome though! God bless folks like you who put out such useful information to the world for free. Thank you so much!
Haha, no problem…
We def. live in amazing times right now w/ the internet :) Provided it doesn’t steal your soul and turn you into digital zombies…
And here I thought I was about to cross a milestone. My 2007 Toyota is 400 miles from 100k.
My main use is for road trips. I live in a hill-heavy car city but had I known in 2007 that I would be living within 2-4 miles of where I work for the next 12 years, I probably would’ve skipped the car, saved money, and biked to work!
About 111k. :) 2009 Toyota RAV4. The car actually made me money last year: I was standing in traffic when a cop car tried to sneak by me on the driver’s side and left a dent and scrape. I got a nice little insurance payout but will be investing the funds elsewhere. The funny part: the scrape was in the exact spot where I’d had a previous, um, encounter with a stubborn mailbox. (Clearly I’m not very vain about my car.)
I miss those days of insurance checks!! My old Caddy snagged two of them before I had to give her up :)
2010 Toyota Corolla with 156,000
2015 Subaru Forester with 81,000 (she’ll get there)
My 06 Altima crossed the 100K mark last year and is still going strong. I think keeping it all these years has been my best (non-marital) financial decision I’ve ever made.
2002 Honda Accord – 170k :)
Doesn’t move all that much and is getting rusty but it works when I need it.
Those Hondas!
Let my 2008 Chevy Equinox go last year with 217,000 miles on it. Bought it new in 2008 and drove it 45 miles to work 5 days a week. I would have kept it longer since there was nothing wrong with it, but I have a long commute that goes through some really rough neighborhoods, the kind in which a tiny woman all alone does not want to have car troubles. Something was bound to go wrong. My niece has happily been driving it to and from school, though. She never ventures farther than 10 miles from home and her dad is a competent mechanic, so high mileage is less of an concern.
My Ford Fusion now has 30,000 miles. Unless I start having issues with it, I’ll probably keep it just as long.
Haha yes – there’s def. a time and place to be driving some of these high mileaged cars ;)
236,000 on my Honda Acura!!! Love this machine. Planning on driving it forever! When forever comes in looking to purchase another one. Thanks J Money for all you do for us!!!
hey – no problem! thanks for chiming in and joining the convo! :)
We have a 2012 Jaguar XF with 130k, a 1997 Mustang Cobra (red convertible, of course) 170k, and a 1998 Toyota 4-Runner with 330k. All of these cars get regular oil changes & maintenance, so none of them have ever required any major repairs.
Damn! Over 600k in mileage! I’d say that it would be nice if every mile = $1.00 here, but something tells me you’re well over that with a frugal mind like that ;)
jmoney,
finally! one I can win! I have a 2012 Focus with 115000, but I also have an F250 with 308000!
yay, me!
Cindy in Wyoming…
Haha… enjoy the crown while you have it!!! :)
My spouse trades in his car every 2 years. I doubt we will ever make it to this club!
OUCH!!! That’s one expensive hobby.
2008 Honda Accord 178k miles
2011 Odyssey ~130K no plans to update. I’d like to see it turn 200k
Well, my husband drives a 2006 Mazda Tribute with 208,000 and my 2012 Toyota Highlander has about 120000 and I bought it used with 88,000 on it. My plan is to drive both until we have to push them down the road! My mechanic is a friend and said I’d pretty much only see him for oil changes with the highlander when he looked it over for me so I was sold (he worked with me trying to keep a Volvo alive for way longer than it was worth & it was expensive!). My dad had a Corolla when I was a kid that went over 300k.
Knowing a mechanic can do wonders – especially for us who like driving them beyond their normal lives :) We actually had a 2005 highlander before and my wife is still bitter that I gave her up! Haha…
We are at 360.000 in our 19.5 year old car! A BMW that just keeps going… we love it!
Holy crap – now that is impressive. And people save BMWs are just for show!
Hey J$!! Move over, 2004 GMC Yukon coming through with 379,684 original miles on original engine. And they are all mine. Realtor in my past life put some crazy serious miles on my ride. Key has been changing the oil, air filter, etc.ourselves..of course. Hoping to hit at least 500,000…I mean why not??!!
Okay you win haha…
And I want a pic when you hit it, please!
260k on my 2006 Toyota Tacoma.
Absolutely loved this post!! Great for a Monday after daylight savings time begins again.
Proud owner of white lightening.. 2008 Chevy cobalt, 129,300 miles!!
160,000 – 2006 Ford Focus, with the paint on the hood peeling off! And – 2007 Pontiac G5 with 140,000. (Baby Step 2 of Dave Ramseys plan with less than $60k Left but both cars paid off in 2015!)
Nice to see some American cars getting some good press here!
My 2008 Honda Civic is at 98,900 – I was planning on getting an upgrade in a couple of years at 125K-150K, but after hearing all of this I may just keep her longer! She runs like a top!
yes, it’s safe to say it has quite the life left in it still :)
2005 Subaru Forester with 235,000 for us!
*Thumbs up*
Hey J!
I’m with you my friend – my 2006 Toyota Camry hit the 100,000 on Saturday!
Heyo!
My wife, Dr. SoS, has a 2011 Kia Sorento EX with over 101,000 miles on it. With continued regular maintenance there is no reason why her car would not provide at least another 100,000 miles. I am not sure she will drive it that long, though. We should have cash to buy the Tesla she wants long before then.
Well you know I’m going to back that Tesla idea all day long!! Sat in one the other month and it sure was dreamy :)
I was the proud driver of a 1999 Honda Civic with 248,000 miles when she died in 2015. I replaced her with a much fancier, used 2008 Volvo C70 (paid cash) which has rolled over to 101,000 miles this past week. Love my Volvo & plan to keep it until the wheels fall off :)
Ooooh those cars are pretty!! And even more so when they’re paid off!
2012 Honda Fit
120K and still feels brand new!
Just reached 215k on my ’08 Honda CRV!
Baller!
I drive a 2004 Ford Explorer with 205,000 miles on it. I bought it used when it had 70,000 miles already. :-]
i had 146,000 on my 2007 Mazda 3 when i sold it to a friend last year. Bought a 2015 Honda CR-V under 20,000 and am close to 30,000 now.
My 2001 VW New Beetle (Pearl) has 270,945 miles on her so far, and we just put a new engine with only 66k miles on it in her in January so (fingers crossed) she’ll run forever! I bought her in 2015 for $1000 and recently was rear-ended and the insurance paid out $1000 for it. I had my beetle guy fix it for me and now she’s almost as good as new.
$1,000!!! What a steal!
Very cool J, congrats! I hear hitting the 100k mark is nothing for those who own trucks. Have been reading about them lately. Had no idea you own a Lexi. Have been thinking of getting one (a used one of course!) for the past few years. Heard nothing but great things about them. Oh and that’s a really cool t-shirt! :)
They drive sooooooo smoothly! Especially for an SUV (we have an RX-350). And surprisingly all three kids it in there WITH car seats! (Though we def. had to mix and match and order ones that would work…)
Haha, congrats on your entry to the club! :)
My 1990 Miata (that I bought in 1991) has 256K miles on it. It’s a great car!
I hope it’s a convertible too! used to love those back in the day
OK, so — here is another side to that question. Is it frugal when you are only adding about 4K a year to the car? I bought new because based on the used I wanted to buy versus the new, with incentives and a < 1% interest loan on the new vs about 4% on the old (plus included maintenance packages) it was actually cheaper to go new looking at monthly costs and upkeep.
IOW, it will effectively be about 20 years from new before I hit 100K on my vehicle.
Yes, in your case the lower the mileage the better, haha.. good point :)
Congratulations on hitting the 100k mile club! Now please feel free to sell you car to me for a heavy discount as this is about when I buy them. lol I currently drive a ’99 Ford Mustang (convertible) with about 219K miles on it. My Ford Taurus SHO had about 190K on it before that. Both cars together were purchased in cash for $1500 and $2500 respectively. I don’t think I can get that lucky again. My grandfather was the original owner of the Mustang (then my little sister), and was religious about oil changes. As an 82yr old man who has typically traded in his cars every 3-4yrs he can’t believe I still drive that car half way across the country to visit. I can’t wait to get it to 300K!
Nicely done!!! And even more so that it’s a convertible for double the pleasure!
My husband’s Toyota Tundra 2012 just hit 300,000.
Your husband is one sexy beast.
I have a 2010 Volkswagen Routan (that’s a minivan for all the cool kids who don’t know) that I’m rockin’ with 172,000 miles. I bought it in 2014 For about $12,000 with the intention to drive it for 4 years, then buy something else. Now that I’ve made it this far, I’m hoping to make it to 2020 before upgrading to another late-model used car. Who knows – maybe even longer. The car is certainly worth more to me than I’ll ever get out of selling it.
“for all the cool kids who don’t know”
haha…. I was one of those cool kids who didn’t know until we started minivan shopping last month :)
2002 VW GTI. Just hit 165,000. Love my car and no plans to get rid of it at all.
You know most of the people reading this, will have 100K cars, right? LOL :)
We buy our cars used and for cash, so yes, 100K+! :)
I know – wrong crowd to be bragging in, haha…. Although in the opposite crowd I’d still lose too because everyone would just point and laugh!!
LOL! My father-in-law loved to buy and sell cars. And he wasn’ wealthy. He said when a started getting close to hitting 100K, he would have to sell it.
Our 2010 Mazda 5 has 60,000 miles on it and I hope it gets to 100k in 9 more years.
We don’t drive much. :)
Congrats J$!
My current ride is an 18 year old Toyota Sequoia with 175k.
MPG sucks but I do use the back for camping which is surprisingly roomy.
The funny thing is the car was basically free.
I made the mistake of buying a new car back in my early 20’s and then tried to sell it a few years later at a loss just to get rid of the payment.
While I was in the process of selling it was totaled in an accident (not my fault ) and I was given enough from the insurance to cover the loan on the car and buy my trusty Sequoia cash!
NICE!!! Funny how the world works sometimes!
Reminds me of a friend who went to turn in his two weeks notice but his boss kept telling him to come back later that day, and then when he was finally summoned to the office he was let go and given a severance package!! Hah!
Awesome, I am at 144k on my 2010 Toyota corolla. last week i had to replace the CV axel however that is much better than a car payment. I tell everyone I hope to get 5-8 more years that way i pay with cash for the next one.
My 2009 Subaru has just over 160,000 miles. Though starting to age very fast. Let’s hope it can get to 200,000.
2005 Toyota Prius, 161K+
I’ve had it since 2010 and it was just shy of 100K when I got it. Just went through a significant period of repair over the past 4 months: all brakes replaced (second time since I’ve had the car), wheel bearings replaced on one wheel, had to replace the hood latch because it had rusted shut (!), and new battery (second time since having the car). My car was also a victim of strong windstorms a couple of weeks ago and now the roof has some minor dents and the radio antenna is broken thanks to a tree branch falling on it. Luckily, the radio still works, so I bought some crazy glue and am just going to glue the plastic casing for the antenna back together. I’d be happy if it made it to 200K miles, but the biggest challenge for me is that I live in a city in the Northeast and it’s parked outside all year long. At this point, I’m worried I’ll get in one day and see that the bottom has rusted out! Can’t complain at all, though as it continues to run well and get me where I need to be.
Dang – that’s crazy it’s required two new batteries like that since you’ve owned it? And those are not your typical ones right? Because of all the electric stuff?
2009 Hyundai Sonata 105K
2005 Honda CRV 139K
1990 Volvo Bertone 139K
Threepeat!
Just finished breaking in my 1986 Honda Prelude … 250K (but that’s km not miles).
Heyyy!! I used to have almost the exact same Prelude! Mine was a 1998 and lasted me half of college until I had to get rid of it and pick up a new (to me) prelude also 1998 :) Ran that one until one of the pistons literally fell out and then sold on eBAY – HAH.
Buick Lacrosse 2007 at 166k
Considering how many non-frugal people ditch their cars for a newer model after just a few years, I say you’re in the club.
My 2001 Civic had 138,000+ when I bought it for $1800 in May 2017; now she’s over 170,000 and will hopefully keep going for a long time. I did have to put a salvage yard transmission in February 2018 when my transmission pump went, but most of the other costs have been normal maintenance stuff.
Salvage yard – now that’s frugal!!
Just traded in my 2006 Honda 235K miles, still have 2000 Rx300 190k! No car payments for 10 years!
Yeah follow RX’er!! Nice to see it humming along there!
lol. This is awesome! Welcome to the club, J$ :D
So you saying my application is approved???
****WOOOOO!!!!****
I had 117k miles on my Ford Focus which was 12 years old when I decided to stop driving it (major safety issues). I was proud to be able to continue to drive a paid off car for so long. Now I live in a remote area where I don’t need a car and I just bank what a monthly car payment would likely be on top of what I’m saving regularly.
Excellent idea!!! You’re already used to spending it so why not keep doing so right into savings – love it!
Bought a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica with 98K miles on it, paid off the credit union loan early a few years ago and it’s at 147K and doing great. I love it! My husband is a Saab nut (er, enthusiast) and he just bought a ’97 900S Turbo that I think has about 137K on it. For $900. Runs great after a muffler replacement, total cost less than $2K and he has a car he obsesses over. :) Newer is not always better.
There could be worse cars to be addicted to! :)
J$, I feel sorry for anyone who has to spend so much time (and mileage) sitting on a motorized throne with their foot on a pedal.
As admirable as mileage may be, I think it’s more appropriate to focus on older vehicles with lower mileage– and alternate vehicles with higher mileage!
For example, we own a 2005 Prius with only 55K miles. We just don’t drive very far on a 30×40-mile island, and we try not to drive very often.
Maybe I should create a better metric: surfer mileage.
A 16-year-old longboard, surfing 2-3 times per week for about 60 waves, and riding them an average of 150 feet for… ~1400 miles. ( = 150 x 60 x 52 x 16 / 5280)
All that extra paddling in & out to catch the waves is just practice.
Who’s with me?
And this is why we love you, haha…
We have a 2006 Honda CR-V with 194,000 miles and a 1998 Honda Civic with 198,000. We will drive these suckers into the ground (even more than they are now lol )
I wanna see which one beats out the other :) My money is on the Civic.
2003 Subaru Forester 151K and no plans of getting rid of it.
We’re around 175,000 on each of the two 2004 models, may they have many more miles in them left! Unfortunately one of them is starting to guzzle gas and we don’t know why. Cross your fingers for us that it’s something easy to fix, we’ve already dropped $3000 in maintenance and new tires this year.
Ack – good luck!!! Fingers and toes crossed!
1978 Chevy Bonanza C20 – 184K (Husbands first car bought used in 1980) Hauls our 1987 camper around.
1991 Jeep Cherokee – 151K (Husbands daily driver and desert fun toy. Bought used in 1996)
1995 Chevy 2500 diesel pickup – 130K (share with our son, hauls my horse trailer and his dirt bike. Bought it with $124K)
2003 Subaru Baja – 148K (My daily driver bought new in 2002)
2004 Toyota Corolla 130K (Our sons car. He bought it with 104K on it in 2016.)
You might have a ways to go on longevity!
It looks like it, haha…
Good thing I have you mentors to look up to! :)
We have 178k miles on our 2011 GMC Terrain. Excited, because we just traded up my 2009 Ford F150 crew cab with 180k mile for a “like new” 2015 F150 super crew with 30k miles! Its our new retirement travel vehicle (heated leather seats, and the works)! We actually bought it so our nine yr old golden retriever, Jack, has a back area to ride comfortably while we travel the U.S. in retirement (2yrs in and loving life!). (Note: in the FL Keys for the next month as I type!)
Living the dream!!!! Good for you!!
My 1999 Saturn SC2 just turned 185,000. I bought it new and it still gets 32+ mpg.
while in the air Force in 1984, I bought a used 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88 with 77,000 miles on it. I didn’t know I would be keeping it for the next 15 years, trading it in for my Saturn at 225,000 miles (and around 18mpg, lol).
I didn’t know I was one of those people who keeps stuff until it broke, including appliances and cell phones. Sometimes I think I keep stuff too long, thinking I can repair it or get replacement parts.
There could be worse habits :)
I have 157,000 miles on my paid in full 2013 Subaru Impreza, and it has no signs of stopping. I was looking at new (to me) cars today, and this just reminded me why I should keep my paid for car as long as I can!
Thanks J!!
Haha… I’m here for you.
Close to 138K on 2006 Acura TSX. The mechanics keep asking if I’m thinking about buying a new car soon. My response is always, “why, is there something major wrong with mine?” Other than the bluetooth system that died about a year ago, still going strong. My only regret is that I did not keep my 1992 Integra… I traded it for this car because I wanted cup holders! Ha ha!!
Hahaha… those are important! And seldom overlooked!
I love this topic!! :)
I once had a 2003 Corolla that I drove over 300,000 miles before it was written off. The most impressive this was only spending $1300 in maintenance during the entire life of the car.
I now have a 2005 Toyota Sienna with about 225,000 miles. Feels like it’ll keep running for years.
I also have a 2013 Hyundai Elantra that just crossed 100,000 miles.
You have officially earned yourself “Pro” status :) And glad to see about those Siennas too as that’s the next car on our list as soon as we sort out this housing!
2002 Chevy Prizm with 156k and counting! Fits two car seats and starts every morning = happy momma.
In 2003, when our son was a baby, we bought a 2002 Lexus RX300 with 4,000 miles on it. We still drive it and it has just over 167,000 miles. When our son gets his license this spring, he will take over driving it. He will drive it for a year to prove himself a reliable driver, then our youngest will get her license and get her turn driving it. It has been the best car ever.
Isn’t that so crazy to think about??? Prob feels like just the other day too with those kids, right?
Drove my 2003 Chevy Malibu Maxx for 13 years, putting 220,000 miles on it until my kids graduated from high school and went off to college. Donated it to the Veterans and replaced it with a “new” used car! I plan to keep my membership in this club. ;)
2003 Jeep Liberty with 165k . I don’t have too far to drive each day and use it on the weekend a little bit but I am going to keep driving this thing till it dies completely. Figure if it dies on my way to work I can walk or catch an Uber that day .
That’s a nice option to be able to walk!!! You should try it anyways and give your car a break every now and then! Haha… (And then when your boss asks you why you’re completely soaked, just tell them you were practicing for the Big Day when your car breaks down ;) Or you can just blame it on some dude named “J. Money”)
2001 Toyota Tacoma original owner currently at 214,700.
That is probably the only way I’d be okay buying a new car – if i were to hold onto it forever like that. Well done!
This was before I discovered Dave Ramsey and these awesome blogs!! I could pay cash for a new one if I wanted to but I won’t. If I could find a reasonably priced 2nd Gen I’d consider it but for now this is still my daily driver.
All cash is def. a baller way to go! Still haven’t been able to pull it off myself, but one day :)
I love this!
I retired (actually sold!) my 2005 Hond Accord with over 400,000 km’s (had to do the conversion – approx. 250,000 miles) two years ago! Woot!
I now have a 2012 Honda Accord with just over 235,000 kms (150k miles) and going strong!
So I’m in, yes! lol
Yeah you are. And you’re the VP! ;)
Sadly this is a club I am unlikely to join. Why? Not for lack of willingness to keep an old car, more lack of reason to drive the miles to achieve it. Our 6 year old car has just crossed 30k miles, so I need to keep it another 14 years mimimum. Now aged 63, I would be 77, and drivîng even less, so add a further 5 years on. By then, 2038, I hope driverless cars will be in widespread use, thus saving me the bother of driving at all!
Haha…. I think you win as my favorite comment so far today – thank you :)
It’s all in the way you look at it! Love the stuff you write about….
Thanks Erith! Appreciate you always chiming in!
I’m 29, driving the 2002 Ford Escape I got when I was 16 and have over 220k!
Sexy!!
120,000 on a 2011 Honda Accord and 215,000 on a 1998 Toyota Corolla
I drive a 2012 Kia Soul with 135,000 miles, which is the successor of my 2007 Kia Sportage, which had 180,000 when I traded it. I plan to run the wheels off this one while I am stashing away $300 car payments (in a CD that pays 3% interest), so I can pay cash for my next car someday.
Smart idea!
220k on my ’06 Toyota Tundra before this truck I had a Tacoma with 250k mile on it
Putting me to shame, haha…
125,000 on my 2007 Chevy Cobalt I bought new back in ’07.
It had 7 miles when I test drove it – but I looked at the paper work maybe a year ago and it says it had 13 miles at the time of purchase. Not sure I am glad I bought a new car – I probably will buy a used vehicle next time, assuming this thing ever permanently dies on my.
The only serious issues I’ve had are bad lower control arm bushings, bad wheel bearings, and a leaky fuel line. I tend to do my own work, and that last one was a pain.
Yeah, you def. save a few thousand right off the bat buying used so long as you’re comfortable with that. One day I’d like to try buying new just to experience it for once (hah!) but I doubt I’ll ever pony up and pull the trigger on it ;)
I once bought a 1998 Mazda 626 (bought in 2004 or 2005) for $0.75 that had 240,000 miles on it. I actually bought it for $1 but found a quarter in the cup holder! How’s that for a 25% return! It needed a passenger window but the car ran and drove great for many months to come! But on topic of mileage, I’ve purchased vehicles with 330k, 250k, 220k and many other miles that have been reliable transportation.
What the??? Haha…
I am at 170k on my Acura RSX 2005; paid full in cash cost me around $4.5k. Still runs great.
that’s how you do it right there!
We just traded our 2010 Chevy Traverse that had over 215,000 miles. We also have a 1996 Honda with over 200,000 miles and a 2014 Ford Escape with over 100,000 miles. The only vehicle we now have with less than 100,000 miles is what we traded the Traverse for: A 2016 GMC Acadia with 75,000 miles.
Those Acadias are sooo smooth looking… Came close to test driving one at the time we got the Lexus but they were much more expensive so didn’t want to tease myself :)
They ride as pretty as they look?
Toyota owners here…I have a 2004 Camry currently with about 210K that I bought used with approx. 125K already on it. My wife drives our 2006 Sienna, with a low 145K on it.
Love your blog J. Money, keep up the good work!
Thanks Jeff! We’re huge Toyota lovers too :) (Corolla and Lexus)
I am almost in the mileage high club: 2016 Honda Fit with 98K miles. I’ll reach 100K before the car is paid off. Sadly.
And yes I know buying new and with financing are probably big no-nos to people in the finance community.
Haha yup, but hey – you gotta do what you think is best!
Pre-welcome to the club :)
I gave my 29-year-old son my dad’s truck when he died. The truck is a 1993 Toyota little truck. It’s so old, it doesn’t even have a model, but it’s what became the Tacoma. It’s got a bazillion miles on it, but he loves it. He’s a senior business analyst in the car loan department at Capitol One, but he would never have a loan! Last year, it got “classic” status with the DMV, and it doesn’t have to pass emissions anymore, although it does. His wife drives a new car – it’s only about 15 years old. My husband’s car (2009 Hyundai Sonata) has over 150,000 miles on it, and my car, the baby of the family, is a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. It hit 90 on Tuesday and I was like, “Yeah, baby!” #ilikebigmileageandijustcantlie
Haha… I love your family so much…
This completely made my morning :)
:-) I take delicious pride in saving when others spend. My husband says I can pinch a penny until it screams for mercy. You would never know it if you came to our house because we look “normal”, but my biggest thrills are extra mortgage payments and maxed out retirement. It’s a beautiful thing. Right now, I’m going a year without buying clothes, books (I can read the 457 I own already and use the library) and makeup. It’s awesome. I feel so empowered by the control I have over how I spend money! I love your site, and I read everything you write!
Work it, sister!! And bonus points if you’re keeping track of the total savings throughout it all! So glad you’re enjoying the site! :)
First, absolutely love your weekly recaps! Always find value and enjoy the humor you bring to dealing with finances. We have always buy used cars and keep them until they collapse. Our current car is a 1996 Camry with just over 103K miles. We do use public transportation, walk or bike quite a bit. Once our cars ‘die,’ we donate them to local charities/community organizations – schools use them in shop classes, other organizations sell the old cars (or parts) for cash. Triple bottom line!!!
Totally! I donated my last one too when it was time – always takes the sting away a bit :)
(And so glad you’re enjoying the weekly newsletter! Thanks for letting me know as I don’t get as many responses from that one so have no idea if they’re going over okay or not, haha… But now I know we have at least *one* happy customer – so thanks! ;))
The next trip to the grocery store will turn the odometer over 230,000 on my 2000 Mazda 626. I love this car! — but with a severe windshield crack, leaking trunk, and broken trunk latch I’m starting to think retirement. Had to remove the horn relay because the car started to honk itself due to moisture in the electrical system. BUT the original upholstery, radio and heater are all still good and the engine starts first time, every time. What to do??
Haha… I think you should push it to 250k and then call it a day ;)
The saddest day I ever had was: when my 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport was rearended and pushed into the car in front of me, by a young man looking at the young ladies waving the signs for a car wash. The Jeep had 222,000 miles on it and we planned to keep it running as far and as long as we could. Just got a 2003 Mazda so …..
Ack!!! That is a sad day! Typical guy, lol….
I am about 30 miles from joining the high mileage club with my 2013 Chevy Malibu!!
Congrats!!
Years ago I bought a 1994 Toyota Camry with 111k and took it to 250k. Frankly got tired of the car and didn’t want to replace the clutch again.
Then had a 1999 GMC Jimmy that had 89k, took it to 229k. Again the transmission…lost 2nd and 3rd gear and $3k was too much. Sold it for $500 because the engine was still top notch.
Now I have a 2004 Buick Lesabre that had 96k, it’s about to hit 230k. Replaced a wheel hub last weekend and it’s like a new car! (Except for the cracked windshield, faulty ride control, many bulbs out in the dash, and janky multifunction switch…LOL “like new”)
I also have a 2004 F-150 for hauling and work stuff, that is at around 150k. Bought it for $500 from a relative who’d gotten a new leased vehicle and didn’t want to fix the alternator or brakes. I did both of those for under $200 and a few hours of time. (Yes I know a second vehicle isn’t very FIRE, but it works for us)
Also helps that you’re apparently great at working on cars!! Haha… I didn’t know what half of those components were you listed ;)
I have a 2005 Honda Accord (named Alice Accord) with 206k miles. Plan on driving it til the wheels fall off & then will likely try to put them back in so I can drive some it some more :)
Haha… Give Alice my love!
My 2010 Subaru Impreza has 110k on it and was paid off long ago. I’m hoping to pass it along to my son when he gets his license… in 9 more years!
Prior to that I had an Audi, traded it in when it was 7 years old at 129k because it cost me about $1,300 a month in repairs and left me stranded more times than I can count.
My Subaru has started every single time. I love that little car.
I guess that’s why so many people obsess about Subarus! We have yet to test one out, or even ride in one for that matter, which is strange since 50% of everyone who lives here has one – hah.
Congrats but yeah, still a rookie ;)
I’ve got 197k miles on my 2008 Saturn Astra. I’ve had a few big fixes that cost several hundred dollars this year but I opted to do them since it’s such a good car. I once had a mechanic working on it tell me that my car was built on a Mercedes Benz chassis and that I should hold onto this car until it dies. This particular Saturn was built in Belgium for only like 1 or 2 years before Saturn went out of business. I figure once I get rid of it, my chances to drive it into the ground are gone so I keep on keeping on in my Mercedes, I mean Saturn.
Hey, can I ask what plug in your use for cookies notification?
Haha would have never guessed that!
RE: Plugin – you mean that little bar that shows up at the bottom of the site? It’s called “Cookie Notice”.
Muchos Gracias.
301K 2010 Toyota Camry. Paid off in 2 yrs, but there are signs of a potential demise in her. Must put at minimum 1QT of flesh oil a week at $5.39 a QT. But hey that’s still cheaper than a loan!!
Haha I remember doing that once for car… Totally worth it until it starts becoming once a day :)
I have a Lexus RX300- 2000 about to roll 150,000. Eyeing on keeping it for when my daughter gets her license.
That would be a killer first car to have!! :)
’98 4Runner. 245k and counting – all mine. What’s a car payment???
HEYO!!
2007 honda accord 252k. Purchased it 4 years ago with 123k miles. It’s paid off so am hoping to get some car payment-free years out of it.
Nicely done!!
My 2009 Camry has 301,000 miles. I did have some trouble about 150,000 miles ago. It began burning eight quarts of oil between 5,000 mile oil changes. I complained to Toyota. Some of the 2.4 L engines were burning oil. Toyota replaced the rings and pistons and the car has been fine since then.
My 2007 Honda CRV has 243,000 miles.
I frequently change oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, radiator fluid, etc in both cars.
Guess that’s the trick to this stuff! I don’t think I’ve ever lasted over 150,000 on cars, but it’s usually due to wanting to change the pace than it is the cars going out. We’ll see how long we can last with this current one :)
I have a 2009 Prius with 122,000 miles, Toyota RAV4 that just hit 100,000 miles, and a 2003 Honda Odyssey with just 87,000 miles. I put $500 in my new car account every month to pay for my next car. Probably will get another Subaru. My 2001 Subaru Outback with over 150,000 miles was totalled in a fender bender. Best car I ever had
People love Subarus!! Every other person on my block last year had one before we moved – must be super good. I don’t think I’ve ever even been inside one?