10 cars that seem to last forever

http://www.wptv.com/content/financialsurvival/survivingthesqueeze/story/ford-honda-prius-toyota-cars-last-forever-wptv/oIxDLRN1eUi6h1mBOCYvNQ.cspx

1. Subaru Wagons
2. Ford F-150
3. Scandinavian oddities

For years, some of the older European models were notoriously unreliable, and yet, those same Volvos and Saabs hold some of the automotive world records for longevity. A 1989 Saab 900 SPG previously owned by a Wisconsin salesman now sits in a museum with its original engine, having turned over 1 million miles, and a New York schoolteacher holds the world-record with the 2.5 million miles put on his 1966 Volvo P1800. Go figure.

4. Lexus
5. Toyota 4-Runner and Tacoma
6. Honda Accord
7. Mitsubishi Endeavor (I agree with this, I have this vehicle and it's awesome)
8. Toyota Corolla / Camry
9. BMW 3-Series
10. Toyota Prius

Not exactly "forever" by any standard.

Let's hope it lasts, because we sure as heck can't help you with fixing this one. In the rush for auto companies to go green, many put out early hybrids plagued by electrical problems like the Saturn Vue Green line, which has atrocious battery issues. But when it comes to this groundbreaking design, the original leaders at Toyota seem to have gotten it right the first time, with almost unanimous agreement among the experts that this is the hybrid most likely to outlive that puppy that just peed on your leg.

There are a few imported examples of these floating around stateside (I almost bought one back when I bought the Saturn, but I needed way more room and didn't want to learn on a right hand drive,) but it wasn't sold via Toyota's dealer network here until the '01 model year.

that we drive every day and have over 200,000 miles on them and have driven them for years. People always say we're rich but we usually pay about $4000-5000 for them and they do look new. I had a 1969 Nova that I drove for 22 years before selling it. Always wondered what became of that car.

Lexus, the number 4 car listed, was introduced in 1989. And old timer, perhaps, but hardly deserving of the title of a car that seems to last forever.

The Toyota Prius was introduced in what? 1997? in Japan and a few years later in the U.S.? 9 or 10 years old tops on this side of the world. Not really all that old.

my husband took the motor out and put it in his ranger. it would probably still be going today. we have had good luck with explorers.

That will turn 200K soon.

We gave it to a neighbor's girl after she graduated high school and needed a way to get to her first shit job. She drove it for about a year then sold it to some yahoo who lives a couple of miles from here. He finally got just drunk enough to drive it into a creek, ending its life just a hair short of 275 thousand miles.

Oh, I bought it used with 10,000 on it and never did anything but change the oil and put brakes on it from time to time. It was a really nice car too. Comfortable, quite, and it got pretty good gas milage as I recall - something over 20.

It was first launched in 1997. Ten years is good, but not forever.

It "lost" its "family-car" status when we bought our newer car, but it's got about 200K miles on it and runs like it was new. It's not so "pretty" anymore, but we still love it:)

We had two Corolla wagons, an 84 and an 86 (each bought for $500) and those things ran & ran & ran, and cost very little for upkeep.. They were bought and sold and resold to and by our kids, back to us ..each time for $500. They were our "back-up" vehicle, and only recently did we part with the "last Putt" (called them Putt 1 and Putt 2, because they backfired). My husband's D-50 pick up has nearly 300K miles on it.

is still running strong!

We made good choices.

and still relatively cheap to fill up too:)

My last 240 had 350,000 on it with no major drivetrain repairs. Then it was hit by a truck while parked. I had every intention of driving it to 500,000.

I have a 240 sedan and a 740 non-turbo wagon, and these things are going to run forever. Love 'em both.

I used to have one. That thing simply refused to die.

one with the 2-stroke engine. You added oil to the gasoline and it spewed a blue cloud as you drove it. I liked it, but it seemed to offend some people when I drove it. Can't imagine why...

Ring-ding-ding...

My last car was a Volvo 240 DL wagon, a hand-me-down from my mother. That thing started breaking down around the 150,000 mile mark, and just kept getting worse. Air conditioning (in the South, that's a vital system) had to be replaced, all sorts of electrical problems had to be fixed, the brakes started failing, the muffler started coming loose... When the transmission went out, that was the last straw.

If you're willing to shell out a small fortune in repairs, then yeah, they'll last a while. But it's really not cost-effective, because for the money you spend on repairs, you could make a major down payment on something lightly-used that won't start wearing out anytime soon.

with 300,000 miles on it. I wore it out on Hays County roads delivering papers-90 miles every night. I've seen back roads in third world countries that were better than some of the county roads in Hays County. In 1996 they passed their first road bond issue since 1947. Some of their roads had deteriorated to the point of they just scraped off the remaining asphalt rather than repave the road. As soon as you crossed the county line, you could feel the difference in the road.
I had to replace the steering linkage every other year, carried two cans of fixaflat and an air compressor every night, went through tires once a year not counting the patches. But that truck got 35-40 mpg out on the highway cruising in fifth gear.

To be fair, they were built cheaply and are easy to fix but getting a 100k out of one of those air cooled engines would be a chore.
I have heard of the Type 4 bottom ends going 150k but the heads go bad at 90k to 120k.

the 8,600 ft mountain where I lived. It could do it with passengers too. After 30 + years mileage didn't matter.

The Tacoma, the first successful pickup by a Japanese auto company, was designed from scratch by American designers. They probably incorporated what they could from the 4Runner. But if it was just a 4Runner with a pickup bed, then the Japanese would have designed it themselves instead of having to hire Americans.

It is more likely that the modern 4Runner was redesigned to Tacoma specifications.

So #s 4, 5 and 10 haven't been around long enough to qualify "forever".


And if you really want something that will last forever, may I suggest ... a farm tractor. Or an International Harvester refrigerator.

I had a '79 Toyota truck. It did 350K HARD miles and was still running fine when my younger son ran it into a mountain and bent the frame. That was 12 years ago and the engine is still running; my BIL took it to run some equipment at his boat yard.

That same younger son is now driving my last Toyota truck; a '94, also before Tacomas. It has 220K and is still going strong.

My 2004 Tacoma is also doing great. 5 years, 52,000 miles, on nothing but oil changes. I predict this one will take me at least another decade and 200K.

Some of the Tacoma reputation is built on it's predecessor.

engines, the wifes 1993 is at 303k and it runs flawlessly.
My VW Vanagon has 215k on the original bottom end, the heads gave out at 160k.
Our Chevy truck with the 350 four bolt went 90k before it tossed a rod.

I fully expect them to outlive us.

Those things are solid as a rock. BMW 3-series should be nowhere near this list.

They are light on gas and just plain cheap to own

There's a reason you see them in fleet service so often. They're economical to repair and they run forever. You'll see limo companies selling them with 500K miles on them and they still run.

the only thing I saw were Toyotas.

Proof in three parts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrk6vsb77xk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uc4Ksz3nHM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfZDtC9kjVk

They failed.

A 1979 Bonneville totaled 2 cars that tried to hit it and kept running. Had over 200,000 but no one knows exactly, it ran without an odometer for years. Pushed the front bumper of a tow truck into the tire, when it got snowed in. Had at least 10 miles pushing cars.

I sold it to a guy, who last I heard still figure 8 races it.

Some of the cars are actual car models, others are body styles and then they have the nerve to include Lexus simply as a make? I've worked on a number of ES250s and GS300s that were crap. Not only is the ES250 woefully underpowered, but the damned thing didn't belong on the road after 120k. The transmission required you to lift off the throttle in 2nd gear if you were accelerating from a stop. If you didn't, the engine would keep on revving past redline. I encountered that issue more than once. Also, as another user on this thread noted, the 3 Series definitely doesn't belong on that list. Not only are earlier models (1st and 2nd gen) noted for having suspension and transmission issues (from the factory, they're all fantastic cars), but they're very expensive to have work performed on as well. Also, the Prius? The car hasn't even been around for a decade and they're talking about how it lasts forever? Give me a frigging break.

World's most reliable car.

I guess the author was talking about Wartburgs, Ladas, Yugos and Trabants.

:rofl:

How about 60 years? That'd be my 1950 Buick Special.

Unfortunately, it was already pretty much used up when we got it in about 1961. Guess they improved the 1950 models. :hi:

Wat

If looked at that way the list would only have American and German auto`s.When was the last time you saw a 25 year old Toyota,I don`t think I ever have.The 1995-2000 Toyota Tacoma mentioned is being bought back because of frame rust and being sent to the crusher.If you look at 30 to 40 year old vehicles Ford F series would dominate the list those things are still running around everywhere.

I think there's definitely an aesthetic factor at play though. Why bother fixing an old 80s Toyota? Only the very poor would still be driving something like that. On the other hand, and old American truck starts to look really cool and full of character beyond a certain age. Plus the parts are cheap and plentiful.

but I couldn't see getting rid of the old '82 as long as it runs fine, it's great for hauling around nasty type stuff I'd just as soon not put in the newer ones. It has about 300K and has never needed any major repair...

I hardly see ANY old trucks, domestic or otherwise.

I'm guessing what cars you see on the road is a function of where you live. :shrug:

a few years back and I didn't bother to fix it. I see similar Toyotas around here all the time.

I have been running a landscaping business out of it for 3+ years, too!

It was an okay car, but they really screwed up the later versions.

and then a '93 one that I liked quite a bit. My ex-husband pretty well destroyed it, though. Another reason why he's "ex."

Mercedes SL's - they ran forever - one was stolen... It was 20 years old at the time and ran perfectly. Of course I did have it serviced right on time... But they were great cars.

:)

His cousin has a Toyota Camry (not sure of year) with >400K miles.

In-de-structable!

My friend has 280,000 on his '05. Only major problem is that he had to replace the battery pack at about 180,000 miles.