Popular Mechanics article: "Top cars that make it to over 200,000 miles"

[KidVermicious]

KidV, I'm a little confused at what you just said above in terms of how that would make Ford go down on the list.

Anyway, I'm a little surprised by this list. I'm in the mindset forever that American cars/trucks suck, and Japanese ones rock. lol.

Toyota trucks haven't and don't come anywhere near Ford trucks in terms of sales volume, but according to that chart there are nearly the same number of F250s over 200k on the road today as there are 4Runners. That tells you any given 4Runner has a much better chance of making 200k than an F250 (it doesn't tell you why, though).

All other things being equal I'd still take a Toyota over a domestic, but Ford makes good trucks. Chevy too. Chevy/GM 350 and LS series motors are the hotrodders choice, and not just because they're tunable - they're pretty damned reliable too. The Ford 460 and 7.3 diesel are legendary workhorses that will go forever if you change the oil and sometimes even if you don't, and the 5.4 modular is getting there if you look past the whole spitting-out-sparkplugs thing. My '01 F150 with the 5.4 has 230k, more miles than her '99 4Runner and it's still on the original motor and trans.

 

[rooost]

I agree that often these "surveys" a flawed beyond belief and the devil is in the details....but its more detailed than you guys are jumping too.

"looking at everything from built from 1981 to 2015 to find those with the highest percentage of vehicles still driving after 200,000 "

It is based on % of vehicles, not just absolute numbers. I am certain there are further terms because basically everything that stopped getting produced that is still on the road would have a high percentage of high mileage examples

 

[steveni70]

I don't think sales volume would factor in. 6% of F250's have over 200k, not 6% of the 12m they sampled.

Also, I don't see how unibody vs body-on-frame would be a factor in getting to 200k.

 

[zimdba]

I'd hate to say it but, I'm in that same frame of mind as well. arty:

Count me in. A LOT would have to happen for me to buy domestic.

 

[Dylan]

They were recalled.

Toyota Recalls 1993 Camry Due To Fact That Owners Really Should Have Bought Something New By Now - The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Haha that's exactly what I had in mind. Gotta love The Onion!

 

[A/V1]

I have to disagree. My 4Runner is great, but my Land Rover was more reliable.

Frozen brake calipers anyone?

I never thought I would ever hear of a Land Rover being described as "reliable". They have always been on the "least reliable" lists. Very capable - but reliable? You may have had a rare one...