On average, 1.2 percent of all vehicle models currently on the road have reached the 200,000-mile mark. Owning a car that lasts for many years has huge financial benefits that far outweigh the cost of the occasional visit to the mechanic. So what’s the secret to keeping your car on the road longer? Here are 5 tips to keeping your car well past the 200,000 mile mark.
- Buy the right vehicle
This may sound crazy but some vehicles are build different or are easier to repair resulting in them staying on the road longer. Earlier this year iseecars.com released a study of the top 10 cars likely to make it to 200,000 miles. Read the article here:
https://www.moneytalksnews.com/14-vehicles-most-likely-last-for-200000-miles/
- Follow a vehicle’s maintenance schedule
Catching a problem early may save you in the long run
- Change the vehicle’s timing belt before something goes wrong
Depending on how your engine is configured, the timing belt might be responsible for keeping the valve’s stroke and the piston’s stroke from crashing into each other, writes Freddy “Tavarish” Hernandez, founder of the automotive website APiDA Online:
“If the timing belt snaps, they run into each other, causing bent valves (most common), cylinder head or camshaft damage, and possibly piston and cylinder wall damage.”
- Purchase quality parts
It goes without saying, but sometimes you get what you paid for. Cutting costs now can cost you in the long run.
- Find a great mechanic
Find a repair shop you can trust. Someone that knows your car and it’s history is a huge step towards keeping your vehicle on the road as long as possible.
