Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests high mileage cars??

What is the general feeling, if there is one, about higher mileage cars. I mean cars with >100,000 miles? Yeah, yeah, some of you don't consider that high. Should there be any concerns about buying a high mileage car if it feels fine? Ball joints, water pumps, wheel bearings are expected to be changed at some point, but what about less serviceable items like certain mounts, bushings, and structural parts? What makes some cars run well into 200k+ miles without showing its age while others struggle to make it to 100k? Surely proper maintenance is only part of the equation.

My 'tour is getting up there (110,000). Although she's been reliable (only missed maybe 3 days of work for repairs in 7 years of daily driving, but never left me stranded), she's a bit rough around the edges now and I feel like I need a change, even if it's to another Contour. She's been so damned reliable I'm reluctant to give her up, as she's probably not going to fetch much. And frankly if I was looking to buy a 100,000 mile car, I would not buy her. Don't get me wrong, she runs fine albeit a little engine noise and suspension noise, but as a neutral 3rd party I would say she's aged. I'm thinking if I can find a cheap car, like ~$3k, that's in better cosmetic condition and doesn't have any glaring mechanical problems, I might be good for another few years.

I'm not looking for a high mileage fixer upper either. I just want a car that somebody babied and is upgrading or forced by the significant other to sell!

You guys want to know that I keep looking at getting another Contour because I would feel sad if I had to leave this site? I'm not a hardcord DIYer, but 7 years day-in day-out I feel so familiar with V6 Contours so I'd hate to give up that knowledge and move to something else.

High mileage cars don't scare me like they once did. When I was 19 (1991) I got a red 1972 Mercedes 450 SEL with 419,000 on the clock. Miles. Not kilometers. I drove it for one hard year in Wyoming, driving back and forth over the highest point in the Interstate system every week while in college. She never left me stranded, never refused to start, even in sub-zero weather with wind chill in the minus teens. It had had one engine/tranny rebuild at something around 200,000 miles and kept running strong over another 200,000 miles later. God I miss that car! Finally traded it in after about a year and a half with just under 450,000 miles. That car is the reason I would buy another Benz in a heartbeat if I had the means.

Do what you feel most comfortable with. Knowing Contours as well as you do, no one could fault you for buying another. Keep us posted whatever you decide!

I can't say that's anywhere near old. Admittedly I ran the car to needing a renovation, but 182,500 on my SVT on all originals.

Yes....I understand!
'95 @ 140,000 miles
'97 @ 100,000 miles
'95 Squeeks, rattles and goes like hell and I drive it like hell. The must repair stuff was: 2 wheel bearings, gauge sender, Pass tie rod, (2)timing belts $ related items,E-brake handle,speedo cable(yes I have one),I.A.C.V.,IAC,TPS,Fuel Injector wiring harness, ball joint. Any other repairs are from me screwing with it!
'97 Is quiet, smooth and runs stock.
Gauge sender, both tie rods,water pump.
This does not include oil/filter, tuneups or brakes.
Proper maintenance is a very LARGE part of the equation as is the way its driven.
For $3K all you will get is more problems. Get your $$$$worth and start saving for a car your want.
And as your last line said.....stay with what you are familar with.

got 250,000km on my Tique, can't wait to get it to 300 or 400 soon.

bought my SVT last year with 114k its now got 133k and still runs like a champ.. no weird engine noises and still has lots of power

My Turbo diesel Mondeo had 140,000 miles and doesnt miss a beat. I sold my old one with 230,000 miles and it was still going strong.

After owning three cars that had more than 100k on the clock I have come up with a pretty simple idea of why some cars seem to show their mileage less.

The simple answer is money. If you go out and look at say cars with over 150k that run and look like new, most of them will probably be cars (or trucks) that were fairly expensive when new. The previous owner garaged the car, took good care of it, washed it regularly etc etc.

A good example of this is the Volvo I used to have. When I got rid of my 'tour it had a little over 130k on the clock. The Volvo I replaced it with was also a 96 and had over 100k too (although a little bit less at 105). The difference in the way the cars looked and felt for their mileage was night and day. Aside from the Volvo's somewhat dated look, most people didn't know it had over 100k and was 7 years old when I got it. The contour on the other hand surely looked it.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another car with over 100k on the clock provided it looked and ran well, had the proper documentation etc. IMO, the years a car has under its belt can be more detrimental to its life than the mileage on the clock.

I'm actually looking at some Volvos, and Jags as well. Their (Volvo) boxy simplicity is pretty attractive to me, as is the sleekness of the Jags. I'd have to disagree about years vs. mileage, though, a little bit. Both are definitely competing factors in aging a car, but I think it's mileage that kills a car. Mechanical wear and tear doesn't come from age. Bushings and belts do suffer from time, but wear items like ball joints shouldn't be affected much, dry rot and fluids aside. If an old car with low miles doesn't run, it's probably due to a single part not playing well with others. High mileage car can have systematic failure or multi-system on the verge of failure. I once looked up aftermarket extended warranty and the premium seems to depend on mileage alone, not age. So I concluded their actuaries did the math and decided mileage is what caused people to make claims. Whether these extended warranty shops paid out is another matter...

I think it's the uncertainty of a high mileage car that worries me, though lower mileage cars have no guarantees either. In the back of my mind I always think if something major breaks, then something else major will break because every component close to that point. Engine/tranny rebuild, for example, I feel is where I would draw the line. But like a previous poster said, a car can go another 200k after a rebuild and I certainly know people who have done that. Having friends who are professional mechanics that do work on the side sure does come in handy when something needs fixin'!