Pat Gibbons has hit two elk, two trees and a deer in his trusty 1996 Toyota Tacoma, but at 408,892 miles, the truck keeps going.
Gibbons takes the red pickup into a local shop for regular oil changes. When something breaks, he gets it fixed.
“I put gas in it, I put oil in it, and I put good tires on it,” he said. “Other than that, I don’t think I do anything particular.”
As vehicles have become more reliable, more cars are on the road with 200,000, 300,000 and even 400,000 miles or more. Often, owners don’t have the money or desire to buy a new car, so they keep the old one running.
Gibbons’ red truck had a brush guard attached, which kept the trees and ungulates from doing any fatal damage to the pickup. Gibbons is unsentimental about the truck.
“It’s kinda ugly,” said Gibbons, who lives in La Plata Canyon near Hesperus.
Nic Hassinger, a junior at Fort Lewis College, is nursing a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 260,000 miles. He bought it from a coworker at Home Depot after his last vehicle was the victim of a maintenance misunderstanding.
“My last car, I didn’t know what transmission fluid was, so it stopped running,” Hassinger said.
Hassinger paid only $500 for the Jeep SUV. He equipped it with a new set of snow tires. Fortunately, the vehicle meets his needs.
“It’s making a lot of new, weird noises, but it gets me around,” he said. “It gets me to Purgatory.”
Brenna Spencer of Mancos tools around in her 2002 Volvo V70 XC, a station wagon with 260,000-plus miles. She frequently drives it to Cortez and Durango – and farther for dog shows she attends.
“I do regular oil changes,” she said. “I have a good mechanic that keeps an eye on it, so he lets me know when things are going to go wrong.”
Spencer has put almost 100,000 miles on the Volvo since she bought it.
“You know, it’s a great car,” Spencer said. “That’s why I keep getting the little things fixed. It still gets 30 miles to the gallon. When you ask it to go – oh boy, does it go; it’s got a turbo. It’s great on snow and ice. It does all of the major things you ask it to do.”
Scott Young, owner of Alpine Auto Doctors in Durango, has fixed cars for decades. He has seen plenty of cars run into the ground by their owners and a number of vehicles with endurance streaks to rival Cal Ripken Jr.
“If you want a car that’s going to last a long time, keep it as simple as you’re willing to live with,” he said.
That can mean sacrificing amenities such as a sunroof, one less thing that can break.
Young related a story of an elderly woman who came to Alpine after an oil change elsewhere in her Lexus that neglected an important step, replacement of the lubricant. Inevitably, the engine melted down trying to climb Wolf Creek Pass.
He recommends used-car buyers consult with sources such as J.D. Power and Associates that conduct long-term tests. Also, watch how a car is marketed.
“I joke about this, but if a car says Escape, pay attention,” he said. “If a car says Gremlin, pay attention.”
Patrick Armijo, night editor at The Durango Herald, drives a Honda CRV with 408,834 miles. He purchased the compact SUV new as a 1999 model. Armijo commutes to Durango from Mancos.
“I just do regular maintenance, and I fix things quickly before they get worse,” he said.
This reporter had a 1993 Toyota Corolla that reached 292,810 miles before a connecting rod failed and ruined the engine. Before its death, a mechanic called it a “science experiment” under the hood. A bungee cord kept the windshield-washer fluid in place.
The Corolla met its end on a dusty highway west of Farmington. Its final resting place was an A-1 Auto Salvage in Kirtland, New Mexico.
The salvage yard paid $100 for it.
cslothower@duranogherald.com
Want your vehicle to last? Do this:
Want your car to run 300,000 miles? Here are tips from Scott Young, owner of Alpine Auto Doctors in Durango:
1. Get regular oil changes – no less frequent than every 4,000 miles.
2. Pick a specific motor oil and stick with it. Additives in motor oils don’t mix well with those in other brands. Over time, switching motor oils will cause engine sludge to build.
3. Buy simple, good-quality vehicles. Read long-term reviews, such as those from J.D. Power and Associates.
4. Pay attention to how a vehicle is marketed.
5. When traveling, get your gasoline at major national chains. The cheapest gas in town is cheap for a reason.
6. Buy mid-grade gasoline. It’s better than regular, and you probably don’t need premium at this elevation.
7. Check the work after repair or oil changes. An auto shop shouldn’t leave a mess on your engine.
8. Drive far enough to get your engine up to normal running temperature, especially in winter.
9. Know who is working on your car.
Herald Staff
