The Oldest Car with the Fewest Miles

[Gyosho]

Which Mustachian has the oldest car with the fewest miles?

My partner and I share a 1994 Honda Civic with almost 140,000 miles on it. We bought it in January 2002, with 80,000 miles on it. I calculate that we have put a little over 5000 miles a year on it in the past 11.5 years.

Mechanics love our car! Whenever we take it in for an oil change or other work, any mechanic we take it to always gushes - ' 94 Honda Civic! Great car! Runs forever!'

By the way, my partner and I are celebrating our 20th anniversary this year. When we first got together, we had combined debts of $35,000 in student loans and no assets; now we have more than a million dollars saved. We followed MMM's principles without knowing it - we have always shared 1 car, have always lived close enough to our jobs to bicycle to work, have always taken great pleasure in cooking and eating at home.

When I look back to that time 20 years ago I never thought we would end up where we are today!

Gyosho

[Crabricorn]

Congrats on your financial achievements! You brought back memories for me. I had a 94 honda accord that I drove for 10 years - a little over 200k miles. Great car and fun to drive. It's replacement is a 2003 Highlander which has 109k miles on it and it is still going very strong :-)

[Self-employed-swami]

I have a 1995 Tercel with 280,000km (175,000miles).

[OzzieandHarriet]

I have a 1995 Ford Escort with 82,000 miles on it. I bought the car new. Shortly after I bought it, I switched to a job where I took public transportation to work, so I haven't needed to drive as much ever since.

This car has been good for me, very reliable, but it's approaching its end, I think. I have been chastised in another thread for wanting to buy a new car, but it may be time.

[ketchup]

1988 Chevy Sprint. Bought it a year ago (for $1000) with 46.5K miles, now at 67K miles.  Very low miles on purchase, but I put an unmustachian 21k miles on it in the past year.  Luckily, I've averaged around 50MPG, so they have been cheaper miles.  Rusty, with a perfect engine and transmission, so pretty much the textbook low miles but old.

EDIT: Also, my grandfather has a 2003 Buick Lesabre with something like 21k miles on it.  He had a 1994 Buick Lesabre before that, which he gave to my dad in '03 with 42k.  It's now up to around 135k, and running like a champ.

[hybrid]

My grandfather was a Mustachian from the old days.  He was 19 years old when the Depression hit so he became a saver early on in life.  He and my grandmother were always very frugal, but he did buy a 1978 Ford LTD that was his "Sunday car".  Twenty or so years later when he passed away the car was handed down to my cousin - with 18,000 miles on it (less than 1000 miles per year, mostly to church or the store and back).  By contrast, I used to be happy to only put 1000 miles a month on my car, and as a new Mustachian my goal is to knock that number down quite a bit in the coming years.

[MikeStache]

Which Mustachian has the oldest car with the fewest miles?

My partner and I share a 1994 Honda Civic with almost 140,000 miles on it. We bought it in January 2002, with 80,000 miles on it. I calculate that we have put a little over 5000 miles a year on it in the past 11.5 years.

Mechanics love our car! Whenever we take it in for an oil change or other work, any mechanic we take it to always gushes - ' 94 Honda Civic! Great car! Runs forever!'

My parents have a '94 Civic that they bought as a second car when my sister and I were in high school. It's still their second car and I don't know the exact mileage but I think it's still under 100,000km/62,000mi.

[ghaynes]

My grandmother has an '84 Honda Civic and is the original owner with only 91,000 miles. She keeps it in top shape and everyone that services it can't believe how low miles for an almost 30 year old car and in such great shape. I like that it has no radio at all or AC. Super barebones and keeps driving like a champ. She's a badass.

[GoStumpy]

I'm in on this game!

Our two cars:

1998 Volkswagen Jetta with 88k Miles
1990 GMC Sierra with 95k Miles

Our Truck is 23 years old, and has only averaged 4k miles per year over it's lifetime :)

[Paul der Krake]

Farm vehicles are often used forever while keeping the mileage low. I recently drove a 1984 Chevy pickup with just over 30k miles on the odometer. It reeks of cattle and the passenger door doesn't open half the time, but somehow it passes safety inspection and it's allowed on the roads.

[Cecil]

When I graduated high school (in 2001) my grandparents gave me a 1984 Volvo with 88,000 km (55,000 miles). That car had about 3500 miles/year put on it.

Sadly I got rear ended only a few years later and the car was written off.

[Spork]

does my 1975 Triumph with 55,667 miles count?

The reason I know the mileage to the penny is because the odometer has been broken since 1984.

I've also got a 1981 farm truck similar to Paul's... the dash is split open with fuzzy bits of foam flying out.  The rear is uber-dented (a full size backhoe fell off a trailer onto the pickup).  There are faded-to-pink flames on the left side only... and they were applied vertically instead of horizontally (like it's parked and the tires are on fire.)  It shows 22k miles... but I'm pretty sure it's either 122k or 222k.... or higher.

[Phoebe]

I've already lost, but I wanted to toss mine in there because I'm pretty proud of my 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 152K miles.

I know, not the most fuel efficient car but I hardly drive anymore, and it was my very first car when I turned 16 (it was my family's car before then). 

[Self-employed-swami]

does my 1975 Triumph with 55,667 miles count?

The reason I know the mileage to the penny is because the odometer has been broken since 1984.

I've also got a 1981 farm truck similar to Paul's... the dash is split open with fuzzy bits of foam flying out.  The rear is uber-dented (a full size backhoe fell off a trailer onto the pickup).  There are faded-to-pink flames on the left side only... and they were applied vertically instead of horizontally (like it's parked and the tires are on fire.)  It shows 22k miles... but I'm pretty sure it's either 122k or 222k.... or higher.

Hey!  That's cheating!

[Spork]

does my 1975 Triumph with 55,667 miles count?

The reason I know the mileage to the penny is because the odometer has been broken since 1984.

I've also got a 1981 farm truck similar to Paul's... the dash is split open with fuzzy bits of foam flying out.  The rear is uber-dented (a full size backhoe fell off a trailer onto the pickup).  There are faded-to-pink flames on the left side only... and they were applied vertically instead of horizontally (like it's parked and the tires are on fire.)  It shows 22k miles... but I'm pretty sure it's either 122k or 222k.... or higher.

Hey!  That's cheating!

It's what I do.

[BlueMR2]

I'm definitely not going to win this, but I've got a '95 Mitsubishi Eclipse with only 123,000 miles.  Of course, that's due to a combination of the fact that it's primarily a track toy and that it spends about half the year on a lift getting various repairs done.  :-)  The daily driver Toyota '91 MR2 is now at 264,000 miles (but now accumulating mileage slower as my commute is half what it used to be!).

[dragoncar]

I've got an aging low mileage car (no details since I've already lost to a few here).

However, I'm not particularly proud of it.  I view it more as a failure of good planning on my part.  Kinda like that fancy paring knife I never use.

[Welmoed]

1999 Honda Camry LE with 38K miles on it. Bought it last summer for my son when it had 32K miles on it. The lady who owned it was literally too scared of how powerful the car was to feel comfortable driving it, so she rarely did.

[GoStumpy]

Those Honda Camry's really have a lot of power

[Kamikaze Emu]

2007 Honda Civic with ~69,000 kms, or ~43,000 miles.  I bought it used just over three years ago with about ~35,000 km on it.

I've had some longer trips with her for vacation and longer weekend biking trips, which have added a good chunk of those kms.

[Bearblastbeats]

1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. 178000mi

[orcas50]

My DH drives a 1996 Toyota Corolla with 60,000 mi. on it. He rides the bus to his city office, but he drives the Toyota to his suburban office, less than 5 mi. round trip, a few times a week. We live in a high COL Seattle suburb where I'd say at least half the population drives new SUVs, luxury European vehicles, big trucks, etc (my next door neighbor drives a Porche Cayenne and the lady across the street has a fleet of expensive cars, including a Range Rover). DH is quite Mustachian, and has always been (read the Millionaire Next Door about 15 years ago). He says he doesn't need a new car to prove his self-worth (or "manliness" LOL). Oh, and our other car is a 2003 Subaru with 106,000 miles. I drive the Subaru and we use it as our main family car as well.

[Rural]

I think I win the "oldest" contest: 1971 one-ton 4WD Dodge Power Wagon. It runs, but we don't keep tags on it, so it's on our property only and is on the To Be Sold list (I'll believe it when it happens). I don't know if I'll win the low miles, though. I'd bet not, but I'll have to check later. The odometer does work in this oldie, so there.

We'll probably use it to move to the new house in a week or so. Mostly, though, it hauls rocks around. Well, sometimes it hauls rocks around. Mostly it sits.

[secondcor521]

It's kind of a weird feeling when I'm just kind of average on this thread, even though compared to the general population I drive a really old car.

1995 Toyota Corolla with 190,765 on the (working) odometer as of today.  Bought it new from the dealer 10 days before our first child was born.  That baby is going off to college this fall!

[marty998]

2000 Nissan pulsar. I bought in in 2003 when it had 69,000kms on the dial. It now has 110,000k.

Only ever broken down once because the mechanic inadvertantly broke an engine part during a service.

Runs like a dream

[2527]

We bought a 98 Civic new and it has only 106,000 miles on it. From 98 to 07 I lived less than 3 miles from work and from 01 to 06 it was our only car. Still runs great and looks good.

[Paul der Krake]

Besides, looking out for older cars on the road is fun. Every now and then I see old (think early to mid-90s) luxury brands that look like they rolled off the assembly line yesterday. Usually driven by elegant, elderly women who clearly have better things to do than put miles on them.

/drool

[Lord Cashmoney]

Besides, looking out for older cars on the road is fun. Every now and then I see old (think early to mid-90s) luxury brands that look like they rolled off the assembly line yesterday. Usually driven by elegant, elderly women who clearly have better things to do than put miles on them.

/drool

Behold! The Cashmoney Mobile! A 1993 Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas with 139,000 miles. :) This fine motor vehicle was a gift to myself when I landed a job with (insert large tech company here) and, coincidentally, needed to buy a new car. I've always loved this year and style ever since I was a kid. :)

[jamccain]

I have a 1995 Ford Escort with 82,000 miles on it. I bought the car new. Shortly after I bought it, I switched to a job where I took public transportation to work, so I haven't needed to drive as much ever since.

This car has been good for me, very reliable, but it's approaching its end, I think. I have been chastised in another thread for wanting to buy a new car, but it may be time.

Not to change the subject of the thread, but you have to ignore some people in every forum.  If the person/people were driving 20 year old cars, that would be one thing, but I bet you're WAY more mustachian than they are....anyone who has a 18 year old car and drives less than 5K miles a year has proven themselves and shouldn't be questioned in my book.

[Paul der Krake]

Lord Cashmoney, what a fine automobile you have here. We should hang out.

[sdp]

I still have my first car, a 1978 VW bus.  I have put approx only 1,000 miles on it in the last ten years, then again the blown engine has been sitting in my garage for 9.5 years..........hey its a volkswagen, what do you expect! it is awesome for storage though!
Cheers,
Scott

[foobar]

This is really only interesting if this car is your only one (or at least main form of transport). I mean Jay Leno probably puts less than 500miles/year on most of his cars but that is because he owns like 50 of them.

I still have my first car, a 1978 VW bus.  I have put approx only 1,000 miles on it in the last ten years, then again the blown engine has been sitting in my garage for 9.5 years..........hey its a volkswagen, what do you expect! it is awesome for storage though!
Cheers,
Scott

[Rural]

Yes, but then the deck is stacked against those of us who buy high-mileage vehicles in the first place, and that seems to defeat the purpose. Our two primary vehicles have over 200,000 miles on them, but at least one of them did when we got it (have to check on the other, but I think it had ~178,000).

This is really only interesting if this car is your only one (or at least main form of transport). I mean Jay Leno probably puts less than 500miles/year on most of his cars but that is because he owns like 50 of them.

I still have my first car, a 1978 VW bus.  I have put approx only 1,000 miles on it in the last ten years, then again the blown engine has been sitting in my garage for 9.5 years..........hey its a volkswagen, what do you expect! it is awesome for storage though!
Cheers,
Scott

*edited for iPad "corrections"

[Frankies Girl]

Wow - and I thought I was doing pretty darn well with a 1996 SUV. This was my first new car, and 17 years is a pretty good run as far as I am concerned - I have no idea on the mileage since the odometer stopped working about 7 years ago, but estimate it at 200K+. The last couple of years, I started having frequent little things needing repairs and while I agree that keeping vehicles much longer than the general populace since fixing something for a few hundred is much better than having a regular car payment, the reliability factor finally pushed me to a new car. I don't like being stranded in the middle of the road or at work, and once that happened several times within a 3 month period, that was it for me. I live in a large city with a bad crime rate, so I do not need to be alone at night wondering when the tow truck driver is going to arrive.

I did buy new, and have no regrets. I got a base model 2013 car (did downsize and get a 4cylinder since gas prices are not 86¢/gal like when I bought the old one).  I also got it for almost $2,000 less than a used model I was looking at - found a new dealership hungry for sales, came in with the research on what other dealerships were offering, went back and forth for a little and then got an extra $500 off for financing... paid it off a week later. :)

So I got a new car for less than I'd have paid for a 2 year old of the same... that won't happen often, but I'm pretty darn pleased with myself (and I do happen to have mad ninja skills on negotiating)

[CheckEngineLight]

I drive a 1999 Honda Civic CX with 315,000km.  The headgasket went last year so I sourced out a 2000 Civic CX motor from the wreckers with the transmission included for $500, the car it came out of only had ~110,000km (luckily I saw it and was able to verify the odometer).  I put the engine in over the weekend and the car runs flawless.

My spouse has a 1998 Acura Integra with 218,000km, which is also flawless.  We can afford to have higher mileage car because I fix them myself and because we generally don't drive far :)  It has really paid off in spades for us.

[Solo]

1990 Volvo 240DL Wagon. Odometer broke last year, but it had just over 24K on it. I'm guessing it's at about 26K now. I inherited it from my grandfather who just took it to the store and back for 25 years (which is also all I use it for), then it sat in his driveway for five years after he passed. It doesn't get great mileage for a mustachian wannabe, but it was basically free and it runs great.

[foobar]

Your losing anyway. Your car would have to be like 40 years old if it has over 200k to have a reasonable number of miles per year:) I just wanted to point out hearing about people driving grampas car that was driven 2x/yr for 15 years really isn't that badass. Driving a 30 year old civic on the other hand....

Yes, but then the deck is stacked against those of us who buy high-mileage vehicles in the first place, and that seems to defeat the purpose. Our two primary vehicles have over 200,000 miles on them, but at least one of them did when we got it (have to check on the other, but I think it had ~178,000).

This is really only interesting if this car is your only one (or at least main form of transport). I mean Jay Leno probably puts less than 500miles/year on most of his cars but that is because he owns like 50 of them.

I still have my first car, a 1978 VW bus.  I have put approx only 1,000 miles on it in the last ten years, then again the blown engine has been sitting in my garage for 9.5 years..........hey its a volkswagen, what do you expect! it is awesome for storage though!
Cheers,
Scott

*edited for iPad "corrections"

[Rural]

Well, we only have one that's over 40 years old, but the one that I know was above 200k when we bought it is a 1982 Tercel, so it's 31 years old. :-)

I do get the point you're making. I was just sayin'.

Your losing anyway. Your car would have to be like 40 years old if it has over 200k to have a reasonable number of miles per year:) I just wanted to point out hearing about people driving grampas car that was driven 2x/yr for 15 years really isn't that badass. Driving a 30 year old civic on the other hand....

Yes, but then the deck is stacked against those of us who buy high-mileage vehicles in the first place, and that seems to defeat the purpose. Our two primary vehicles have over 200,000 miles on them, but at least one of them did when we got it (have to check on the other, but I think it had ~178,000).

This is really only interesting if this car is your only one (or at least main form of transport). I mean Jay Leno probably puts less than 500miles/year on most of his cars but that is because he owns like 50 of them.

I still have my first car, a 1978 VW bus.  I have put approx only 1,000 miles on it in the last ten years, then again the blown engine has been sitting in my garage for 9.5 years..........hey its a volkswagen, what do you expect! it is awesome for storage though!
Cheers,
Scott

*edited for iPad "corrections"

[kelly1mm]

1979 Alfa Romeo Alfetta Sport Sedan - 79,577 miles as of today.  That works out to 2340 miles per year.  However, to be honest, it had 2 long periods of inactivity (1989-1995 and 1998-2009).

[hybrid]

Your losing anyway. Your car would have to be like 40 years old if it has over 200k to have a reasonable number of miles per year:) I just wanted to point out hearing about people driving grampas car that was driven 2x/yr for 15 years really isn't that badass. Driving a 30 year old civic on the other hand....

No, but Grampa himself was very badass.  He was 19 in 1929, so he learned to value a good job and squirreling away money.  The LTD was his one luxury.