I am currently driving a 2005 Mazda Tribute 6cyl AWD with 150k on the odometer. The reason I am driving it is because it belonged to a friend and it had developed major rust issues in the rear passenger wheel well common with the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute/Mercury Mariner of that era.
I got the vehicle for free as he was going to scrap it as it is unfixable and may fall apart ( rear axle falling out ). Currently driving on 3 shock absorbers as the mount for that wheel well is gone. Car is going to be junked soon , but I've been driving it for 3 years. The only repairs I've done is I swapped out the coil packs with some cheap chinese ones I bought online for $60. Normal maintenance costs - oil change/brakes/tires etc , but only repair was the coil packs. Very , very low cost of ownership per mile.

With today's prices on new vehicles just being through the roof , owning a older beater saves major cash.
I'm real impressed with the bossman's truck with over a half million miles.

Funny how some people get upset when they have a surprise repair bill that is $800-$1200 or way more and somehow they trust a car salesman to make $500-$700 payments or more per month for 60months.or longer.
Two $2500 repair bills per year is cheaper than those car payments.
Warren Buffett used to drive an average full sized 8 year old Chevy sedan , now he has upgraded to a Cadillac. He can afford any dang car he pleases but drives something more average.

With today's economy , it makes more and more sense to drive something older and cheaper.

Whatta got ?
Car/truck/boat/quad/motorcycle/tractor etc?

I still got my old 2017 F 150 but dont use it much.I like my 22 ranger better.

Well I'm not sure what anyone considers old, but my daily driver is a 2014 2500 HD Duramax that's closing in on 350,000 miles. No fears about getting in it and going to any part of the country any time.

That qualifies. No payments I bet.

My commuter is a 2000 Honda Civic with a 5 speed, currently has 254k on the clock. Paid $1600 for it. I like my beaters to be "get in and drive it without worrying about anything" reliable, so I went through the whole thing.....timing belt, resealed engine, new clutch, a couple bearings inside the trans, new brakes, several new suspension bushings, etc. Should be good to go for another 100k.

My truck is a 77F150. I paid $500 for it, but it's got a newer fuel injected 5.0 and an AOD trans, new rear end, and some suspension work. It's a rust bucket, but reliable.

That Honda is a rock solid car. Very wise choice. Another 100k without a care.
Probably many more too , easy.

Amateurs! I have a '96 Ranger as my only vehicle.

Three of our vehicles are older! I have an 04 Ranger, we have a Saab idk the year and also a 96 Cheyenne pickup. They are all great

I drive a 2013 F150 with 155,000 miles. No major problems with it at all. It's been a good solid truck. Don't plan on getting rid of it any time soon.

I have a 2002 Chevy S-10 for a commuter and run around vehicle. Helps keep miles and wear off my 2011 Silverado.

My every day driver is a 97 ranger. I have a 91 f250 with 7.3 idi but have not drove it in 7 years, also have 01 7.3 excursion but have not drove it in over a year wife had a 19 caravan.

Been driving my wife’s 2001 Camry as my daily driver. Drive it 2 weeks, then swap for the truck for a week. Just hit 247k. It wasn’t running well for a while and would quit occasionally while on the road so we parked it for probably close to a year. She wanted to sell it but with the vehicle market and fuel prices I decided to start driving it again. Nice to have a backup vehicle just in case. Knock on wood, she’s been running like knew ever since. Not sure what the issue was but it worked itself out

My ever day drive is a 97 Ranger with 300,000. It was a Kentucky truck until 3 years ago. No rust , 4 cylinder so it's great on gas. I'm past the point of trying to look cool.

I have a 1992 Chevy 2500 diesel. 305,000 miles. I'm happy with the 20 mpg for a 4 wheel drive. Old man gave me the truck about 10 years ago. Sweet!

2001 Suburban with 252 K. Rusty as can be. Passenger window motor is shot as is the AC. Bought is in 2014 and it was beautiful. 2019 an 84 year old woman turned directly in front to me and I turned her car into a lawn ornament but the insurance company totaled out my Burb. Bought it back for $500, replaced a few things, pulled out the front bumper with a chain around a big pine tree and have been driving it since. Not sure how long it will last but not even sure about for myself. Love that vehicle.

Moosetrot

I got a 2022 sierra. It’s a couple years old.

1996 F-350, 4X4, 92000 miles on it.

Everything I drive is a beeter shortly after

Still driving that 2000 4x4 Tacoma with over 726,000 miles on it. I'm also still driving my 2010 Tundra with over 308,000 miles on it.

2002 gmc duramax 2500hd 301,000 still goes good

2002 F150

Dang....very impressive. Hope you make it to the million mile mark. That is like god level in the automotive world. In all my years in the automobile trade I've only seen that twice. One was a older Dodge van that had the engine changed 5 times and the transmission 4 times.

1994 GMC K1500 4wd. 4.3 6 cylinder with a 5 speed. Manual windows, NO AC. 147K on it. rusting some (wheel wells and cab corners) but the frame seems solid. Only thing I wish is it was an automatic and an extended cab. I don't need to impress anyone or for it to be fancy.

2000 Toyota 4-runner, 215k miles. Been driving it for about 2 years now. Replaced brakes and a radiator. I think the total of both repairs was less than $500.

Smart.

More money in your pocket.

91 Sierra 4x4 350 auto stretch cab.
I think for its next trick is a timing chain.
Big dollar classic.
I miss the oldies.

1994 Nissan hardbody. Odo stopped working at 315k. Sold it to a guy 250 miles away. I've seen it twice since then in my town, 10 years after I sold it. Identified by the hsu sticker still on the tailgate.

I have a 2016 f250 gasser with 110k. Definitely not a beater, just a few interactions with a tractor bucket and a trailer that came off without a hitch. 6.2 is a boss. 7.3 gasser may be in its future.

Same original engine with only a rear main seal replaced and valve cover gaskets. That 3.4 v-6 is dang near bullet proof if you keep the oil changed regularly. Won't make the million miles. Racked up those miles while beaver trapping for timber companies driving around 35,000 miles a year. It had 110,000 miles on it when I bought it in 2004. It was my beaver trapping truck from 2004 - 2022. Retired from that a couple of years ago.

I'm driving a 2009 Ford escape. Newest thing I ever owned. Has 180,000 and that "not so new" car smell

2000 f350 7.3 314,000 miles and still gets near 20mpg

'03 Dodge 3500, 5.9 turbo diesel, 6 speed manual, 270k on the clock. And my new truck '03 Toyota Tacoma 4 door 109k on it.

I drive a 97 camry no rust ac still works 355000 miles on it

89 jeep yj 2.5L

2001 vw Jetta that needs a simple repair. Looking for a part .

My work car is a 97 Saturn with 265,000 miles, has a 5 speed
transmission that won't go into first gear so you take off in 2nd,
most times you have it in reverse when you start the engine then as you
are backing up and your ready to shift into 2nd you shut the
engine off to shift too 2nd or you have to grind it into gear,
it gets good gas mileage so I'm going to keep driving it.

Daily driver is a 1993 K1500 Chevrolet with a 4.3 V-6 and a 5 speed.

Have 2, 2004 tacomas. Buying a 2000 4Runner this week.

Our "new" truck is an 05 Tundra not sure how many miles, I drive a 2000 Tacoma---2ooooo plus had the fuel pump replaced, power steering went thats about all in 8 years, body is in good shape, has a rear locker and I carry chains and a 3/4 ton rope hoist the mud here is something to write home about!

2005 Camry with 400,000. Will be retired at the end of the month when the insurance is due. I found a nice 07 Camry with 109,000 on it for my next one.

I have 2 tacoma's 4x4 a 91 i bought a couple weeks ago with 165,000 and a 2015 i bought new with 87,000. I've also got a 2022 chevy 2500 with 8,000. Don't drive the chevy much, just pull the boat and camp trailer

2005 f150 ext cab 4x4 175000 on it drive daily , 2019 crew cab f150 4x4 in shed and 2008 Chevy avalanche z71 in garage

I drive a 2011 CTS Cadillac for a trapping vehicle AWD does anything a picup will do

2012 Sierra for my truck, but we just bought a new Escape hybrid to replace our Matrix. Only thing I’m worried about, is I don’t think new vehicles are designed to go 400000 miles anymore

2005 dodge dakota 4x4 with a v-8 and automatic transmission. Just shy of 200,000 miles on it.little rust over the wheel well on passengers side of the box rest of the body and frame very good shape.i mix used oil and diesel fuel and spray the frame and all the nooks and cranny's I can reach twice a year.seems to help as we can get alot snow,ice equals tons of salt.

Not sure you're interested in keeping your Mazda on the road, but Dorman makes a repair panel for that rust issue. You have to pull the inside panels off and remove anything in the wayin the wheel well. We did one in our mechanic shop a couple years ago. Took a couple hours, not too technical. Dorman part number is 924-358. You can look it up on the internet.

Richard.

2007 f150. I usually drive my vehicles until they don't drive anymore.

1989 Toyota pickup with a flatbed (it had been rearended when I bought it, but otherwise in great condition), 2008 Dodge 3500 diesel, and 2009 Tacoma. In the past when they start getting around 350,000 on them I am getting rid of them, but may keep the Dodge longer (at 275K now) because I know a lot of guys getting 500-600K on those motors, the auto trannys are junk though, next time it goes out I am going to put a stick in it. Only truck I've put 400K on was a 2000 Tacoma with the 3.4 like the bossman's, sold it to my dad and it is still going strong, closest thing to motor work that has ever been done on it is I had a fuel injector go out. Just change oil every 3000 miles, it does leak about a quart of oil out of the valve cover gaskets between oil changes.

I looked into that exact Dorman part when I first got the Mazda. At that time the rust was too far gone to attempt a repair. Now , 3 years later it is complete toast. I'm surprised more on here haven't called me out for driving a death trap. I am convinced that if the car was put on a hoist now , something would fall apart. Currently my alignment is out and I know there is nothing that can be done.

I've always had fun reading through the Dorman catalog because they will make parts for all of the defects on each make and model. Helps you to get to know what weak parts are on which cars.

I have a 2004 GMC Canyon 2wd. It is the 5 cylinder w/5 speed. Its got 238,000 miles on it.

The rocker panels are not the best shape, but it still runs well and its my trapping vehicle.

I have a cap on the back that houses my equipment when trapping.

2000 F150. 464K miles with original motor and transmission. 4x4 and AC still works. Only issue is the CD player quit about 6-7 years ago.

99 Toyota Forerunner here..... 140k Has a little character but not bad....... Run it until it pukes....then run it some more.

08 f150 extended cab. 4wd 4.6 ltr v8 260k miles. had to replace the motor at 211k. Work truck. Pulls enclosed trailer most of the time.
other vehicle is a 2014 f150 crew cab 87k 5.0 motor

Mine is a 2011 Ford Ranger. 450000 on it. Change oil and don't stand on it taking off.
The tranny (automatic) is going out. I would love to find a used one to replace it with but they are too expensive. If anyone has one I'm in East Central Minnesota and willing to drive to get it.

2008 1500 Chevy Silverado Club Cab. 179,000 miles. Bought it new. My everyday truck.

97 xj.
99ck2500hd.
09f-150.
02 chevy cavalier.

1999 Ford Ranger 236,000 miles for daily driver/farm/hunting rig.
Last year sold my 2000 F250 250k rebuilder I'd had for 21 years and ordered a new F350. Probably be the last big truck I own. Had it for 14 months and only have 4,300 miles. It sits a lot as only geta used to pull the stock trailer or camper.
Wife has a 2016 F150 with 93,000. No plans to upgrade anytime soon.

All of mine are beaters. 1990 Geo Tracker with 170K. A 1996 Geo tracker with 90k. A 2003 F- 250 with 185k and my 05 Ranger with 120k. I trust them all to take me anywhere. The wife has a newer 2020 Jeep Renegade.

2002 Ford Explore 150000 miles. Use it travel to and from work. 95 f150 70000 miles and 2021 f250 3600 miles in the garage. Eric

I have 2007 Chevy duramax 620,000 no problems

I thought this was going to have some good photos of some of these vehicles to get the full "character". Three pages and no pictures. Boring...

2005 F150 with 230,000 on the clock. Frames almost rusted through, only running on 5 cylinders and needs tires. Not worth throwing good money at her but she has been a good truck otherwise.

1993 Chevy K1500 270,000 miles, other than hoses, belt and distributer it is all original. My wife teases me that the dog box in the bed is worth more than the truck. I would hop in it and drive to California today in it.

2003 4.7l jeep grand Cherokee 288,000 miles. Uses about a quart of oil every 1,000 miles and about the same amount of coolant haha head gasket is on its way out so when I do the gaskets I’ll give her a good tune up and see how much further she’s ganna go. This vehicle is used for work and trapline.

Checking traps…

2004 Dodge Ram 2500 with 360K on the odometer. Runs and drives good but rusting out.

I have a white Ford F150 2019 4x4 piece of junk with 98000 miles on it. Does that count?

I have a '06 BMW wagon, 176K miles on it.

Just recently I had to replace the starter along with an assortment of other parts that broke (plastic) while starter was replaced. The starter sits on top of the engine and requires intake (plastic) removal by the way.

Then I had a massive electrical failure, turns out that alot of the electrical modules are in the wheel well in the back of the car under the spare. The tailgate had rusted thru allowing water in.
I removed all the modules, cleaned the circuit boards, dried them and that fixed the electrical issues.

Then I found a rust free tailgate in a junkyard that just happened to be the same color as mine and replaced that to fix the water leak. While replacing that some other electrical fixes/changes had to be done, soldering and fixing broken wires and swapping connecting terminals as they have changed.

During all these repairs alot of other issues crop up due to the abundance of plastic fasteners and the design choice to make cars easy to assemble but hard to repair.

All this to say I am firmly convinced that new vehicles have passed the peak curve and are on a down hill slide as it relates to keeping them running at a reasonable cost. The reliance on electrical systems to run every day simple manual systems while may be cheaper to make and assemble make them both harder and more expensive to repair and keep on the road. I can see many new vehicles when 10-20 years old being scrapped due to over complicated and costly fixes.

I shudder to think what it would cost me if I'd taken it in to get fixed. I doubt any dealer would take the modules apart, clean and dry and reassemble or solder and rework the existing wire harness. They'd just replace them. I looked at the cost of new modules, they ranged from $400 to $600. For the modules alone it would of cost me approx $1200. Not counting labor and parts markup. I"ll bet that if I'd taken it in for all the repairs it would of ran well over $5000 to fix the car. Most people would of scrapped it at that point, but because I am too stubborn to do that I managed to fix it and keep it on the road.

I still drive my white 99 Ford F150. Should have it paid off soon.lol. It has around 255,000 miles on it. Not my daily driver but it gets used frequently. Starts every time if you hold the gear shift correctly.

I am driving low mileage trucks at the moment compared to what I had , I just did the 150K oil change on my 2004 and the 1998 won't need an oil change till 166K and I change the next reasonable time I have time after 3K miles this time it was 3500 miles and the oil didn't look all that dirty I could probably go 4K

2012 F-250 Super Duty, 275,000. Other than one rear fender well still looks good and drives great. My wife bugs me monthly to upgrade but I refuse. Really like the GMC Duramax and maybe getting
one but no hurry. I always had the excuse that my girl was in it every day with me so it made no sense to get a new one but the poor dog died last year on me.

I drive my 95 yj jeep and my 81 j10 everyday I swap every other day on them best rides for the money

my daily driver -trap truck is a 04 Silverado with 341k on it ,my wood getter is a 97 Ram with 398k , my wifes daily driver is a Outback with 317 on it and our Beloved 03 Suburban -vacation camper with only 245 on it , the 2 chevys and the Cummins are just getting broke in the Subaru had a engine at 307k-

2018 Silverado with 204K and a 2024 Mazda CX 5 with 5K. I drive so many miles, I can't even imagine owning a 15 year old vehicle anymore. Having my ride out for repair is the same as being unemployed for me. Ain't happenin'! Oh, forgot about the '94 Jeep Wrangler with 60K.

Don't know if I've ever taken a picture of any truck, van or car I've owned. Here I could take a picture of a handful of rust and it would be the same as most old rides with all the salt we have on the roads for 5 months. In the summer the sides of the roads still glisten with left over residual salt

Glad I saw this thread. It makes me feel a bit better. Sometimes I look at my old beat up go to work, work around home, plow, and trapping truck and think I must of taken a wrong turn somewhere early in life. The old 2003 Silverado is pretty rusted out. On the third transmission, most parts have been changed a time or two, needs some work right off, but to me, I just cannot get behind buying a new truck that cost more than I paid for my house back in the day.

My 89 Ram winter beater and trapline truck. Bought it for $900.00 and ran it for four years until the frame let loose from rust.



Parted it out on FB Marketplace and made a good chunk of the purchase price back.

A 2000 Ford Taurus

Right there with you on not paying more for a vehicle than I did for my first 3 bedroom on 2 acres 22 years ago that is now a rental I could sell and stick 140k or more profit in my pocket. Paid 47.500 for it. Something tells me a 50 k truck won't be worth 100k more than I paid for it in 22 years and be bringing in income. So I drive old cheap vehicles and put the money saved not paying car payments into other investments. After all I'm married and 44 at the end of the month. I don't need a shiny new vehicle with expensive insurance, payments, and license plates to impress any women. Now I do keep my wife in a mix
Ch nicer vehicle but even at that it was a used van with 5k miles on it 22k outthe door and I took out a loan since the interest rate was 1.8%. I heard the rate and put my check book away and signed the loan.

$5, 000 is what I can afford in a car. After that it's a status symbol, LOL.

93 K1500 it my 3rd 4.3 V6 trapping truck so it’s been named the (turd) !

Both our's are beaters. Try to keep em going as long as can keep em road worthy.99 Tundra for me and 2000 4 runner for hers. Both nearing the 300,000 mark.

Current vechiles.
driven daily 1986 IH triaxle dump truck, 426000 miles
99 f350 7.3 500,000 miles., tow vechile
2010 yukon xl 230,000 miles,wifes.

1950 Chevrolet half ton pickup. Beater on the outside, finely tuned mechanical machinery otherwise.

96 lumina paid 600 for it. And a 97 f350 power stroke flat bed with 35in tires.it is junk but always takes me where I need to go and I test it on the regular.

94 2500 Dodge Ram with 360000 on it.

91 dodge ram W250 diesel 5spd almost 100,000 on it also have a 2019 Tacoma

You dont think this is a beater do you?

How's the frame on that truck? I had an 08 with the 5.7. One of the best trucks I've owned right up until a tree fell on it last December. Frame was getting pretty scaly though.

One of my vehicles is a '99 4x4 toyota with 400k. I'm going to keep that truck running as long as possible; I don't care how beat up it gets. I really don't know how it keeps going, I change the oil about every 20K miles and run it hard over very rough logging roads.

Lug nut we don't have to salt roads down here so the frame and underbelly look better than the topside.

Still driving my '02 dodge ram Cummins, 464,200 miles on it, six pin holes of rust on it, I plan to drive it as long as I can, newer trucks are overpriced junk