SF bay area cars & trucks - by owner "cars and trucks" - craigslist (2024)

FAQs

At what mileage is a car not worth fixing? ›

Depending on the car's value, repairing it might be worth the money to keep it going for a few more years. However, most modern gasoline-powered vehicles will start to struggle after the 200,000-mile mark. Electric cars can usually make it up to 300,000 miles before they're considered well used.

Toyota is considered to be the go-to vehicle for reliability, while brands like Honda, Mazda, Subaru and Hyundai are also highly ranked for their quality and cheap maintenance costs. Brand recognition isn't the only factor for choosing what's a reliable vehicle.

In general, the average mileage on a car is assumed to be between 12,000 and 15,000 miles per year, according to AARP. That means you can expect a 5-year-old car to have between 60,000 and 70,000 miles on the odometer.

At a certain point, repair costs may outweigh what the car is worth. Safety and Reliability - Modern cars have vastly improved safety features and computerized systems. A newer car may provide safety like airbags, antilock brakes, and stability control that a 20-year-old car lacks.

It can be somewhat risky to buy a vehicle that has racked up more than 100,000 miles. Even if it's well-maintained and has about 100,000 miles left in it, such a car is already past its prime. Generally, vehicles are likely to start experiencing problems after the 100,000-mile mark.

What is considered high mileage on a car? Often, 100,000 miles is considered a cut-off point for used cars because older vehicles often start requiring more expensive and frequent maintenance when mileage exceeds 100,000.

1. Lexus. The luxury brand of Toyota has topped our dependability chart for seven years in a row, partly because its cars rarely go wrong, and also because when they do, its dealers fix the problems for free. Its star performer is the 2014-2021 Lexus NX family SUV, which has a reliability rating of 99.8%.

Cars older than eight to 10 years will be a riskier option, depending on the driving and maintenance history, while vehicles over 15 to 20 are usually nearing the end of their service lives.

Is an old car with low mileage good? ›

If the car has been sitting inactive for extended periods, you run the risk of moisture accumulation, rust, corrosion, and other mechanical problems. On the other hand, if the car was only used for limited short trips, there's less risk of these issues occurring. Always have it inspected to confirm before purchase.

The first year faces the most significant depreciation hit to the car's market value, with most vehicles losing about 20% or more of their original value. The loss continues to decline from there. Cars often shed about 60% of their original purchase price within the first five years.

Repair Costs

If the total cost of repairs ends up being more than the value of the car (even with the fix), that's usually a sign to hold off on repairs and put that money toward another car.

Repair Costs

Call around and get an estimate of how much it would cost to fix your current car—including parts and labor. If the total cost of repairs ends up being more than the value of the car (even with the fix), that's usually a sign to hold off on repairs and put that money toward another car.

Above 100,000 Miles

Your vehicle will be less desirable to car buyers if it has more than 100,000 miles on it, even if it continues to run well. Vehicles with overly high mileage are more likely to require expensive repairs, which makes them a risky investment.

There's no rule to how many miles on a used car is too much, but by attempting to stick to the 12,000 miles per year rule is a great place to start. Find out how old the car is, multiple the number of years by 12,000, and if the number on the odometer is significantly higher than that, some concern might be warranted.

However, the typical break-in period is within the first 500-1000 miles. If you give in to the common urge and start pushing your engine too hard early on, you risk accelerating this process, causing minute imperfections in the size and shape of engine components.