[V8] How many miles is too many miles?

[Kent McLean]

Roger M. Woodbury wrote:
> Soooo. Question of theory.  How many miles are simply too many miles?

I think that depends on you answering this question: "How many
miles to you intend to drive it?"

At that age, most of the rubber bits will need to be swapped
out -- bushings, hoses, seals.  You'll probably want to freshen 
mechanical bits -- brakes, shocks, suspension. There are things
that wear over time -- alternators, blower motors, AC compressors,
and even the radiator and distributor. Then there are all the 
consumables -- plug wires, sensors, etc.

Most of those things can be addressed on a schedule, or on an
as needed basis.  The big ticket items, in my mind, are the 
things you don't want to replace -- the engine and transmission. 
If a well maintained engine can go 300K miles, then you've got 
100K life left in your example.  Is it worth replacing all that
other stuff for 100K miles (or 10 years) of driving?  

You obviously take good care of your cars. And you obviously
love the V8.  Since you can't find a car with low mileage, 
would you jump on the car if it had "only" 150K miles? In that
light, I don't think the 50K miles difference is a show stopper. 
Some of us drive that in a year or two.

As you know, maintenance is the key.  If this 200K mile car
is well maintained (with paper trail), then I say go for it.

Good luck.

-- 
Kent McLean
'94 100 S Avant, "Moody"
'89 200 TQ, "Bad Puppy" up in smoke