As a culture, we have an aversion to extreme longevity. We celebrate things while they’re young and then discard them when they get older. And that’s particularly the case when it comes to our cars. They last a few years, and then we get rid of them.
But there is a small cadré of people who don’t believe in that philosophy. When they buy a car, it’s for life.
People Who Drive Their Cars For More Than A Million Miles
The list of people who drive their cars for more than a million miles is comparatively short. Practically speaking, most cars simply won’t do it. They don’t possess the engineering to make it possible.
With that said, there are some vehicles that seem to soldier on indefinitely. For instance, the world record for the longest-driven vehicle is a 1966 Volvo P1800 driven by its owner, Irv Gordon, for more than 2.6 million miles. Gordon told the media that the car’s extreme longevity was due to regular maintenance and always using genuine replacement parts. He didn’t see the point of wasting his initial investment and buying a new vehicle, which is why he drove his car for more than 35 years.
Of course, most drivers would consider Gordon’s approach uneconomical. Eventually, the cost of replacement parts becomes excessive. But the evidence doesn’t really point in that direction. As long as you go to the mechanic regularly and do things by the book, cars can last almost indefinitely.
Electric Vehicles And Million Miles
Million-mile cars were rare in the past, but over the next decade, they are likely to become more common. In fact, there are already numerous examples of Teslas reaching the milestone, particularly among tax drivers and firms that use them.
The reason for this comes down to the superior longevity of eclectic vehicle engines. Fewer moving parts mean that these vehicles last longer, enabling them to keep going when ICE vehicles would have given up long ago. Because of this, most consumers can purchase a vehicle for life, stomaching the increased upfront costs for the opportunity to run a vehicle for 30 years or more.
The fact that EVs don’t depreciate as rapidly is also good for buyers. While the upfront cost is high, owners can sell their vehicles for close to the original purchase price, recouping most of their losses and maintaining their net worth.
Dependability Is Not The Same As Longevity
When it comes to long-lasting vehicles, though, dependability and longevity are not the same. The former refers to how frequently the vehicle fails, while the latter relates purely to how long it can last.
Swedish brands tend to do well on longevity because of their sturdy construction. It’s not uncommon to see a 30-year-old Saab or Volvo on the road. However, these vehicles require regular replacement parts. Gearboxes, radiators, and water pumps require regular replacement.
This goes to show that you can have a structurally sound car that still causes you a lot of problems. Making a regular vehicle run a million miles is simply a lot of work.
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