On 01-24-98 22:37, PEG DIETRICH wrote
PD>Hubby asked me to ask you people for some advice.  He is the proud owne
PD>of a 1991 Mercury Capri.  It's pushing 100,000 miles, at least 40,000 a
PD>highway miles.  (He communites 100+ miles round trip daily.)  He takes 
PD>of the car, changes the oil regularly, does all the things he's suppose
PD>to do.  Now for the question:  Under normal conditions, how long (how m
PD>miles) should this car last?  He's trying to decide whether to sell it
PD>this summer or will it last another year.  (He believes in driving a ca
PD>until 3 minutes before it totally dies for the last time!)
Cars don't die. *Parts* of cars die.
Any car can last forever. All you have to do is keep replacing the parts 
that die.
I think the real questions that should be asked are
    1. At what point does the cost of replacing parts become so great
       that it's cheaper to junk the car and replace it?
    2. At what point are parts failing so rapidly that you have to
       worry more than you want to about whether it's going to get
       you there or not?
The answers to those questions depend on the individual car you have (not 
just the model and year) as well as your tolerance for breakdowns, your 
budget, etc.
-                              - Ken Blake       kblake@primenet.com -
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 * WR 1.31 # 119 * A flashlight is a case in which to carry dead batteries.
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