200,000 Mile Club - With Photo

[reemoe]

The picture says it all - My '95 SC1 reached my goal of 200K miles last night!

It took approximately 16 years and 9 months. Still going strong - the latest fill-up resulted in 36 MPG.

Ryan

[Gold Saturn]

Originally Posted by reemoe

The picture says it all - My '95 SC1 reached my goal of 200K miles last night!

It took approximately 16 years and 9 months. Still going strong - the latest fill-up resulted in 36 MPG.

Ryan

Congratulations, hopefully many more good miles to come. What's the service record like?

[reemoe]

I did have the dreaded cracked head. Also, had problems with reverse slam, eventually needing a rebuilt tranny. Other than that, I've done regular oil, tranny fluid, and coolant changes.

I have never replaced the coil packs. Think I should? Easy to do? Might it improve gas mileage a tad?

[Gold Saturn]

Originally Posted by reemoe

I did have the dreaded cracked head. Also, had problems with reverse slam, eventually needing a rebuilt tranny. Other than that, I've done regular oil, tranny fluid, and coolant changes.

I have never replaced the coil packs. Think I should? Easy to do? Might it improve gas mileage a tad?

I'm not a super-experienced DIY'er. Granted I did to a transmission swap thanks to youtube videos, various links, and the infinite knowledge of this site. But what I have found is that if the car runs well it really isn't worth the time or money to go finnicking around with stuff. I'm a little biased against autos in the S-Series (had 2 autos die before 100k miles) so I'm seeing one rebuild in the time period acceptable. You definitely got your money's worth out of this car. The more I iron out all of the bugs in my car (replacing old/worn parts etc) the more I simply don't want to buy a new vehicle. I'm at 140k right now, plan on keeping this car until it dies, hopefully I'll get another 100k out of it.

[TXSaturn02]

Congratulations. I'm at 10.5 years and 170K and probably still at least two years away from 200K. I'm feeling pretty confident though. The most expensive work done was replacing the struts at roughly 7.5 years. Water pump was next biggest thing. Very happy with the car.

[jhonky]

i got my car at 166116...i hope i can eek out at least another 34k miles(about 3.5 years with my driving)

[racinginblood]

i got 200000km,s does this count?on the car just swapped out the motor for a 140000kms sohc

[Sienile]

I find this tread mildly amusing. So many people amazed that their cars lasted to 200k.

Personally, I don't drive Saturns. (I've seen my sister kill far too many of them.) I don't find 200k to be that much of a milestone for any car... unless my sister is the owner.

When you get it past 500k, let me know. My '93 Altima had its first major engine issue at 505k... #4 cylinder started loosing compression (still holds 120psi) due to a worn piston ring.

[sl47k]

Wow 200k, great job keep on truckin. I just hit 50k over the summer haha ive got a long way to go but hopefully i can make it that far as well.

[2NDSOUT]

Originally Posted by Sienile

I find this tread mildly amusing. So many people amazed that their cars lasted to 200k.

Personally, I don't drive Saturns. (I've seen my sister kill far too many of them.) I don't find 200k to be that much of a milestone for any car... unless my sister is the owner.

When you get it past 500k, let me know. My '93 Altima had its first major engine issue at 505k... #4 cylinder started loosing compression (still holds 120psi) due to a worn piston ring.

There have been a few S-Series owners who have driven past 500K miles. Luke, a member in California; who has over 600K miles on a 95 model year sedan. Low Saturn posted a pic last year of someone who had over 800K miles on a 2nd or 3rd Gen S-Series.

I had 340,501 miles on my sohc 94 sc1 before the engine went south. Currently also have a 97 SW2 that has 229K miles on it.

My 1994 SL2 will be hitting 200K miles in probably another 3-6 months.

No need to be harsh. In today's "throw it away if it is broken and don't fix it" mentality society; having a vehicle that has high mileage that you can take care of for relatively cheap without having a car payment...that's good in my book. But hey- if you enjoy throwing over $400 a month away on a car payment, more power to you. Having a car last is what is important here.

[Sienile]

Originally Posted by 2NDSOUT

There have been a few S-Series owners who have driven past 500K miles. Luke, a member in California; who has over 600K miles on a 95 model year sedan. Low Saturn posted a pic last year of someone who had over 800K miles on a 2nd or 3rd Gen S-Series.

800k on a Saturn?! I didn't even think that would be possible with all their oil issues.

Originally Posted by 2NDSOUT

No need to be harsh. In today's "throw it away if it is broken and don't fix it" mentality society; having a vehicle that has high mileage that you can take care of for relatively cheap without having a car payment...that's good in my book. But hey- if you enjoy throwing over $400 a month away on a car payment, more power to you. Having a car last is what is important here.

Who said anything about a car payment? I paid $305 (not a typo) for that Altima in '03 and have bought 3 different bodies for it over the years for under $500 a piece. Really sucks to pay more for a body than for a running car, but when people crumple you up because they just wouldn't stop for a stop sign, it's not really you that's buying it anyway.

And as for keeping it running cheap, I've spent around $300 on maintenance (excluding oil changes) over the decade I've had the car. That's what many people spend in a year trying to keep an S-series going.

[RobertGary1]

Ditto. Having been a former Japanese car owner, I find 200K to be low mileages, but sadly, it is higher than most for Saturn.

-Robert

Originally Posted by Sienile

I find this tread mildly amusing. So many people amazed that their cars lasted to 200k.

Personally, I don't drive Saturns. (I've seen my sister kill far too many of them.) I don't find 200k to be that much of a milestone for any car... unless my sister is the owner.

When you get it past 500k, let me know. My '93 Altima had its first major engine issue at 505k... #4 cylinder started loosing compression (still holds 120psi) due to a worn piston ring.

[2NDSOUT]

Originally Posted by Sienile

800k on a Saturn?! I didn't even think that would be possible with all their oil issues.



Who said anything about a car payment? I paid $305 (not a typo) for that Altima in '03 and have bought 3 different bodies for it over the years for under $500 a piece. Really sucks to pay more for a body than for a running car, but when people crumple you up because they just wouldn't stop for a stop sign, it's not really you that's buying it anyway.

And as for keeping it running cheap, I've spent around $300 on maintenance (excluding oil changes) over the decade I've had the car. That's what many people spend in a year trying to keep an S-series going.

Define what you mean in people spending $300 a year to keep an S-Series going... that's a bit of an insult if you ask me. I've owned my 94 SL2 since 2007, which I bought for $700. I've spent way less then $300 in a year to keep my car running just doing standard maintenance. Yes, I have had to replace a few "bigger ticket items" such as Shifter cables and a new clutch, but even those parts to replace were well less then $300....

And even when I owned my 94 SC1 which had 340K miles on it--- I spent well less then $300 a year in maintaining that car.

Hell- I have done brakes on these cars for less then $75 for the past 15 years.

Don't knock people for having the mileage. As I mentioned before, in the mentality that people have in today's society, being able to work on one's car and do it yourself without having to pay a shop $80/hour or more is something decent with the way that economics are now. I used the car price example to say what people are paying these days for a new vehicle.

It does pay to keep a car on the road longer then having to shell out a car payment and insurance.

[TXSaturn02]

Originally Posted by Sienile

I find this tread mildly amusing. So many people amazed that their cars lasted to 200k.

Personally, I don't drive Saturns. (I've seen my sister kill far too many of them.) I don't find 200k to be that much of a milestone for any car... unless my sister is the owner.

When you get it past 500k, let me know. My '93 Altima had its first major engine issue at 505k... #4 cylinder started loosing compression (still holds 120psi) due to a worn piston ring.

1) How many of the miles on your car have been put on it by YOU - many brag about how someone else put 500K on a car and you took it over and put in 20K.

2) It often has nothing to do with how many miles we can put on a car. It has to do with how many miles we are WILLING to put on a car. It is like comparing how long we are willing to keep our hand in a fire. Some of us just CHOOSE to remove our hand from the fire sooner than others. If you can keep it in longer, not necessarily something to be impressed about.

I have no doubt if I drove 40K/year, I would easily be able to put 500K on my Saturn IF I WANTED.

Many of us also come to these forums for entertainment. Notice how you came here instead of hanging out with your Nissan forum. I know I don't go to Nissan forums.

[MINICooperS]

243,000 by the original owner . . . ME . . . hasn't had a wrench on the motor or trans . . . 1995 SL2 5-spd. $12500 OTD.

[alordofchaos]

Originally Posted by Sienile

I don't find 200k to be that much of a milestone for any car... unless my sister is the owner.

There's the key... too many owners like your sister

"I bought this car for $xxx and didn't pay for any maintenance or repairs for xx years/miles and all of a sudden it blew up for no reason"

"I've never had the oil changed. Why should I? It's a new car and it runs fine"
-- my (now) wife, when I was about to go on a long trip with her and we decided to take her new (1 yr old, 11k miles) car... I thought it might be nearing time, little did I know

[Trizzy]

my old 94 honda civic had 539,000 kms on it, all original

[manualman]

Reality check. I belong to a, gasp, Honda forum too: Odyclub.com (wife's car). In fact, I just came from there posting in a thread where owners expressed astonishment that my 03 Odyssey now has 196k on its original transmission. Hordes of them have had rebuilds before 100k even.

And I know rather a few people with last gen Altima's with the "Fred Flintstone" floorboard feature (i.e. rusted through driver's floorpan!) And they're thankful NOT to have the famous Nissan 2.5 self destructing precat that results in Saturn-esque oil consumption!

My Odyssey won't have trouble breaking 200k. But I also don't pretend that I haven't had to replace: 2 EGR valves, 2 timing belt/ water pump combos, 2 sliding door rollers, 1 complete set of engine mounts, a radiator, 1 HVAC blower resistor, 1 PS pump, 1 power window regulator, 1 valve adjustment job and the usual brakes, belts, fluids and filters.

It doesn't burn oil though. Big deal. I buy oil for the Saturns on sale at Costco for $2/quart. Non-issue if you have at least 1/5 of a brain (fill up tank, fill up oil. The two go together). At 40mpg average over my last 4 tanks, I can afford a bit of oil budget.

[Midnight13]

Originally Posted by Sienile

And as for keeping it running cheap, I've spent around $300 on maintenance (excluding oil changes) over the decade I've had the car. That's what many people spend in a year trying to keep an S-series going.

I've had my S for almost 6 yrs.

Got it at 105k, it now reads 149k. Now it's not 500k like this Nissan of yours.

For the almost 50k+ miles I'VE owned it, i replaced..

battery- Walmart $48
O2 sensor- Autozone and with employee discount at time $55
brakes 2xs- $65 Autozone 1st time $30 CL finds 2nd time
tie rod-$20
battery cables- about $10
starter- JY $25
thermostat-$20
ects-$10
cherrybomb&thrush glasspack $50
misc exhaust clamps, and connectors for mufflers and patch jobs, -about $40

shift bushing- free "rigged" fix
can't use ignition to turn key to start- $6 push button start
horn button-$4
fan switch-$4

about $387 total


You don't say whether tires are part of your $300 maintenace, I can't imagine them being, so my tires aren't included in this list, however the custom low pro's i got were $50 each, and the 2 replacements were $50 CL finds. Snow tires were $115 for all 4.

Even $700 for everything i've ever put into my SL is not bad at all! Barely over $100 per year! Now with the cost of the car itself... i've only paid $36 a month to own it!

Would be interested in the list of repairs in the time you've owned your Nissan. The whole list! Right down to the "rigged" or cheap fixes! Some of us luck out with a cheap vehicle to buy and own..but to critisize a 200k milestone just because you have 1 that just happens NOT to be a Saturn???? Share your joyous news on the Nissan forums. It's NOT appreciated here!

[RobertGary1]

Originally Posted by manualman

Reality check. I belong to a, gasp, Honda forum too: Odyclub.com (wife's car). In fact, I just came from there posting in a thread where owners expressed astonishment that my 03 Odyssey now has 196k on its original transmission. Hordes of them have had rebuilds before 100k even.

What transmission issue are they having? The same engine/tranny combo is used in the Vue v6 (Honda engine/tranny) and Saturn just had a recall on the transmission and torque converter for an issue involving the car being in too high of a gear and vibrating, etc as a result. Many have replaced the transmission but it turns out that the only part of the replacement that actually fixed the issue was the TCM reprogramming. I just had mine reprogrammed under the recall and its been fine since.

-Robert