1. Volvo 900 series
There is an excellent example of what Volvo is truly capable of, and that is the 900 series. These vehicles were made to be far more reliable and safer than ever before, as they were the replacement for the 700 series. When you say Volvo, you also say safety and the 900 series is the best illustration of that well-known philosophy.
One of the main reasons the cars in the 900 series were so reliable was the fact that they were among the final models to have rear-wheel drive.
The vehicles in the 900 series were definitely made to last forever. Compared to the modern automobiles that we all drive today, they are more solid. This Swedish tank was built to last, and its durability is what attracted most people to buy this car.
Although we all know that no current automobile can ever be as sturdy as these bad boys, the boxy form will always be remembered. They will remain in history as true legends, and the best part is that you can have one in your garage if you want to buy a second-hand car.
28 Responses
My Toyota 4 Runner is a 2001 *23 years old* and still drives like a new car. Of course ‘ve maintained it with recommended service over the years but since i am 80 years old, This car will definately outlive me and be handed down to my children.
AWESOME INFORMATION
I’ve just bought a Honda Civic 2.2 diesel and I love it. Averaged 65 mpg on a long trip. The car tax (England) is £20/year. I’m currently getting 46 mpg urban driving. The acceleration is fantastic. They are bulletproof 👏👏👏
What about a Hyundia Sonata? I have a 04 and it still runs and in good shape.
How long will my 2011 Nissan Maxima last?
No Nippon cars; I’m union
What about KIIA???
This is true. I own one.
I have a 98 crown Vic…it only has 98k on it but I seem similar vehicles with 300k plus on them..All I had to do was replace the front suspension a few years back as he bushings were done…also own an 08 Ridgeline…about 181k but have seen these also with 300k plus on them
It is so sad to read this article, as not a single US made car was listed and I know for a FACT that there are several which easily could have made the list. The Ford made Crown Victoria, and it’s sister car the Mercury Marquis come to mind as just two examples of cars that have great staying power for long term use (Just ask anyone in law enforcement who has driven them). But the best cars from the past have to include General Motor’s C-Body cars: the Chevrolet Impala, Pontiac Bonneville, Buick LeSabre and Park Avenue, and Oldsmobile’s Eighty Eight and Ninety Eight models (of which I still own my 1994 Eighty Eight LSS since 2000). It has been a perfect car, with zero issues. The 3800 Buick V6 mated to a 4-speed overdrive transmission has performed flawlessly for 418,000+ miles, and today still delivers 26-28 MPG city, and 31 MPG on the highway. My routine maintenance costs are really, really low, as replacement plugs, wires, coil packs (every 100K), the air filter and a single serpentine belt are all ultra affordable and easy to find. Not so with most all foreign vehicles, and replacement parts tend to be quite expensive by comparison, and much harder to purchase locally. My car holds its alignment really well too, and still has its original aluminum alloy turbine-styled rims, with 225/60/16 tires that usually will last 60k to 75k miles (with regular rotation). With just regular cleaning and my care for its finish and trim, the Olds still looks new inside and out, and I have every intention of keeping it as it should easily still last my lifetime!
My Honda Civic “Little Bit of Gold” has had a rough life. But he has survived. A week after purchasing spanking new from dealership the left front wheel almost fell off. The battery died 3 months later, there were recalls including air bag (twice) faulty, transmission leaks and lastly, the innocent victim of gunshot. But I’m not trading. My car and I are partners until the end.
You forgot the Toyota Yaris.
Inexpensive, fuel efficient, basic and reliable.
Mine is an 07 with only 110,000 miles. Just broken in.
I keep the car clean and maintained but I’m not a fanatic and the car looks like it just rolled out of the showroom. Easy to work on.
If you’re looking for a good used one, good luck. They’re such great cars that people
hold onto them forever. But if you can find one, they’ll last forever.
Did I mention that they handle like a go kart?
My vote is for the chevy Silverado. I own an 03 that is just short of 300,000 miles and know of one in Memphis that has passed 700,000 miles, all city driving.
I am surprised that the Prius made the list. These all have a Li Ion battery bank that will eventually need replacing – at no small cost! I know that Toyota make a quality product. Lithium-compound batteries have a limited life span.
Also surprising is the Civic. Everyone I know that owns one thinks they are junk.
I’ve had two Mercedes sedans (1969 240 and a 2011 350E) that I bought used and each has gone over 500,000 miles. No major repairs, just routine maintenance and oil changes.
You should qualify your statement that they occasionally need a battery, those batteries are around $3,000 and hundreds to have installed. That is an important and pricey ‘repair’
You picked the Volvo 900, the original Volvo long term driver was the Volvo 240 the original “Swedish Brick” with Hundreds of thousand of miles, many have hit the million miles milestone. Many have called them a tractor with a car body, easy to work on good mileage and the station wagon is excellent in the snow! The newer version is the XC70 AWD or the V70 FWD the 5 cylinder is tough as nails with good fuel mileage and common longevity of the engine well in excess of 500,000 miles. With normal care the bodies don’t rust!
I bought a new Volvo XC70 a few years ago and disliked it even though my Father was Swedish and had recommended it. The seats were made for tall men and I could NOT get comfortable, being a somewhat short woman. Repairs were expensive in the US. Eventually I sold it and bought a new Subaru Forester in 2007. I loved it and still have it. It is comfortable, I like the height, and the few repairs it has needed were affordable.
How about doing the same for SUV’s?
I love my Civic
Very good and informative article. Helps me decide what car I want to purchase next. Really enjoyed reading this article.
Ok…. Nice post with good information
I own a 2015 Honda CR-V. I have never owned a Honda and i luv my SUV. Im disabled so im not able to bend my right leg and bend over to get in and out of a small vehicle. The trunk is big enough to put my walker plus my dogs stroller plus other things. I luv my Honda all the way around and from now on, i will only own a SUV Honda. Its perfect for me and i feel safe and comfortable while driving. My Honda is also big enough to go camping in. Honda is now my SUV of choice and will never buy any other vehicle.
these are all foriegn cars. WHY?????????????????????
I have a 320E Mercedes Benz with 250,000 miles and little care just regular yearly oil changes and a tune-up. This is gas, not diesel.
Thanks for the info
Need to put some SUVs On the list! Our family has driven jeeps since the early 80s, and have never had a major issue! We Live in rural Western Iowa, 6 miles north west of Sioux City farm at the top Of a Hill. The only problem with ever had with a jeep is my mother was going up the hill on a muddy road that was half frozen in the winter time, hit a soft spot that pulled her up often the side of the road, she overcorrected end up in the ditch. It rolled over and down the hill to the bottom Of the ditch. She never took her foot off the gas And it never died, she Is a heavy smoker and knew, If she stopped, she was stuck and there was no way she could crawl up muddy Bank on a 25° day. So she just kept in the gas drove through the end Rows Until she reached the spot that turned back out onto the gravel road, drove home and parked in the garage! Broke out two of the windows in the rollover, passenger side, and the right rear,Cracked the front
I had a Subaru for 21 years im sorry I sold it. No problems ever.