Can a Car Last 400k Miles? (7 Cars That Do)

Have you ever thought if a car can last 400k miles? Is it really possible? 

In this article, I’ll answer your question and provide some important tips so that you can make your car go 400k miles easily. You’ll also find information about some of the cars that will easily last 400k miles.

Can a Car Last 400k Miles?

A car can last 400k miles if all the scheduled maintenance and proper care are ensured throughout the driving period. But the term ‘proper care’ holds a lot of significance when you need to go 400k miles without any kind of heavy repairing or replacements.

There are various types of cars available in the automotive market. Some types and brands can easily cover 400k miles, while others need extra care and regular maintenance. 

Like it’s easy to get higher mileage with diesel engine cars, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible to go 400k miles with a car having gasoline engines. That means the way you drive your car and maintain all the crucial things will decide whether you can 400k miles or even more.

Also read: At What Mileage Should a Car Be Replaced? (Solved)

Can Any Car Last 400k Miles?

The answer is yes. Though not all cars can make it happen, some cars with regular maintenance can last up to 400k miles. Honda Civic, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Corolla, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Lexus LS400, Honda S2000, Mazda MX-5 Miata are some of the most dependable cars that can easily last 400k miles.

There are reliable brands available in the automotive market like Toyota, Honda that ensure 400k miles with regular maintenance and care. But it’s also possible to go 400k miles and sometimes even more with other available cars if you follow necessary suggestions and guidelines.

How To Make a Car Last 400k Miles?

You don’t need to be a famous or experienced mechanic to make your car last 400k miles. Ensuring proper care and all the scheduled maintenance can make your car go easily 400k miles and sometimes more. Certain brands like Toyota, Honda can make the goal happen easily and for the rest of the brands, proper care should be the key.

Following some useful tips and high mileage maintenance steps stated below can help you to go 400k miles.

1. Wash Your Car Regularly 

One of the simplest tips to make your car last longer is to wash and wax it regularly. It’s not just about the aesthetics of your car. Washing your car won’t let foreign bodies of air get stuck into the car body, as well as forming a coat of dirt and turning into rust. Rust is harmful to both the paint and body of your car that may lead to some costly repairing.

2. Fuel, Lubrication, and Cooling System

It’s important to use fuel having the manufacturer’s suggested octane rating if you want high mileage from your car. Providing clean lubrication is like investing in the health of your car. It’s wise to use synthetic engine oil if you have the budget and follow the recommended change intervals as well as other fluid properties suggested by manufacturers. Flush and fill your cooling system with a new coolant and a new thermostat every two years to secure a high mileage. 

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3. Maintenance of Brake, Batteries, and Wheel

You should include new pads and shoes while considering the maintenance of the brake. It’s better to flush the hydraulic system of your brake every two years. Lead-acid storage batteries don’t require too much maintenance nowadays, though you need to be careful about battery water, battery terminal cleaning, tightening, etc. Maintenance of the wheel is another important factor to ensure higher mileage. 

4. Maintenance of Tires and Engine 

Tire pressure is another important factor, as properly inflated tires increase gas mileage and ensure that your car will last longer. The extended life of tires is also important for suspension components and other things related to tires. Driving your car for a longer period without basic engine maintenance can lead to some expensive repairs. So, it’s wise to follow every single little maintenance tip and guidelines suitable for the engine.

5. Scheduled Maintenance from Fixed Trusted Mechanic

Your new car comes with a maintenance schedule that is recommended by manufacturers. Follow it and always have some time for visiting a trusted mechanic. Taking suggestions from a trusted mechanic and continuing the process can provide you with an extremely satisfying output in the long run.

Also read: Can a Car Last 500k Miles? (+6 Cars that Do)

Is it Cheap To Maintain a Car With 400k Miles?

Vehicles that drive 12,500 miles per year cost somewhere between $1,000 to $1,500 for maintenance purposes. The cost increases as time passes, and you need to solve more complex problems and issues. The cost can be up to $5,000 per year if you own a car of 200k miles or more. 

Newer cars go extremely well having a little scheduled maintenance. But older cars require some special care, as wear and tear are very common in this case. Maintenance of brakes, tires, engine, batteries, coolant will increase if you want a solid riding experience with a car that has already traveled 400k miles, and you want it to go more.

Are Diesel or Gasoline Cars More Likely To Last 400k Miles?

Diesel engines last longer compared to gasoline engines, and they’re more likely to last 400k miles. Properly maintained diesel engines can last up to 30 years or more on the road.

Diesel is light and lubricates the engine parts while burning and using as fuel. Diesel engines are driven by gears, and it’s easy to fix gears. Vehicles having diesel engines are generally equipped with heavy components that ensure less wear and tear on the engine part at the time of withstanding power.

There is a noteworthy decreased chance of overheating in diesel engines because of self-cooling. There are multiple sensors as well as thermostats to reduce the chance of overheating. The spontaneous combustion of diesel engines is very important for a long-lasting car with higher mileage.

Also read: 10 Best Daily Driver Sports Car Under $10k

Are Older Cars More Likely To Last 400k Miles Than Newer Cars?

As automakers need to work with the bugs and fix them in their brand-new models, renowned older model cars are more likely to last 400k miles than newer cars. For example, a 2006 Toyota Corolla will run like a brand-new even after 300k miles and there should be no problem on going another 200k miles with that.

It’s not always possible to hit all the milestones when you implement something for the very first time. It takes time to fix issues and produce a more reliable one. Most often it takes five to seven years after the introduction of the first model to be one of the most reliable ones. 

But this is not always the case that all newer model cars need a lot of time to be in their most reliable form. Newer cars are generally more advanced and fuel-efficient nowadays.

7 Cars That Will Easily Last 400k Miles

There are lots of reliable cars available in the automotive market, but not all of them can last 400k miles. The 7 dependable cars stated below will last 400k miles easily. 

1. Honda Civic 

It’s very common to see a Honda Civic when you pass by any road. They’re extremely popular and have been a bestseller for a long period because of fuel economy, affordable price range, and of course reliability. You don’t need to worry about mileage, owning one of them. 

2. Toyota Sequoia 

Toyota is famous for producing highly reliable SUVs with higher mileage. Toyota Sequoia is a large SUV built for tough driving conditions with highly reliable performance in the long run. It’s an obvious choice when you make a list of cars to cover 400k miles easily. 

3. Toyota Corolla 

People keep their trust in Corolla mainly for its reliability and reasonable price. Ensuring regular maintenance needed for a Toyota Corolla, it’s possible to go 400k miles without any doubt. 

4. Toyota RAV4

When it comes to one of the most reliable and long-lasting SUVs available in the market, it’s difficult to beat Toyota RAV4. It’s one of the most selling compact SUVs and can easily reach the milestone of 400k miles. 

5. Honda CR-V

Ensuring proper amenities, Honda CR-V is also known for being both reliable and safe. The newer models perform impressively when the concern related to going 400k miles comes. 

6. Lexus LS400

Lexus LS400 has changed the definition of luxury vehicles having such a competitive price ensuring necessary features and reliability. These old sedans are produced taking reliability so seriously that they can easily cross 400k miles and more.

7. Mazda MX-5 Miata

Though the Miata is a sports car, it’s more than worthy if you consider the mileage as well as simplicity, engineering, and reliability. It can easily run for miles of 400k and more if properly maintained.