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The Car That's Driven 2.8 Million Miles
from the feeling-like-a-slacker-yet? dept
These days, any time you hear of a car that's been driven over 200,000 miles, it's pretty impressive. But, apparently for a guy named Irv Gordon, that was just what it took to break in his 1966 Volvo P1800. Shocklee points us to the astounding story of Gordon and the 2.8 million miles he's put on the beloved car, which he bought new all the way back in 1966. He's hoping to get it up to 3 million in about 3 years. For anyone who believe "they don't make 'em, like they used to," apparently here's a datapoint. The guy drives 125-mile commute daily, but also apparently just loves driving and takes the car all over the place.
As for repairs and maintenance, obviously he takes pretty good care of the car, but doesn't seem to do anything special, beyond following the factory (not dealer) manual. He began to realize the car was pretty damn reliable when he surpassed 250,000 miles without needing a single repair beyond basic maintenance. And, yes, the engine has been rebuilt twice, but he admits that the first time it shouldn't have been. Volvo, of course, is well aware of Gordon and even gave him a free car years back when he hit 1 million miles. But he saw no reason to stop driving the original one. And, if you're wondering, yes, Gordon is in the Guinness Book of World Records. But he got there way back in 1998 when he only had 1.69 million miles on the car. Suddenly, "just" having 200,000 miles on a car doesn't seem so special.
As for repairs and maintenance, obviously he takes pretty good care of the car, but doesn't seem to do anything special, beyond following the factory (not dealer) manual. He began to realize the car was pretty damn reliable when he surpassed 250,000 miles without needing a single repair beyond basic maintenance. And, yes, the engine has been rebuilt twice, but he admits that the first time it shouldn't have been. Volvo, of course, is well aware of Gordon and even gave him a free car years back when he hit 1 million miles. But he saw no reason to stop driving the original one. And, if you're wondering, yes, Gordon is in the Guinness Book of World Records. But he got there way back in 1998 when he only had 1.69 million miles on the car. Suddenly, "just" having 200,000 miles on a car doesn't seem so special.
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My new hero
I always wanted to know what happens when my six digit odometer passes 999,999 miles. Now that I see it's possible, I may just attempt it.
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I wonder how the newer Volvos would hold up?
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Re: Feul effeciency
You know, it is just as bad for the environment to make them as it is to drive them...
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I'm a slacker
I don't take good care of it enough, that is for sure. Also, living in one of the northern states where our roads are partially salted for a few months a year certainly doesn't help. =(
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If he *averaged* 55 miles an hour,
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Re: I'm a slacker
You could take care of it like a Jeff Gordon pit crew boss and the salt would still shred your wheel wells within 20 years max....
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Did you read the article? I don't think he has "wasted" anything:
"Within the first 30 seconds of our conversation, we realised that Gordon was one of those folks who truly loves his time spent behind the wheel. Driving is more than a way of getting from A to B. It's a hobby, it's how he relaxes. If we'd asked him to join us for dinner, we bet he would've taken us up on the offer simply because it would give him an excuse to drive a couple of hundred miles."
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I better get 250k
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125 miles one way?
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Re: I'm a slacker
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Consider all of the extra 'energy' that wasn't needed because he's driving the same car. Over that period of time, the average person might have went through 5 cars - let's say.
That would have a cost in the energy to get the materials for 5 cars, transport 5 cars, etc, etc.
So in the end, I bet he's consumed less resources by keeping a single car than most.
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It probably lasted this long, in part, because it doesn't have all the crap that's required on new cars today.
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How much is original?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk24RdfXWcg
3:10 into the clip
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Re: Re: Feul effeciency
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Re: gas mileage
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Re: How much is original?
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Re: Re: I'm a slacker
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Re: If he *averaged* 55 miles an hour,
He's a New Yorker - I would not put it past him.
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Of course, it helps immensely that his car is not chock full of all the electronic doo-dads contained in present day cars. Could you even begin to imagine trying to find a circuit board if they had been in use back in 1966?
His experience seems to give meaning to the phrase that more often than not "less is more".
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The energy cost of any manufactured good is actually a alittle less than half the cost of the product. Your 50,000 dollar car costs about 20,00 dollars in energy to produce. With 4-7 levels of production for each part, the energy used in shipping between each level of production, the personal energy use of the employees which is tacked onto the cost, the heating and cooling of the factories and offices, it all adds up. It is scary to think we spend half our lives paying for the energy used to produce the stuff we by.
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Re: If he *averaged* 55 miles an hour,
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Re: 125 miles one way?
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Big Toys
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That's exactly right...one of the biggest killers of modern vehicles is the the fussy electronic system every one of them seems to have now. The German manufacturers have become especially fond of them as of late, and that's probably why the quality of German cars has been in a freefall for about 10 years now. I honestly feel sorry for anyone saddled with a recent BMW.
Another thing about older cars is they generally used cast iron engine blocks, as opposed to the aluminum engines in modern cars. While the latter is great for getting the car's weight down, a softer metal just isn't going to last in the long term under the stresses engines go through.
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Mi blog en 5 minutos
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Then again, I also remember when I used to fill up my 69 Vette with premium at $.30/gal.
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big deal
I just checked the mileage on my 99 Accord
339,568
Drives like new with original engine and tranny
and it takes regular gas
Tranny will easily go over 1 mil (highway driving)
engine can be replaced at some point with the used one bought on Ebay for 600$
I have 2 other cars but Accord is the most reliable of all
2005 Passat with 90K is a piece of shit compared to 99 Accord
Not even talking about american cars
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I thought it was interesting?
I always find it odd when people tell me what I am and am not supposed to cover. This is my blog, you know...
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Really though that is quite an accomplishment. Coming from a Volvo family (that's how "I roll" -heh) I have always been fond of this car's body - much more elegant than the boxy 240s I grew up with.
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Re: big deal
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Re: big deal
My wifes 03 Jetta was falling apart at 60k. Got rid of it ASAP. They try so hard to make the cabin nice on initial quality that everything else in the car gets the cheap crap. If it is supposed to be made of metal. It's now made of cheap plastic. Engine parts and other well wearing components, plastic. The tail lights have stamped sheet metal contacts instead of plugs, and don't even get me started on changing the oil/plugs. Mind you, I am very mechanically inclined but I know crap when I see it.
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Re: big deal
I do agree doing regular standard maintenance is ridiculously hard. I brought it in to have break pads and tires put on and decided to have the air filter replaced too. Mechanic said everything went fine except that the air filter took the longest to do, LOL. VW may not be there yet for quality/reliability, but mark my words. Give them about 4-5 years and they'll be the car to beat.
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American Cars, maybe
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Re: 125 miles one way?
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Re: Re: Re: big deal
That is just not true, though the later into the 70s you go generally the worse it gets.
I could go on. I think the 1973-74 oil crisis (and tougher emissions laws) is when it really hit the fan for US cars. The dark ages were really 1973 to... um... 1986? That's when the Taurus was introduced.
Those dark ages are perhaps (only perhaps mind you, I welcome any other submissions) epitomized by the Musting II, introduced, not coincidentally, in 1974.
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I know, totally off topic but it's basically my favorite subject. :-)
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Re: 5 cars
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Re: I better get 250k
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Re: Re: big deal
Hah ??
They were there, many years ago, but blew it
Still, this piece of shit is very safe to drive (when it drives)
On collision between Accord and Passat I want to be inside Passat for sure
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Volvos are tanks anyway, I'd be more concerned for others on the road.
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Pretty good
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Re: If he *averaged* 55 miles an hour,
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used cars
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Re: I'm a slacker
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my father has a 1999 f-250 with 311,000 miles 7.2l diesel those are all hauling miles.
my mother has a 2001 dodge durango 4.7l with 263,142 miles.
about 8 times a year is driven through the rocky mountain range.
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