Meet the king of million-mile cars
The Guinness world record belongs to a retired Long Island teacher and his nearly 3-million-mile Volvo 1800S. But there are plenty of other cars with more than 1 million on the clock.
VICTORIOUS VOLVO: Irv Gordon is closing in on 3 million miles. (Photo: Volvo) 
One indestructible Volvo: Gordon is a 71-year-old retired high school science teacher from East Patchogue, N.Y., but you probably need to track him down on the road because he’s always driving his Volvo, an 1800S sports coupe of the type driven by "The Saint" on TV. He had 2.93 million miles on the odometer now, and will definitely keep it on the road through 3 million. A 125-mile round-trip commute piled on the miles (64,000 miles annually) over the years, but now that Gordon’s retired, he can really hit the road. The Volvo had an engine rebuild at 680,000 miles, then another one at 2,010,000. It has the original radio, though. “Three million miles by my 73rd birthday sounds right,” says Gordon. “But, whether I reach that mark is more up to me than it is the car. The car’s parts have long proven they can take it, but I'm not so sure about my own. Either way, it will be a fantastic testament to the engineering genius of Volvo.”
A hardy Greek Benz: Greek taxi driver Gregorios Sachindis could have been a contender for knocking Gordon off his perch, since his manual-transmission 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D diesel had achieved 2,852,000 miles. But it now sits quietly behind velvet ropes at the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart, keeping company with a million-mile 280SE from California. "That's a commercial car, anyway, not a personal vehicle," sniffs Gordon. Indeed, there are tons of commercial vehicles that attain high mileage, and million-mile big rigs are common. Sachindis bought his car in Germany when it already had more than 200,000 kilometers on it, then brought it back to Thessalonica and into 24-hour-a-day taxi service. He rotated three different engines a total of 11 times. A Georgia man with nearly the same car, an ’81 240D, hit his million miles way back in 2008.
An honorable Honda from Down East: Joe LoCicero is a damage claims inspector based in Maine, with territory that covers all of the state and northern New Hampshire. Nearly tying Gordon, the Saco resident drives 55,000 miles a year, all of it in a pristine-looking 1990 Honda Accord. And he recently took it over 1 million miles, earning congratulations from Gordon — who knows he’s no competition in this lifetime. “Though I’ve never met Million-Mile Joe, I understand he’s a former auto mechanic who’s extremely diligent with vehicle maintenance,” Gordon says. “In our increasingly throwaway society, it’s delightful to learn of a fellow car fan who takes impressive care of his automobile.” In October, Honda presented LoCicero with a 2012 Accord in a ceremony in Saco. It’s the first million-mile Honda.
A Toyota Starlet: Does anyone even remember the Toyota Starlet? Jim and Dianne Jeter have a fondness for the car, since they put a million miles on a thoroughly ratty ’82 example (not the one at left; it looks too good). I interviewed them years ago as their rustbucket had achieved 999,421 miles. Dianne told me, “We asked the Lord to bless the car and keep it running, because we couldn’t afford car payments.” Their strategy was to sell the car for the kind of payout scored by LoCicero and Gordon (who was presented with a 780 Bertone Coupe when the car hit the million-milepost. Gordon put almost a half-million miles on that car, too, but sold it eventually to a friend from Holland. As we talked, the Starlet was sitting in the Jeters’ carport. He thought that whoever bought the car would want to take it over a million miles. “I wish I was driving it now,” Jim Jeter said. “I think it could do another 100,000 easily.” Well, they didn't get the big payout, but they did get to be on the David Letterman show, and that's something.
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Comments
Sold my Volvo 240 with 165000, no motor work. My gal has a 240 wagon, her 4th, with 230,000, still passes CA smog. I finally put new rings in my Taurus SHO '92 at ~190,000 as compression was starting to drop. Did an overall rebuild while it was open - it's at 220,000 or so now.
Our 1989 Cadillac Seville is at 283, 400 miles. My husband drives it every day, his commute is 55 miles. It has a few door dings and the front seats are beginning to show their age. Original engine and trans. We did put a new radio in it at about 100,000. My husband religiously maintains it on schedule and I suspect we'll keep it forever, it's become an old, cherished friend.
These people drive way too much... I've put less than half a million miles an all the cars I ever owned put together (& I'm a 51 year old 'car guy' with multiple vehicles). I do respect these folks for maintaining their cars so well - that Volvo is beautiful.
1997 Geo Metro, 2nd engine, 3rd transmission. Passed 460K three days ago. Chalk it up to 150-mile round-trip commutes, a couple of driving vacations, and diligent maintenance. Oh, and it has the original muffler; this thing came equipped with a stainless steel exhaust system. Our previous two vehicles both passed 250K before their last respective gasps. On one of them (the Camry), the radiator exploded (literally) at 250,001.
2000 Mitsubishi Galant 300500 miles. Still original engine and transmission. Drives me to and from work 130 miles everyday
I have a '93 Honda Accord with 360,000 miles. Original everything. I am going to drive it until it dies. 1,000,000 would be cool.
The 89 to 93 Accords are infamous for being indestructable. I myself have had 2 that the mileage combined is almost 400,000. I work at a Honda Dealership and we have a gentleman with a 93 Accord with 700k on it. Original owner as well. Best Hondas ever made. PERIOD.
We have a 1995 Geo Metro,which we bought new,and it has just under 230,000 miles on it. It has used a couple of batteries and a few sets of tires,but still runs. I don't remember any engine work being done on it. Keep the service up,and who knows how long they will last!!
We have a volvo v70 (2001). The trans was rebuilt at 100K, but the car just turned 140,000. Hoping for another 140K.... we love this car. And with the t5 engine it still moves!
I have an '04 V70 2.5T that's coming up on 190,000 fairly soon. We both have a ways to go to catch up with the folks above.
Where is the VW Bug? Those cars will be around after humans disappear- driving themselves!
if you are talking about that 1963 VW Bug it got totalled in an accident i saw that somewhere
I have a '95 Plymouth Voyager with 394,000 miles. I bought it new and have replaced a few things along the way. The engine is original. I'm hoping to get to 500,000!
The article should have mentioned how many engines, engine rebuilds and transmissions etc. that have been made to achieve these great distances There is no way to achieve this otherwise! Especially with an older Volvo. All I can tell you is this would be alot of work with a car like that no matter how many oil changes and care in driving.
Volvos are known for routinely achieving multiple 100 thousands of miles without major work. The are indeed a bargain for those who choose to keep a car for the long haul.
Ummm... I guess you might need to read more thoroughly. "The Volvo had an engine rebuild at 680,000 miles, then another one at 2,010,000. "
Yes, that's why they call the Midwest the "rustbelt." Rust never sleeps, and it's taken its toll in the Northeast, but today's car bodies are much more resistant to rust than cars made even 10 years ago. After the mid-90s, total rustout is rare.
I would like to know how these cars were able to go this far in the Northeast. I live in New York and take very good care of my cars but the bodies always give out long before the mechanicals. I don't see how a car driven in salt would even come close to a million miles.
Then you don't drive a Volvo. They last. They come from a country - Sweden - where cars need to be built to a higher standard... so they are!
i live in nys also, and i hve a 1994 toypta camery, i do not take the best care of my car, in the winter i do not have a garage to park it in, so i chalked it up to either luck or toyota made one hell of a car
Driving a 2005 KIA Sorento that just passed 100,000! Don't see too many Kia's making it that far...here's hoping for another 100,000!
I drive a Honda Civic Hybrid, purchased new in 2003. It now has almost 528,000 miles on it. My car still drives as good as the day I drove it off the lot. Everything is original and it still gets an average of 52 mpg.
If you bought your car Jan 1 of 2003, that means you drove your about 160 miles per day...every day you owned it (528000/3310). That's a lot of driving!
Gave my 98 Camry V6 5 speed to my son, it is like new, properly maintained, 300,000 no issues. we just changed the original clutch.
I have a 1991 Subaru Legacy with 358,000 miles. I still drive it everyday and the engine and transmission are still the original. It is like a member of the family now and will drive it until it can't be driven any more.
I have a 1995 GMC Sierra. Drove her off the lot with 10 miles on her in 1995, now just over 280,000. She is in the process of being restored. Body is a little dinged up and we have to do a new dash. She has had one clutch, 2 trans, 1 radiator, 2 brake busters, 1 tune up in her life time. Now it is time for an engine. She has been the best auto that I have ever bought. Now I have the next generation Sierra (2008) She is not as good as the old one but hoping that she will last just as.... More
I drive daily a 1996 Jeep Cherokee that now has over 308,000 miles. Needs a paint job but runs great.
Had a 1997 Suburban 2500 Diesel that had around 297,000 miles on it when I traded it in on a 2000 Chevy Blazer that I have put a little over 220,000 miles on so far. The Suburban ran like a top, got over 20 MPG but the body kept rusting away due to road salt and chemicals. I had it re-done 3 times during the time I owned it but the reason I traded it in was that the body was going again and the exhaust fumes were getting up into the passenger area. Almost choked myself to death during my daily.... More
i drive a 1994 toyota camery, it currently has 296,600+ miles on it, I am determined to make it last until 300,000
I drove a 1984 oldsmobile to 386,000 miles on the original engine and trans. 130k on an Acura legend before I gave it away after it was totaled by insurance but still running. Had a suburban with 180k on it, all original, a Chevy caprice with well over 200k, Mercedes diesel died at 300k, Volvo wagon with 175k, etc etc. current vehicle is a jaguar with 35k.
wow, I was coming in here to brag about my car with 155,000 miles but you guys are putting me to shame.
My 2000 Chevy Silverado 2500 work truck has 385,000 miles... All original motor & transmission. The only real work she's had was a new gas tank this past summer. Her predecessor, a 1992 Chevy 2500, had 455,000 when my dad traded it in, also all original. Just regular oil changes, tune ups, and brakes.
The only thing that holds up better than that Volvo is Irv. I remember when I was a kid on LI, I saw him riding around and he apparently had already hit 1M.
Now I look as old as him.
You know there's whole US group of million mile + Saab owners online. They have there annual picnics in places like Key West and Vancouver.
I had plenty of 100,000-mile-plus cars, but nothing with super mileage. It's worth noting that today's vehicles are much more likely to go 600k on one engine than the cars and trucks of my youth. Engine tech has progressed a lot. In the 30s, you'd be lucky to get 50k on an engine.
My father was a pro at making cars last and would crow every time the odometer turned over back to zero. I don't know how many miles total though. What about you? What's the highest mileage your car has reached before you turned it in?
