Buying a Used Toyota Rav4 with 17k budget, want it to last me 200k more miles

Tautaestin

I would like to car to last me ten years, driving 20k miles per year (I live in Houston).

So how low of mileage do I need to go? I can never know if all the oils changes have been done, Carfax only tells you about accidents. So if I got a 2018 LE with, say, 35k miles, assuming the worst: that NO oil changes had been done by the previous owner, then could I get 200k more miles out of it if I keep it up? Or should I spend more out of the gate and go lower, getting one with, say, 20k miles?

The ones with around 35k meet my budget best but I could stretch to get one with 20k or 15k if the 35k ones will hurt my chances of lasting ten years significantly.

kyfdx

I don't think it matters if you start with 10K miles or 40K miles. It's just luck on what might happen over 10 years and 200K miles.

But, for certain, you want to start with a car that is well-maintained. No point in putting yourself behind the 8-ball from the start.

Late model Toyotas all have 24 month, 25K mile service plans at no extra charge, so anything with 30K miles or less will most likely be maintained by the book.

stickguy

Agreed. In that range condition and maintenance is more important to start.

After that, if you want to put that many miles on it, make sure to do regular preventive maintenance on all the fluids.

oldfarmer50

If oil changes are your main concern you might consider an ex fleet or rental. Those at least get the oil changed.