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My car hit 200,000 miles last Saturday. I almost saw it flip to 200,000 — but missed it by one mile.

I remember seeing those old commercials where people would be pictured with their car that had 200,000 plus miles on it, and I’d think about how I wanted MY car to be able to do that. (My car is a Mazda.) Now that it has, maybe I should join the 200,000 Mile Club. My next hope is that my car makes it to 300,000+ miles, since I really enjoy it.

If you’re looking for longevity in your car, it helps to:

1. Buy something with a good reputation. (I lucked out on that one, since my car was the first model year of its type.)
2. Have regular maintenance done on schedule by a trusted mechanic.
3. Be prepared for the occasional high-priced repair bill. (Even a $2000 bill once every few years is a LOT less expensive than buying a new car.)
4. Live somewhere with a mild climate (I don’t, but at least cars don’t rust here) or keep it garaged whenever possible.
5. Having a little good luck helps too.

Being willing to drive the same car for a long period of time can save you many, many thousands of dollars over time. I’ve owned my car for 17 years now (it’s 18 years old) and over the years I’ve spent about $28,000 total on it. That figure includes the initial (used) purchase, parts, repairs, and maintenance. That also includes unnecessary things like buying a new stereo, buying a new top because someone slashed my old one, and getting it repainted because the original paint job was getting faded from the Arizona sun. If I’d kept it for 5 years and then replaced it every 5 years instead, I’d probably have spent about $60,000 + maintenance, and I’d be about ready for my 4th replacement car. That’s more than $30,000 that I didn’t spend.