I purchased new in 99, a Chevy Venture extended mini van. It had a 3.4lt V6. I ran Mobil1 in it since new. It is the wifes and the family vehicle. My wife works about 2 miles from home, she does NOT travel on the highway and takes local roads just about everywhere she goes in the county. To put it this way...she never goes over 50 mph. At 58k miles, a lifter collapsed. I replaced them all while the head was open. 2 weeks ago, her van stalls in the middle of a busy road and had to have it towed home. 6 mile tow...$170. A flat fee for anywhere in the county.
My mechanic tells me the oil pump went and the van is ready for the junk pile with 62K on it:hammer1:. Not worth fixing.
I am so pissed...I took dang good care of that vehicle since it was the first one I EVER bought new($25,000), and it goes and dies on me. It looks like it will be donated to a charity for the write off. A shame. The vehicle is spotless inside and not a dent on it .
Last week, the Mrs and I went out looking for another family vehicle. We settled on a 07 TrailBlazer LS with 30K on it. A GM certified truck with 2 years left on the warranty.
My wife killed her van by hardly using it in the 11 years we owned it. I will not make that mistake again. I will have to take her truck to work, at least once a week to give it a good workout and get the juices flowing.
Shaun, what do you think about vehicles that hardly get driven? A sure way to kill them IMO. I think age kills a vehicle way before mileage does.
What say you?