[SNAP]
You're looking at a million mile car.
I was so happy when I reached a million miles.
Vic Dres commuted 160 miles a day, five days a week
for 17 years.
And that's how he racked up many of those miles.
So how did he make his car last?
Well, maintenance usually like changing the oil
usually 3,000 miles.
And the coolant every year.
And transmission oil is every year, and that's about it.
You may not get a million miles out of your car,
but with many cars today, you might
get 200,000 miles or more.
I'm here with Jen Stockburger.
She's the Director of Operations at the Consumer Reports Auto
Test Track.
Hi, Jen.
Hi, Jack, how are you?
So explain to me exactly how you can
achieve 200,000 miles or more.
Yeah, and there're so many models that'll do that.
I think the first step, if you think you're keeping a car that
long, pick one you love.
Get the features you want, get the safety features
as much as you can afford, and pick a car that's reliable.
One that you think is going to go that distance.
But there's some tips you might not know about.
Why don't you hop in the driver's seat,
and I'll show you.
I'd love to.
All right.
Obviously, the key to keeping going more than 200,000 miles
is maintenance.
Maintenance.
And the guide book to maintenance
is your owner's manual.
OK.
So what people know, is that it gives you guidance
on how the car operates.
What they may not know, is there's a lot of information
and a very strict schedule of how
to maintain your car in your owner's manual.
Following that to the T is key to keeping your car going.
Right.
So now I read the manual and then what's next?
You're going to use your senses.
So why don't you start the car up?
Here we go.
So, brand new car, you want to get accustomed to how it
sounds when it's running well.
It's like your baseline.
Then if you know if you develop squeaks or rattles or things
that aren't right.
You'll know to take it in immediately
and have them checked out.
Don't wait.
All right, turn on the car and I listen to make sure
that everything's OK.
Right.
Then what?
Now, your other senses.
Your eyes and your nose.
We'll take a look under the hood.
First thing, take a listen from the outside.
Now, use your eyes and your nose.
So there's a lot of things that are under the hood
that you don't have to be a mechanic to judge.
So the first thing is rubber components and hoses.
So things that are rubber will age and ultimately, crack.
So take a look.
Is anything cracked or hissing or leaking?
There's also a lot of fluids.
You got windshield wiper fluid, transmission fluid.
If you're feeling even more handy,
you might even get accustomed to checking your own oil.
Not only the level, but the color.
Is it black?
Or is it a nice clear golden color, as it should be?
So what about the tires?
[CAR HONKS]
Tires are rubber, so first, make sure
there's no cracking, blisters, damage with those.
Tires will also talk to you.
They tell you a lot about what's going on
with your car suspension.
If the wear is uneven, for example,
you could be out of alignment.
Make sure, and look while you're down here
you're checking inflation, you're
checking to make sure you have enough tread.
And if you see uneven wear, have your tires checked out.
Jen, I've really learned a lot about getting the most amount
of mileage out of your car.
It's really difficult to not fall in love with it.
It really is.
You know, I had my little babies in my car.
I mean, there's memories.
How many people do we know that nickname their car?
Oh, yeah, that's me.
But we're really happy helping consumers get the most
mileage out of their car.
And we're super passionate here.
But ultimately, you have to know when
that time is to let the car go.
When it starts to cost you more than it's actually worth,
it might be time to walk away and get a new car.
And fall in love all over again.
Maybe if you follow Jen's advice,
you too could get more than 200,000 miles out of your car.
Or even, as Vic and his family did,
watch that odometer turn over to a million miles.
There you go.
Whoo!
Yeah!
Whoo!
[SNAP]