Welcome back, fellow Mileage Millionaires! I want to everyone for coming up with great suggestions for this series (I’ll try to get to as many as I can in future posts).
One of the things that frequently comes up in these “Millionaire” posts (and in the comments) is how much much sellers sometimes have the gall to charge for these high-mileage jalopies. As is often the case here, opinions vary greatly on how much these cars are actually worth, but the number “zero” has been bandied around on more than one occasion.
By now, you know my MO: If I see a dangling thread, I’m going to pull on it to see what unravels. Today’s post is therefore dedicated to the actual millionaires in the audience: Let’s pull on this particular thread, and see what the upper limits of asking prices are for vehicles at the upper limits of their odometer readings.
Two more items of housekeeping: First off, while I haven’t made this clear in the past, the threshold I typically work with when defining “High Mileage” vehicles is 300,000 miles (483,803 km). My reasoning for this is fairly simple: Any modern car with adequate care, maintenance, and a little bit of luck should be able to make it 250,000 miles without too much difficulty. To go 300,000 miles (or beyond) requires true dedication to the cause. Therefore that is the minimum bar of entry for this (and all future posts).
Second, there always seems to be a great deal of interest in the vehicles I post. Whether it is morbid curiosity or genuinely interested buyers I can only speculate, but in either case I will start including links to the actual seller’s web sites. This being the internet, of course, I cannot guarantee that these links will still work after one week, much less one year.
But enough talking. On to the most expensive high mileage vehicles for sale in the US.
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie Quad Cab – 343,686 miles (553,109 km) – $15,900
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/783580940/overview/
Life at the polo club got you down? Or perhaps you are interested in getting into the exciting world of rolling coal, but didn’t know where to start? May I present this tastefully modded 2006 Dodge Ram (yes, the first name of this truck is Dodge, as God intended).
In addition to the dual exhaust stacks protruding through the bed, this example also features a full suspension lift kit (complete with steering stabilizers), 20-inch wheels sporting 37-inch M/T tires, cut back front fenders and fender flares. No word on whether a train horn is included or not.
This vehicle will be in good company with you, as the previous owner, like yourself, almost certainly has to be a millionaire. Between the offroad tires and sky-high lift, I’m guessing this rig is lucky to turn 10 mpg. With diesel fuel selling conservatively for $3.00 per gallon, that 343,686 in miles represents over $100,000 in cumulative fuel purchases.
Best of all, at a shade under $16K, the previous owner has already taken (part of) the depreciation hit for you. After 343,686 miles in 13 years, he probably needed surgery to remove the smile from his face, and you simply can’t put a dollar value on that.
2008 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG – 322,443 miles (518,922 km) – $16,888
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/770100476/overview/
Always wanted to own a V12-powered Benz, but were too intimidated by the six-figure price tag? (Just because you are a millionaire doesn’t mean that you aren’t prudent with your money). Perhaps then I can interest you in this slightly more than slightly used example. Heck, cars.com even goes so far as to give it their “Great Deal” icon, so who am I to argue?
This one looks to be in none-too-shabby condition. Maybe even nice enough to still get preferential parking at the country club valet.
2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty – 326,380 miles (525,258 km) – $19,995
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/761180823/overview/
The ad describes this example as a being Harley-Davidson edition, but clearly it is just a plain-jane F-250, and in any case, 2007 was the last year for H-D Super Duty. Perhaps the seller is hoping that even an incorrect Harley-Davidson association is enough to get you to part with twenty thousand of your not-so-hard earned trust fund George Washingtons.
Naturally, it has the 6.4L Power Stroke Diesel. While some might argue that at 300,000 miles the Power Stroke is just getting broken in, to my eyes $19,995 seems to be a mighty stretch for a high mileage, appliance white, ten-year-old truck equipped about as well as your typical U-Haul with cloth seats, an AM/FM radio, A/C and not much else. Even cars.com charitably describes this as just being a “fair price.”
To sweeten the deal, you do get a matching fiberglass cap and the butchest looking grille guard I have ever seen, complete with a front hitch receiver.
1988 BMW 325ix – 327,370 miles (526,851 km) – $29,900
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/773933277/overview/
And here we are. Behold the most expensive high mileage vehicle for sale in America. Thinking that shopping in the high mileage aisle will score you a cheap entry ticket into RADwood? Think again.
Prices for these 1980’s 3-series continue to rise, especially for the rare all-wheel-drive 5-speed variants like this one. Yes, it has benefitted from a rather extensive restoration (I encourage you to read the original ad for the full details), but Dayum! 30 large for a car with over 300,000 miles. That’s some serious coin, enough to give even a millionaire pause.
Supposedly most of the interior has been replaced, but if you look closely you can still see some signs of high mileage wear on the steering wheel and center console.
I guess the best thing I can say about owning a high mileage classic like this is that you don’t have to worry too much about decreasing the value by driving it and adding miles to the odometer.
Wow. Just. Wow. I am still having trouble with the idea that it’s not easy anymore to buy a clean, functional 10 year old car with under 100K on the odo for $2500. So maybe my opinions are not the ones people should be seeking. But Wow.
That Benz has me doing that famous face that Macaulay Culkin made in Home Alone after he slapped himself with the after-shave lotion. Nothing to go wrong there. I think someone would have to pay me the $16k to take it home and assume its care and feeding.
Yes, that Mercedes just about made my head explode. I can’t help thinking of a few other CC posts on older, big Mercedes… for example, Brendan Saur’s post of an S-Class that had a trade-in value of $100 (no, I didn’t leave off a few 0’s)…
…or Importamation’s description of selling his 2007 S550 to CarMax.
Yes, I realize the featured car here is a V-12 AMG, but goodness… that price is insane. Given the depreciation crash that occurs to (formerly) premium European cars, I’d think one with only 50,000 miles would scarcely be worth that amount.
Now that BMW iX is a car that I really love, but at a price more than it cost new? No thanks.
A later model Mercedes Benz with 300+K on the clock?! And people say miracles don’t happen.
I can’t imagine anyone paying that price for the V-12 Mercedes-Benz.
I’m also wondering how much the previous owner or owners spent to keep it running for that length of time!
“I’m also wondering how much the previous owner or owners spent to keep it running for that length of time!”
My thoughts exactly. Either the previous owner was related to an MB dealer principal or an independent MB mechanic, or they paid a boatload of money to keep the car in good running order (not to mention keeping up a good appearance).
My first car was clean, functional, 10 years old, under 100K miles … for $500. All of these seem overpriced to me, as I bet one could find identical vehicles with 1/3 – 1/2 the miles (km) for much lower prices. I considered a 325iX when they were 15 years younger and got scared off by some of the AWD maintenance issues I read about. If I really needed AWD I’d buy a nice $25K M3 and a $4K Subaru.
The expectation of buying a clean etc car with 100K miles for $2500 doesn’t track with the article’s assertion that a modern car should go 250K miles without major repair/rebuild (I assume engine and trans don’t come out of the car).
It can’t work both ways. Either a car with 100K miles is available for nearly scrap value (around 10 percent of new cost) or it has significant useful life and is worth in the neighborhood of half of its new cost. The only way that both could be true would be if there were a profound surplus of unwanted used cars that can't be sold at any price. That doesn't apply in the US, because our vehicle replacement rate is at an historic low despite historic high new vehicle sales. A crappy job at the distribution center at the fourth Interstate exit out of town requires a running car. The only unsalable used cars at any price in the US are so worn that they cost more to repair than the purchase price of a comparable vehicle without the same stuff broken. The actual age when cars reach that point depends on depreciation rate. Those unsalable cars are the "perfectly good cars" people whine about seeing in junkyards.
You miss the one market segment that was my favored hunting ground for years – elderly owners who grew up with the idea that a car was toast once it hit 100k. And these cars were invariably the kinds only attractive to old people. So other old people had no interest in buying them because of the widespread belief that they were used up, and younger people had no interest because they were American geezermobiles. The elderly sellers were thrilled to get four figures for something they expected was ready to start nickle and dimeing them to death.
Any respectable coal roller understands side dumps are the way to go. How else you gunna spew diesel exhaust over cyclists, pedestrians and sports car drivers?!
On a side note, if that Dodge is pre-DEF that might not be as bad of a deal as one might think – questionable wheels and mods aside.
On the subject of coal rollers, I wish them all nightmares of being trapped in the backseat of a VW Beetle on the ride home from a baked bean supper and no one will roll down a window. There are no respectable coal rollers. It’s ignorance turned up to 10.
I didn’t know that was a term. Car nuts come in all shapes and sizes, huh?
This would really only be a thing where fuel prices are ridiculously low like in the US. I cannot stretch my imagination far enough to see this being a thing in western Europe where fuel prices are high.
Those diesel trucks would never ever sell over here because they consume such insane amounts of fuel which cost a fortune. Imagine buying one and then increasing fuel consumption. That’s a good signs Americans shouldn’t complain too much about fuel prices.
Having said all that, I really do think it looks awesome and I kinda want one – in principle. Sometimes the most irresponsible and ridiculous things are also just good fun. I see the appeal, but I could not look myself in the mirror owning one.
The diesel pick-up trucks DO sell in Europe despite what you are thinking! Just stop blathering about them not selling in Europe due to the high fuel cost and consumption! Three sales centres in Munich area stock those American pick-up trucks and have no trouble selling them.
They are sold in Europe for two reasons: one wanting a piece of Americana (popular with clubs and people wanting attention); and other wanting something useful for off-road and heavy hauling, especially in the Scandinavian countries (where they are quite popular) and Alps.
What do you have to say about the European cars with V8 and V12 engines such as Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Bentley Flying Spur and Mulsanne, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini Urus, etc.? There are Europeans who don’t give a hoot about the fuel price.
Just stop rehashing the same false assumption, Mads!
Well, back it up with data then, “Oliver”. Of course you can sell a few. Of course you can sell a Lambo or AMG or two.
What’s your point? That some people don’t care about fuel prices? Well, obviously. In the US these things (full size trucks in general) sell like hotcakes. They do not in the Europe. Claiming otherwise is just wrong. And why don’t they sell? Because people prefer to drive a Hi-Lux over a Tundra or a Ranger over an F-150? Of course they don’t. The reason is fuel economy. It’s obvious to everyone but you.
Or just to use your own argument: Yeah, Europeans in US car clubs buy them. Are they the only ones who buy them in the US? And I live in Scandinavia. They are not that common in Norway and Sweden and they are downright rare in Denmark.
Amen, brother. The CC effect happened to me just a few days ago before this article. I was coal rolled in my sports car with the windows down by a dipshit in a F-350 in the other lane.
Of course, I’ve had this happen several other times as a cyclist.
It is-all the emission garbage arrived for usually model year 2008. (Calendar 2007, but most truck builders had enough engines that model year 2007 trucks were pre-DPF.)
Agreed on the white Ford truck – $20,000? For an 11 year old fleet trim truck with over 300,000 miles? Are you nuts?
Some of these sellers might be the same ones who think their TV sets from the 90s are worth $200. You can buy a brand new TV for as low as that.
These are all dealer listings (who presumably should know better), not individual sellers.
I think the Dodge might be worth $16k if it was bone stock. That old Cummins is a half a million mile engine.
In a small country like mine, everyone gets shocked by the amount of kilometers my brother’s Volvo has
Size too high, let me retry
What model and engine is that?
Mark 1 S80, 1999.
Engine is the VW inline 5 2.5 TDI. It’s been rebuilt at 870k 🙂
Thanks. Most of the high hileage Volvos I see in Denmark are gasoline engines (typically N/A 2.4 or 2.5 5s). I’m personally shopping for a used diesel car so this was the response I was hoping for.
You’re welcome 🙂
In the Portuguese Volvo club there are at least two MK1 S80 with this amount of kilometers in them, and they are both Diesel. This one with the VW engine, and another one with the Volvo 2.4 D5 engine, so both Diesel engines in the S80 seem to be relatively bulletproof
Great series you have created Tom. Appreciate your attention to detail, like converting to KMs.
If I was selling mature cars at elevated prices, and if these vehicles have been well maintained given these prices, I would be paying more attention to making them as presentable as possible to sellers. As Tom noted with the wear in the BMW interior, the headlight plastic on the Dodge and Ford should have been polished to remove the yellow and haze. To me, nothing screams high mileage like fogged, yellowed, and pitted headlight plastic. It makes a car look very tired. The brush bar on the Ford could have been resprayed as well.
Small attention to detailing and presentation helps so much, to reassure buyers these were well maintained.
Dreams are free and those prices look like dreams, the two pickups and the Benz may have a few miles left in them at sensible prices but the BMW I wouldnt touch with a bargepole, the car I gave my daughter is at or over your thresh-hold for actual mileage though the odometer says its not, but the latest report on it isnt promising of it going much further, I’ll investigate when or if it gets back here later this week, the oil light comes on after driving, I’m hoping for a faulty sender it is French after all and it is old.
Someone mentioned they’re all dealer listings (undoubtedly BHPH lots), and that says it all. If someone offers them ‘half’ of those insane prices (thinking they’re getting a steal), the dealer is still way, way ahead on whatever pittance they paid at auction or gave some poor schmoe who was thrilled to trade these money pits off.
That Cavalier with over 400,000 from last week was financed (according to CarFax) at 359,000, and went back on the lot 20 months later. I gotta wonder how much they financed it for
I don’t think you can get much farther apart than Kevin H’s pickup from earlier today and this godawful Ram.
Wow! It would be interesting to know how much the sellers actually sell them for eventually!
Interesting point about the Dodge. That is a huge investment in fuel. Why someone would drive so much in such an inefficient vehicle is beyond me.
These articles are great. The writing is good, with the right balance between informative and light hearted,. Enjoying them!
Maybe not so many miles. Over 14 years, it’s only an average of 24.5k miles per year. And it’s likely had several owners, as well. I can’t imagine anyone of normal means putting up with those fuel/maintenance costs for very long.
But even at 10 mpg, 24.5k miles per year is a lot of diesel fuel to be buying.
I can’t imagine the issues lurking in that Mercedes. That’s one marque you either buy/lease new or stay away!
Ditto BMW but 1988 was still the era of Peak Bimmer – AND Mercedes. Before both became as cheap and cynical today as GM had been in the ’80s and ’90s.
I think we may have a winner:
https://www.space.com/spacex-starman-tesla-falcon-heavy-first-orbit-sun.html
Only a year and a half old, and its already racked up over 760,000,000 miles!
Yeah, but I bet the Sun’s UV rays are wreaking havoc on that poor roadster’s interior.
I suppose the whole SpaceX / Tesla thing goes both ways, Ed. Check out this one I spotted the other day on the way home from work. Look closely at the tag….
Back in late 2011, I was in the market for a used car that got good gas mileage. There weren’t any with prices that were reasonable. It was seriously silly. I bought a new car (’12 Cruze Eco) because it was honestly the best deal – 3 year old Civics and Corollas were asking new car money at the time.
That’s why cars like the Versa and Mirage sell so well. You walk onto a lot and see a bunch of dodgy used cars for $15,000, some with 40 and 50 thousand on them, with obvious defects like headlamps beginning to glaze over and door dings. And Herb Tarlek is your salesman…
You’d rather spend that for the new car smell and the security of an actual warranty, too. You just have to learn to drive a stick, which is the better choice anyway.
I don’t mind mileage if the price is right. I bought a 1996 Ranger with 200K+ for $1500 and it’s been a great Home Depot truck.
Besides, it isn’t a project vehicle unless it has stuff that needs to be done. Front brakes/wheel bearings are next. Fun!
That S65 proves there’s a sucker born every minute. That’s not a great price if it had half the miles…..
Way overpriced, and none interest me. And yeah, I’d be interested in what sellers actually DID get for them.
Ahh yes, dual stacks on a straight 6. Reminds me of a kid in high school that got rather upset and defensive with me when I told him that his Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0 inline 6 did not in fact have “true duals”
My grandson put dual stacks on a 6 cylinder Sonoma sometime in the early 2000s when he started his junior year and some kid gave him shit because “that truck was nothing compared to his dad’s Gladiator”
True duals on a Jeep six aren’t that uncommon.
Plenty of semi tractors have (factory) twin stacks on a 6 cylinder.
Probably sounds like a garbage truck