Considering a high mileage auto. Should I do it?

McScotty wrote: Hello Gentleman,

I've spotted a beautiful bone stock 2002 Jimny AT that appears in really good condition. However, it's an auto with 142,000 km clocked. I hear people say these transmissions are undersized with questionable long-term reliability. I intend to use the vehicle sparingly, as a motorcycle is my daily driver. Just rainy days, trips to Costco and the odd excursion. Any guys out there with high mileage autos that could offer me some reassurance?

Right. I just sold my Rav 4 with 200000 on the clock and it ran a treat but hey, Toyota is in a class of it's own. I hear people say the Suzuki engines are bullet proof etc. etc. but I am not so sure. I've had a few and can say they tend to be very reliable and quiet.

My Jimny is 90,000 and I consider that to be high enough when buying. It's OK if YOU took it to that many miles but remember sellers sell for a reason mostly. Mine was no exception - the previous owner last had it 12 months before I got it, don't ask why cos I don';t know - and she sold it because she had had enough. So at high miles it probably would need to be a really good buy pricewise or have something which sells it - mine was so clean and rust free that it looked like it had done 20,000 which makes mechanical problems worth fixing.........don't forget all the other things have done the miles. And sure enough it needed all sorts of jobs doing which garages would have charged an arm and a leg to fund, from keys to king pins!

I tend to think that the auto box is the best way to buy used as manual boxes and clutches depend on the owners' driving skills. Just do the usual checks to make sure it is OK.

Another factor is that autos are fairly uncommon. I found a manual can be had for a real song but not autos. When I was looking the story I got from dealers to sellers is " if you find an auto grab it".

Finally, you seem to be going to use it in the same sort of way as me. Mine is a street car/shopping trolley/part time backup motor which I can tinker with fairly cheaply for a bit of fun but the ride soon makes me want to switch back to my #1 motor. It is fairly cheap to run as a second. I'm not into making it into a mini Discovery or Landcruiser so for what it is, it's ideal.

"Toyota is in a class of it's own"

I'm cross shopping this against a Terios

"mine was so clean and rust free that it looked like it had done 20,000 which makes mechanical problems worth fixing"

I feel the same about the one I'm looking at. Looks like it just left the showroom.

"but the ride soon makes me want to switch back to my #1 motor"

I owned a Samurai through college, so I know what I'm getting into.

I've seen a couple of trannys on the used market locally for about $800USD (500 quid), so I'm feeling pretty good about it.

Thanks for the feedback. Most of the guys around here really seem to thrash these things hardcore, so probably not the best guys to ask about reliability....or maybe the best guys to ask.

[quote="McScotty" post=83364n"

I'm cross shopping this against a Terios[/quote]

That was one I had my eyes on too, nice alternative. However, having had a lot of Suzukis I have bits galore for them.

I would say they are the best ones to ask!