My car has around 180,000 miles on it. I love it and want it to go another 100,000 miles. What is the necessary maintenance to ensure my car stays healthy and happy?
Have you sat down with the manual and checked everything is up to date, maintenance-wise? When’s the last time the transmission fluid and radiator fluid was changed?
It’s all in your owner’s manual. The maintenance section goes into great detail on this.
If you really want your car to last “forever”, the posters here ADDITIONALLY recommend the following:
-
Change oil and filter every 3000 miles for city driving and 5000 miles if mostly highway.
-
Change automatic transmission fluid and filter every 40,000 miles
-
Flush the cooling system (radiator, etc) and replace coolant every 50,000 miles
-
Change brake fluid every 4 years or when brakes are worked on.
-
Drive with moderation
Your Vibe is essentially a Toyota Matrix, a vehicle with a very long life expectancy.
Also, don’t be surprised or discouraged if repairs are needed. Replacing a starter, alternator, or radiator is not a big deal with an older car.