I've had two.
1982 Honda Civic, drove it while in New Mexico. Every other weekend we drove it to El Paso. Set the cruse on 80 and go. 52MPG and it just kept going. Drove it to Florida and Virginia twice during that time. Brought it to Alaska, where the wife drove it daily to work, Year round. Handled the snow and ice good, and did well in the extreme cold of 60 and 65 below. Took it to Anchorage and drove it down there on the ice for another two years. Had to replace the water pump, only thing ever replaced on that little thing. With 250K miles sold it to an Airman on Elmendorf. She wrecked it the first snow fall, four days later. Slid through a stop sign, got broadsided by a 5 ton truck. Got a call from Security Police saying I needed to remove my car from Elmendorf or it would be impounded. Got in touch with the young Airman, she was in hospital in lower 48. She told me she never wanted to see that car again, and she was not coming back to Alaska. I can have the car back, no charge. I went and picked up the wreck. Took it to my buddies shop where we started stripping it. A neighbor walked up and offered to buy the engine. We tore it down for rebuild and found everything still in specs, rebuild not needed. Even after 250K miles. We rebuilt it anyway. New bearings and rings, head job. That little engine was then put in a Kitfox experimental Air Craft. It's still flying that Airplane, and the owner loves it.
1987 F-150, two wheel drive, automatic, in line 300cid six. Bought it used in Maryland with 100K already on it in 1989. Drove it as a commuter from Waldorf to to DC everyday till 1994. Drove it to Alaska, being a two wheel drive everyone said it would not do good up here. I or the wife continued to drive it to work everyday till 2006. The wife bought a new 1997 F-150 4X4, then commandeered my old 87 for three years because it was lower to the ground and easier to get into. In 2006 bought a new F-350 diesel duelly, sold the ole 87 with 350K miles, to a teenager here in North Pole. Old truck did not have a ding in the paint, or any dents, no body damage, except the front bumper. Teenager made sure it looked like it and been in a demolution derby in six months. Kid lost his drivers license, he and his Mom took Dad's new Chevy truck and left the state. The only thing they left him was the old 87 Ford. He is still driving it, I see him once or twice a week. Last time I talked to him he was getting close to 500K, had tyo have the transmission rebuilt, but the engine is still chugging along, running just fine.
