StarBulletin.com

Pushing Oahu's odometer outer limits


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POSTED: Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Here are Oahu's top cars as far as pushing the odometer limits go.

We invited you to tell us about your car in the June 1 “;Here's the Deal”; column, called “;Odometer Outer Limits,”; and you responded.

We have everything from a Mazda to a Mercedes. Our top car went above 377,000 miles, while our No. 5 car went above 150,000 miles.

What you made clear is that with the right maintenance and care — but nothing out of the ordinary — you can drive a car well beyond 100,000 miles.

Volvo owner and Kailua resident Sam Piper was nodding his head while reading the column.

The U.S. Army officer's 1993 Volvo 850 — our No. 4 car — has more than 200,000 miles on it, and he expects at least 100,000 more.

Piper bought it new while stationed in Bitburg, Germany.

The car has traveled with him from Germany to California; Washington, D.C.; Kansas; Kentucky; back to Germany; Pennsylvania; and Hawaii.

Piper changes the oil every 10,000 miles, according to the manufacturer's recommended schedule. He has used Castroil since he was in high school (he swears by it), and uses quality repair parts (usually original equipment manufacturers' specifications). He also fixes the car himself, if he can.

“;I believe that you have to know your car,”; said Piper.