So this 89 I am looking at has 252,000 instead of 152,000. That's a lot more miles but at some point, its all just a lot of miles. The car looks great inside and out, runs, great, no rust etc.

Now I don't think it can be the original motor and transmission but if it runs fine, I don't care.

Are there any serious problems with too many miles on these convertibles?

UPDATE: Looking more closely at the CarFax, I am teasing out that the speedo must have been changed out twice. An average of 150 miles per day is too many over 13 months.

Here's what info I have:

10/07/13 6,969 Passed Emissions - This is accurate mileage I believe (106,969).
10/09/13 New Owner

01/06/15 79,302 Passed Emissions - 179,302 - 106,969 = 72,333 in 15 months (456 days) = 159 miles per day. This is too many. SPEEDO CHANGE LIKELY
03/26/15 New Owner

02/11/17 15,295 Reported from owner - 115,295 - 79,302 = 35,993 in 13 months (395 days) = 91 miles per day. This is too many. SPEEDO CHANGE LIKELY

 

That may be one possibility. Another is that the sending unit at the transmission got swapped and there is a different gear on it. Of course driving it would answer all your questions because the speed would be completely off. It is unlikely, but the other component that the speed signal goes through is the buffer box. Being an '89, it should be an electronic speedometer; if not, forget everything I just wrote.

 

Miles don't matter after 50k or so ($$ value). If the body is well maintained then; all other parts are interchangeable; other parts are probably well maintained, too.
Purchased 8/12/89. Stored car for winter 1/2/90 = 135 days. Mileage = 33,000 = 244/day. Too Many? NO! Out to Cali, up and down PCH, and back to Mpls on 1/1/90.

4 months old, and I drove my car into a tree Had to pull way over so my bro could get out the pass side to take the pic:


225,000 miles later and my car is better than new with an LS2:

 

Looks great!

 

...why wouldn't he get out of the car before pulling under the tree?

 

I can't remember that far back, but there was a reason why I didn't back out and drive back in - the simple solution.

 

I wouldn't worry about it, the body is the most important thing. At almost 30 years old you'll have to replace all the same parts on a 60k mile car as a 260k mile car. Rubber just doesn't last that long.

 

Cars are better when they are driven than when they are left to sit.

 

Thanks all. So I think I figured it out. It's a 5-digit speedo with a 10th dial. 79,200 was really 7,920. I am pretty sure the smog shop entered too many digits when they made that entry. at 107,920 that makes sense. Car has 115,200 miles. Now its looking good.

 

 

You're probably right. Either way, as long as everything operates as it should and car is in overall good condition, mileage isn't that big of an issue. The more miles you have on it, the more good times you've likely spent in it! What burns me up is people selling cars with 5-digit speedos as though the odometer has never turned over. "20K original miles" but looking at picks, it's clearly at least 120K miles. Either way, good to know the history some and what the mileage is so you can have an idea of what might need replacing. In the meantime, enjoy and keep logging the miles on!

 

Just a number people care too much about. Means nothing if the car is in good shape.

 

Take care of them, they seem to last. 88GTA, 197k miles, original. Still going strong!