By Jake Nawrocki, Rocki Top Auto
The other day I missed out on something I had been looking
forward to. The odometer in my truck was getting close
to reading 123,456 miles. I wanted to catch it and take a
picture because I’m weird like that. I had loaned the truck to
a friend and unfortunately it happened while I wasn’t along.
Have you ever stopped to consider just how many miles we
drive? We take little trips to the store for a loaf of bread and
some milk. We run to the hardware store for a doodad to fix
the closet latch. We drive to the parts store for an oil filter or
some other things, to the post office, bank, car wash or….
The list really doesn’t have an end in sight. On top of all of
that “convenience” running, we commute, run sales routes,
take road trips, and what have you. These excursions pile the
miles on even more.
For some perspective, in 2016 one study showed Americans
drive an average of around 13,700 miles per year. For reasons
not explained in the study, men drive approximately
16,000 miles while women are closer to 10,000 annually.
I have been unable to find a statistic that seems accurate
but I would guess that the average lifespan of the model T
was probably in the 30-40,000-mile range, meaning we now
drive in 2-3 years more than that first massed produced car
ever went. I’m certain that many T’s went many more miles
than that but in the real world I expect most of them were
used up and discarded.
Advances in technology have taken us to a place where cars
and trucks routinely get into six digits on the odometer without
ever having a major mechanical problem. I remember as
a kid talking with customers on the phone, perhaps helping
them find a replacement engine for their farm truck, and
having to explain that 147,000 miles on the engine was no
longer that high of miles. In some peoples mind it must still
be. The other day I spoke with a gentleman who stated it
was time for a new truck. His was “getting worn out” he said,
“it has almost 90,000 on it and its just getting to be in really
bad shape. I need to get a new one before this one leaves
me walking”. To me that is just getting broken in! To each their own, but had I been in the same
state as this guy I would have been asking
how much he wanted to sell his
“broken down old truck” for. Odds are
that with the proper maintenance, and
quality previously used parts from your
local professional suppliers of quality
used OEM parts, your car or truck
can easily run into the 2-300,000 -mile
range. Talk about getting your money’s
worth!
With these miles being racked up on the
roads it’s no wonder we have so many
accidents. With all these cars and trucks
motoring to all these destinations just by
sheer numbers alone there are bound to
be mishaps. If that weren’t bad enough,
we have added distractions and impaired
driving into the mix. Sadly, it’s not
a matter of if, but when you will be in a
close call or worse. Please, please keep
your eyes on the road as you travel this
summer. The phone can wait, the social
media, game or whatever can wait, and
for heaven’s sake driving chemically impaired
is one of the most self-centered
stupid things you could possibly do in a
car.DON’T DO IT!
Sorry didn’t mean to rant. Anyway,
getting back to my truck. I may have
missed out on seeing a small milestone
on the odometer. In this day and age,
I can’t do a Ferris Bueller and run the
truck in reverse, this digital stuff doesn’t
work that way. I guess I’ll have to drive
it a lot and catch it at 1,234,567, I think
we will make it, if the Wisconsin rust
doesn’t get it first.
Jake Nawrocki
Rocki Top Auto
715-322-5774 • www.rockitopauto.com
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