Where did the term 'original miles' come from?

[TJ Hopland]

One owner (not counting me of course)

[signart]

I like "Runs great, needs engine".

[Eldorado Tex]

140k original miles?...I don't know, are you sure it hasn't been over 1 million miles?

[TJ Hopland]

Maybe 140 are original and the next 100 are imagined? 

[76eldo]

I especially like the ads that read like "1976 Cadillac Eldorado, Excellent condition, all original, 140,000 original miles. Has new top, new paint, rebuilt engine, new trans, seats redone, needs carpet and door panels have some cracks in them. Paint has a few scratches and top has one small tear.  $15,000 or best offer.  Will trade for hot dog cart or motor home. Don't waste my time with low-ball offers, scammers, don't even try me".

That's your typical Craig's list ad, and usually includes 4 small pictures taken from across the street with a phone on a rainy night.



Brian

[steve340]

Or how about "easy restoration". Really? If it's that easy, then why don't you do it before you sell it and make the big bucks!

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

And, "AC needs simple recharge" 

Bruce.

[tozerco]

I like the ones that state something like:

"For Sale - all original six cylinder 19... Oldsmobile 4 door sedan. Will consider trade of '63 split window Corvette coupe."

[TJ Hopland]

John, I don't think you read that ad close enough, you missed a few details:

"For Sale - all original 1980 Oldsmobile diesel 4 door sedan 140,00 original miles. Will consider trade of mint '63 split window Corvette coupe or 59 Eldorado."

[Jason Edge]

I agree that "original miles" doesn't make sense.  I tend to use the term 'Actual miles". If someone knows the true mileage of a car is say 128,000 then it would be correct to say the "actual mileage" is 128,000, regardless if the odometer has turned over, is broken, has been disconnected, turned back or whatever.

I will say there is a real difference in a vehicle that has high mileage due to true highway miles vs hard driving miles. I have first hand experience.

I had a 1990 Chevy truck bought new that by 2001 had put 121K hard miles on the truck, with a lot of stop and go city driving, off road driving, beach driving, etc. The engine was starting to knock, had considerable oil pressure drop, and everything from door hinges, suspension to under carriage, etc were just wearing out.   I bought a new crate engine to go back into it but found another 1990 Chevy truck advertised as very nice but high highway mileage. 

The truck had 219K miles and could immediately tell this truck was in top notch shape...far better condition than mine with only 121K miles.  The owner indicated most of the miles were from the every day 60+ miles each way commute back and forth to work on Interstate 40 here in North Carolina.  I asked for details and everything the guy said completely checked out.  I was able to negotiate the price down due to miles, reluctantly replaced the engine that was running perfect with the new crate engine (since I already had it), sold the original 219K engine for a nice little profit, and kept this truck up until a just a couple years ago.

I've been around enough to know that the there are a lot of misleading ads out there claiming highway miles, but if you can substantiate true highway miles these will typically be better overall condition than city driven, run hard vehicles. I know from first hand experience.  I saw the comment about "highway miles" above and thought I would respond with my experience with a vehicle that actually did have High Highway Miles.