Once you’re strolling the rows of your native automotive graveyard, wherein automobiles are you probably to search out odometers exhibiting intergalactically excessive last odometer readings? I’ve received plenty of expertise on the topic, and I can say that the very best bets are typically diesel-powered Mercedes-Benzes and Honda Accords of the late Eighties by way of early Nineties. For right this moment’s Junkyard Gem, we have one other a kind of high-mile Accords, now residing in a Denver-area self-service boneyard.
409,780.7 miles over 32 years signifies that this unassuming base-grade Accord coupe averaged simply over 12,805 for yearly of its driving profession.
It additionally signifies that Honda now dominates the Murilee Martin Junkyard Odometer standings, with seven vehicles within the High 20 (of which 5 are Accords). Let’s have a look:
- 1990 Volvo 244: 631,999 miles
- 1988 Honda Accord: 626,476 miles
- 1987 Mercedes-Benz W201: 601,173 miles
- 1996 Toyota Camry wagon: 583,624 miles
- 1981 Mercedes-Benz W126: 572,139 miles
- 1985 Mercedes-Benz W126: 525,971 miles
- 1988 Honda Accord: 513,519 miles
- 1990 Volvo 740 Turbo wagon: 493,549 miles
- 1990 Nissan Sentra: 440,299 miles
- 1991 Honda Accord: 435,471 miles
- 1996 Honda Civic: 435,028 miles
- 1982 Mercedes-Benz W123: 417,046 miles
- 1995 Toyota Previa: 413,530 miles
- 1998 Toyota Tercel 4WD wagon: 413,344 miles
- 2002 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor: 412,013 miles
- 1983 Honda Accord: 411,794 miles
- 1985 Mercedes-Benz W123: 411,448 miles
- 1992 Honda Accord: 409,780 miles
- 2001 Honda CR-V: 403,757 miles
- 1991 Nissan Stanza: 402,505 miles
At present’s Accord shoves one other Accord into twenty first place and signifies that a discarded automobile now wants no less than 400,000 miles to realize High 20 standing.
This automotive is a good 18th general, nevertheless it ought to really feel satisfaction because the fifth-best-traveled junkyard automotive I’ve discovered that was in-built the US. It’s surpassed within the Murilee Martin American Pleasure Junkyard Odometer Standings by a 435k-mile Civic, a 435k-mile Accord, a 440k-mile Sentra and a 583k-mile Camry (the highest-mile American-built automobile offered by a producer primarily based in the US that I’ve documented was a 1986 Oldsmobile Calais with 363k miles, adopted by a 355k-mile Jeep Cherokee).
It was born at Honda’s manufacturing unit in Marysville, Ohio, which started bike manufacturing in 1979 and Accord manufacturing in 1982.
The DX was the most cost effective Accord trim degree for 1992, and the coupe was the most cost effective Accord physique type that 12 months. This automotive has the two.2-liter F22 SOHC straight-four engine, rated at 125 horsepower and 137 pound-feet.
With the bottom five-speed handbook transmission, its MSRP was $13,300 (about $29,571 in 2023 {dollars}).
This automotive has air-con and a driver’s-side airbag, each extra-cost choices within the 1992 Accord, however is a no-frills machine in most different respects.
These vehicles had been extra susceptible than most to break from the Rust Monster, and this one exhibits holes within the traditional spots.
The flooring and door pockets are stuffed with development {hardware} and the inside is coated with sheetrock mud, so I believe this Accord was used to haul crews to work websites for a decade or two. There is a half-million-mile Civic hatchback of the identical period {that a} Denver portray contractor nonetheless makes use of for that objective; maybe this Accord was owned by the identical outfit.
It served its homeowners effectively over the many years, and its steel will dwell on in different functions quickly sufficient.
Improved airflow, improved cashflow.
The ’90s Accord.