What the **** does "original miles" mean?

VaSteve · 03-03-2004, 11:27 AM

I have heard three different people use it in 24 hours.
What the heck does it actually mean? It HAS to be one of the most misused phrases when talking about or selling cars.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Original miles refers to a path taken once; repeated travels over the same path do not count as 'original miles'. If you drive 20 miles one-way to work, for 50 weeks out of the year, you've accumulated 40 original miles (20 each way) - the repeated trips don't count.

speeder · 03-03-2004, 11:34 AM

BlueSkyJaunte · 03-03-2004, 11:34 AM

No rebuilds.

island911 · 03-03-2004, 11:41 AM

LOL

I believe it means; "trust me, the odometer has never been tampered with. . . no really, trust me. . .pay no attetion to the man behind the curtain, nor the wrong speedo, for that year."

OR, means; miles from its origin.

This means Californian 911s are always higher "original miles" (than east coast 911s) . . . being that all the 911s "originated" from Germany.

speeder · 03-03-2004, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
No rebuilds.

Now is that a serious answer? Because if it is, that would illustrate the lack of common terms in the vernacular of used car sales. Original miles has absolutely nothing to do w/ how many times the engine has been rebuilt, the wiper blades changed, the dashboard Armor Alled, it simply means original miles!!

(As in, how many miles has the vehicle really traveled, no, I mean REALLY).

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

It's an anachronistic holdover to the days when odometers only had 5 digits. An odo reading of 12345 could be 12345 miles or 912345 miles.

VaSteve · 03-03-2004, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by widebody911
It's an anachronistic holdover to the days when odometers only had 5 digits. An odo reading of 12345 could be 12345 miles or 912345 miles.

Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay... I liked your fist answer better

Thanks

RickM · RickM's Garage

I agree with the rollover.... to 0.
And now merely an embellisment one of the many technical terms in an ad.

BlueSkyJaunte · 03-03-2004, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by speeder
Now is that a serious answer? Because if it is, that would illustrate the lack of common terms in the vernacular of used car sales. Original miles has absolutely nothing to do w/ how many times the engine has been rebuilt, the wiper blades changed, the dashboard Armor Alled, it simply means original miles!!

(As in, how many miles has the vehicle really traveled, no, I mean REALLY).

For true classic cars--ones that appreciate in value, a category into which, alas, most of our 911s do not fit--I usually see the mileage stated as the number of miles (or hours of operation, or calendar time) since the last rebuild, or as original miles if no rebuild has been performed.

Often the odo has been "reset" with the rebuild/restoration/whatever.

Eric Coffey · 03-03-2004, 12:43 PM

As in: I thought I was being "original" by rolling back the odometer.

Instead of odometers for a "wear" gauge, there should be hour-meters (like airplane engines use). I mean think of all the "miles" saved by idling, stop lights, sitting in grid-lock, or even backing up for that matter.

VaSteve · 03-03-2004, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eric Coffey
As in: I thought I was being "original" by rolling back the odometer.

Instead of odometers for a "wear" gauge, there should be hour-meters (like airplane engines use). I mean think of all the "miles" saved by idling, stop lights, sitting in grid-lock, or even backing up for that matter.

Think of all the people that would then say they were only "driving hours." Must like "highway miles." The highways around here have got to be worse than Bagdad. Highway miles is not guarantee the car hasn't seen a rough life.

Truly, the wear guage should be "seat time." Even if you're just sitting in the driveway, inhaling that classic Porsche smell.

URY914 · URY914's Garage

It is the same with the term "actual miles"
What? Actual miles? Differnt than fake miles.
Like someone asked me "How long have you actually been married? Actually, it seems like all my life.

Paul

Zeke · 05:51 PM

So there you have it. Just a figure of speech which is redundant. Like alot of things we hear. I'm sure no one even thought about original miles as opposed to non original miles.

Actually (there's that word again), I'm going to take that back. Original miles may mean to some verifiable and complete mileage showing. I'd buy that.

pwd72s · 03-03-2004, 05:51 PM

Yeah...I've heard of statute miles, and nautical miles...

djmcmath · 03-03-2004, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pwd72s
Yeah...I've heard of statute miles, and nautical miles...

Gosh, those are some original miles... I would not have thought of those miles. :>

Dan

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

...and what are "highway miles"

as in "98K highway miles".

Is there a way to prove this?

oldE · 03-04-2004, 04:46 AM

"Highway miles" on the other hand, are supposed to be a good thing. Based upon the idea that start & stop commuting are harder on a vehicle. Thus, when some guy in a loud polyester suit tells you: "This beauty has 235,000 'highway miles'", you can rest assured it received no worse treatment than participation in the last 10 Cannonball runs.
Read:"Driven all day & night & there's coffee stains (and worse) in the carpets" ;-)
Les