Dear Tom and Ray:

My 1986 Camry is coming up on 100,000 miles. Anything special I need to do? Joyce

Tom: Not really, Joyce. We've seen plenty of Camrys go past 100,000 miles. We've seen 'em go to 102,000...even 103,000.

Ray: Actually, Joyce, the one thing you should do is keep following the maintenance instructions in your owner's manual.

Tom: Most books have instructions that go though about 75,000 miles. So after 75,000 miles, most people figure that they don't have to do any more maintenance!

Ray: Either that, or the math is too complicated for them. But it really isn't that hard. Just put your car on a 60,000 mile cycle.

Tom: So when you get to 60,000, pretend you're starting at 0 again (except for anything having to do with break-in, of course). That means you should do the "30,000 Mile Service" at 90,000 miles, and the "60,000 Mile Service" at 120,000. Then, when you get to 150,000 miles...hey, Ray, would you mind taking off your socks for a minute?

It's NEVER cheaper in the long run to buy a new car. Want proof? Order Tom and Ray's pamphlet How to Buy a Used Car: Things That Detroit and Tokyo Don't Want You to Know. To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1993 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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