Not too many years ago, a driver would often put 75,000 miles on the odometer and then consider trading in the car before it broke down. Today, some models boast 70,000- to 100,000-mile warranties, assuring motorists the autos will last, according to USA Today. Piling 200,000 miles on an econobox or even a typical $20,000 sedan may sound unusually optimistic, though market researcher Art Spinella of Bandon, Ore., doesn't rule out the notion. In this year's survey of used-vehicle buyers by Spinella's CNW Marketing/Research, a typical used vehicle from 1 to 8 years old rated 95.2 on its quality scorecard. That's up from 88.3 in 1998, and a 48 percent jump from 64.3 in 1990. Better design and engineering of auto parts, improved assembly operations in the plants and the proliferation of rugged electronic components have lengthened the life span, Spinella said, according to USA Today.