Vehicles clock milestone

A dealership is celebrating one of its customers clocking up more than a million kilometres in two separate vehicles.

Cory Sutherland is a long-time Miles Toyota customer and runs East West Coaches, which shuttles travellers between the West Coast and Christchurch.

His Toyota Hiace passed one million kilometres in 2023 and now his Toyota Coaster, pictured above, has reached the same milestone. 

The Miles Group, which is based in Christchurch, says: “Reaching a million kilometres in any vehicle is an incredible achievement – reaching it twice, in two different Toyotas, is something truly special.”

Sutherland credits the long-running of the vehicles to scheduled oil changes and using genuine Toyota parts as required.

“After Covid times we outgrew the Hiace,” he continues. “The next best thing is a Coaster. It’s perfect for what we do – transporting passengers from the West Coast to Christchurch and returning daily. 

“We’re doing over 800km a day with the best of both worlds: reliability and economic efficiency.”

As for any standout moments on the Coaster’s journey to one million kilometres, he says: “Not having to get my hands dirty changing any engine components apart from an alternator, crank and camshaft seal, injector lines, and an exhaust manifold gasket. The rest of the engine is still factory.”

Sutherland notes the Hiace, pictured below, has been retired to a lesser role at the business and only transports people to and from work locally. 

“It currently has 1,150,000km on the original motor and is still going strong. We’re just regassing the aircon for the first time today.”