Updated 6:08 p.m. ET to correct names

When it comes to making a vehicle last, Irv Gordon is a superhero. The retired science teacher paid $4,150 for his 1966 Volvo P1800 when it was new (at that time it was nearly as much as his annual salary as a science teacher), and over the years he's put 2.7 million miles on the car. Late last year, AOL Auto's Bengt Halvorson gave away some of Gordon's secrets.

When people ask Gordon what they should do to follow his example, he has some surprisingly simple advice.:

"I always tell people the first thing to do is read the owner's manual," he said. Gordon, other experts and reports from high-mileage drivers all emphasize that you shouldn't cut any corners on routine maintenance.

Diligent maintenance can make "profound differences," according to Dan Dillon, a technician for RepairPal.com, in how long your vehicle lasts and how it feels. In addition to the maintenance required by the manufacturer, he recommends regular flushing of critical fluids such as for the transmission, brakes and power steering.

Also, choose your mechanic carefully. Dillon emphasized that a lot of what makes a great mechanic isn't so much sheer technical prowess but an understanding of the nuances of combustion and what keeps a vehicle in peak operating shape.

Maintaining a vehicle cosmetically is also more important than you might think. Gordon, who lives in Patchogue, N.Y., and doesn't garage his 40-year-old Volvo, has only repaired a few rusted areas underneath. Don't forget to wash your vehicle on a regular basis, wax it on occasion, and keep salt and debris away from the underbody and cowl.

"Generally you don't need to maintain it more often than the owner's manual specifies," said Rich Kahn, founder of the Subaru High Mileage Club, from his own experience and from owner stories on his website. But he did emphasize the importance of being pre-emptive with some repair or maintenance items, like the timing belt

Repairing pre-emptively -- replacing belts and hoses long before they're in danger of failing--and never ignoring new noises or vibrations, might be the best tip of all, and reflective of the difference in attitude of those who keep their vehicles for hundreds of thousands of miles. It's abundantly clear that the most successful high-mileage owners are those who understand the cost-effectiveness and importance of addressing the small problem before it becomes a larger one.

"You hear a new sound, you don't just turn up the radio and say it'll go away," said Gordon. "Before you know it you have a lot of things going wrong."

Being attentive to maintenance is one thing, but taking good care of your vehicle also means not abusing it from behind the wheel. Gordon said that he drives smoothly and carefully, but not extremely so. "Some people go out of their way to see how fast they can kill the car," he said. "I see how long I can get a car to last."

The affect of this type of driving is undeniable. Gordon said that he typically gets about 100,000 miles between brake jobs and didn't replace his first clutch until 450,000 miles. Both are wearable repair items that say more about his driving style than the vehicle's reliability itself.

Whether or not you like the car and can live with it over the long haul is really important. A reputation for quality and top marks for reliability certainly isn't a guarantee you'll love it years from now. If you're shopping for a new car you intend to keep for a decade or more, take it on a long test drive, don't skimp on the research, and don't take the decision lightly.

One of the downsides of the high-miles approach is that in keeping a vehicle for 10 or 15 years, you'll be driving a vehicle with outdated safety features. Consider safety another one of your top purchase priorities.

Drivers are much more likely to spring for those major repairs that become needed over 100,000 miles -- and more likely to have kept up with maintenance all along -- if they still feel positive about the car. How much you like a vehicle after so many years and miles "speaks in your eagerness to take good care of it," said Jeff Bartlett, deputy online editor for Consumer Reports.

And that leads to a final, and especially important, point: After all these years, Gordon still really likes his little Volvo coupe. Typically, owners of high-mileage vehicles still like them -- or at the very least the competitive aspect of seeing how far they can get without problems.

On the flip side, the frugal romance might fizzle or give way to the temptation of new sheetmetal. If you simply tire of the vehicle, you're probably best moving on rather than halfheartedly letting the vehicle decline and eventually break down. If you no longer love the vehicle, it needs repairs that well exceed its value, or rust or structural issues threaten safety, then you should consider parting with the vehicle.