Hi everyone,

I'm looking to replicate a strategy I’ve seen in the US: buy cheap used cars, drive them for many years with minimal maintenance, and eventually resell them with little loss. I plan to keep the car for a long time here in France, and I’m specifically looking for cars capable of very high mileage—250,000 km (~155,000 mi) and up, ideally able to last over 500,000 km (~310,000 mi). This way I could buy high-mileage models very cheaply.

Fuel context in France (converted to US equivalents):

• Regular 87 octane (SP95-E10): $6.75/gal
• Premium 91-93 octane (SP98): $7.23/gal
• E85 ethanol (flex fuel): $2.98/gal
• LPG (Autogas): $3.39/gal
• Diesel (No.2 diesel): $6.47gal

Used car market in France:

• Dominated by European and French models.
• Japanese cars exist but are scarcer and generally more expensive.
• Parts and maintenance costs vary depending on model and origin.

My goal:

• Ultra-reliable cars, with proven longevity.
• Low maintenance cost, with affordable parts and simple mechanics.
• Available on the French used car market.
• Capable of very high mileage (250,000 km +) and long-term durability (500,000 km +).

My questions:

• Should I focus on original flex-fuel cars (like Ford, Saab, etc.), or stick with a good old Japanese naturally aspirated gasoline car with an E85 conversion box (note: ECU reprogramming is not allowed by insurance in France)? or go with turbo compressed diesel or even LPG ?
• Is this strategy really viable with E85, considering the much lower fuel price but the possible need to shorten oil change intervals due to ethanol’s solvent effect and water content?
• For high-mileage long-term use, is aspirated gasoline, E85, LPG, or Diesel better in terms of engine longevity, maintenance costs, and total cost per mile/km?

I'm looking for advice on models that meet these criteria and any personal experiences 

Thanks in advance!