I haven’t bought a new car since 1991 and don’t keep up with them like I used to.
I got a free subscription to “Car and Driver” and reading the specs on new cars floored me. Horsepower is way, way up while cubic inches are generally down.
On the other hand, I could change the water pump in my 55 Ford in less than 15 minutes. It took me all day to do the same on my 91 Crown Victoria and I bet it has only gotten worse.
I fixed my power steering pump noise problem in my 2003 Honda Accord (air in line). I spent .52 cents and used a 10mm socket. Removed the bolt, pulled out the hose that had the O-ring on it then swapped it out with the better O-ring and reassembled. I think it was 10 minutes start to finish and only because it was the only part that was on top and not buried inside where you gotta disassemble other things to get to.
I have not done any real maintenance myself since my old 1977 Olds Delta 88..... I changed out rockers, plugs, alternators etc. Now with the newer cars I let someone who knows what they are doing fix things plus I save my back.