My first really new car was a 1990 Corolla. As a field service engineer, I did a lot of driving. In 10 years and 240,000 miles, it only saw 3 non-maintenance service incidents. 2 of them were covered by warranty, the third was a freak occurrence: The exhaust manifold cracked, blowing a hole in the radiator. I was able to go 50,000 miles between brake jobs, and in 2000, as I was actually pulling into the Toyota dealership to trade in my car, the original clutch went out. The only reason I wanted to get a new car was a "perfect storm" of repairs: I needed a new clutch, timing belt, tires, brakes, struts and shocks, all new front end components (all the adjustment had been used up,) oil, & transaxle fluids. I'm sure I'm forgetting something else too. The car was burning about a 3/4 quart of oil every 3000 miles, and was getting 34MPG on the highway. But it didn't make sense to sink nearly $5,000 into a decade old car.
So I traded it in on a 2000 Corolla. And I got similar service from that car.
Due to arthitis and degenerative disk disease, I could no longer get in and out of a low sitting car like that, so I now dive a Toyota RAV4.
I LOVE my Toyota.
Mark
I have three vehicles, one of which I regard as a sort of modern-day Model T or VW Beetle. It’s a Corolla, 2007 model. Very calm, competent, reliable and comfortable car. No sense of driving a “penalty box” whatsoever. Only complaint I have is the odd long-arm, short-leg driving position. It sorely needed a telescopic steering column. But, I adapted. It’s tough to get that car below 30 mpg driving it like I stole it, and driving it carefully it can do 40 mpg at highway speeds. Nothing more than oil changes, tires, and alignment thus far, although it’s coming up on a big scheduled service interval involving timing belt replacement. I haven’t the slightest doubt that it will be good to go for another 100K afterwards, though.