The real key is to completely lose the “emotional threshold”. I did that years ago; stopped turning over cars every couple of years or so. I currently own a 2000 Saturn SL1 as my run-around-town car(under-powered piece of crap but it runs decently and is dirt cheap to own) and a ‘93 Chevy Suburban monster (350 V-8) with a quarter-million miles on it....still running strong; it’s my people or stuff hauler.
I can afford pretty much whatever I want, but I keep these two. Hell, they’re LONG since paid for and get me from point A to point B.
...lose the “emotional threshold”.
I’ve viewed all vehicles as an “appliance”, keep it in mechanically/physically top shape, and it pays huge dividends. My 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo is pristine and has 148k on it and it’ll go another 150k, as my other 3 have over the past 35yrs.