I was never a pilot, but my father was. Owned a Piper Cherokee 140. It was something like 20 years old when he was flying it, and it was in great condition. Planes had to pass annuals, 200 hour checks if you were leasing it out.
100 hour checks, not 200
I learned to fly in a Cessna 152. Rented Cessna 172s after I got my certificate. The in 96 I bought and built a 2 seat experimental seaplane kit. A crate of steel, aluminum, and fabric. I put 250 hours on it and sold it in 2001. I borrow and rent now.