Are parts for those cars as expensive as some people would lead us to believe?
No, or I sure wouldn’t be able to own one. Some parts are expensive, but what car doesn’t have pricey parts? The Model T, Maverick and old Beetle are long gone. There’s no such thing as an “easy to work on” modern car, at least not in this country. Find a retired Mercedes or other diesel mechanic and you’ll be in hog heaven.
Yes, because they are made by little union gnomes in the Bavarian forest.