Could also be that cars are built better and last longer than they did twenty years ago. My Jeep and Acura are both 10 years old. with less than 80,000 miles each. Other than regular maintenance, they have been problem free and still run great. I can afford a new vehicle; I just can’t justify buying one, when the two that I have are in excellent condition.
They definitely are, beginning in the early '90s GM and Ford went whole hog into quality and longevity. I was there. Single biggest thing I remember was firing their logistics VP and then changing the grade of cast iron used for engine blocks. Lopez bought the cheapest iron he could find, and it almost destroyed GM's reputation. V-8 blocks lasted 90,000 miles. Now they go beyond 250,000 with ordinary care.