I believe with my current car, a 2013 VW GTI, it is not the mechanical parts that will likely fail if maintained, but the electronics and related connectors and many of the plastic components that will become troublesome from heat cycling, made worse by the added under hood heat from the turbocharger. After enough trips to the dealer or mechanic to repair failed components that require expensive diagnostic equipment and time to replace, the average consumer soon realizes that the cost of maintaining the car will seem disproportionate to the cars retail value and resent the troublesome failures inconvenience and feel it best to sell it and purchase a newer, less troublesome vehicle.
Vehicles with outstanding, long term reliability reputations like many Toyota and Honda models are highly desired, yet their premium re-sale values demand a considerable price so as always, there is no free lunch. As long as one can enjoy working on their own vehicle, or can afford for someone else to work on it, and parts are not difficult or expensive to acquire, one can enjoy holding on to a favorite vehicle if they also have a highly reliable daily driver. All the electronics have reduced that prospect for me as well as my age... I also have little desire to roll around under a vehicle on concrete anymore at 65 years of age. I do feel quite fortunate to have lived in a time when owning, maintaining and modifying internal combustion powered vehicles was interesting, affordable and doable without too much over regulation. I had a lot of fun with my first generation MK1 GTI too, much like my small block 68' Camaro when I was 16. I don't think owners today will have that kind of connection with today's vehicles.
I have never found much attachment to my appliances, however.
