I agree it is the harsh truth about our cars and we gotta understand that.
However,
- No car has rusted like my Cavalier. After only 8 years the frame corroded so badly that the car was basically dangerous to drive. None of the doors would open because of the frame sag, and when you did get a door open you had to slam it shut--dropping about 2 pounds of rust to the ground every time the car was kicked. The body was crap, the paint had all flaked off, and this was with regular undercoating. My grandpa's 96 Cavalier LS already started to show signs of rust on the EXTERIOR of the car in 1999.
- The 97 Jeep Cherokee I used to drive, which was a family vehicle, made me appreciate the AXOD/AX4N. That transmission could not shift worth a crap. Some days it would be okay, other days it would bang and smash into gears and was just a pain to drive. Under factory warranty, Chrysler claimed that there was nothing wrong with the transmission and that the slamming into gears was because the SUV required a "heavy duty shifter" it was total BS. Eventually the transmission went and the engine started gobbling down so much gas on a 90% highway trip we calculated 8 mpg (the V8 Cadillac got 26 mpg so how did this make any sense?) we got rid of it, that was the biggest mechanical blunder my family had ever owned. It was maintained religiously too. After that was fixed it was dumped.
- Let's see...my car? Sure I had engine troubles, and since I got the new engine I've been driving it just as hard with no problems. I've had to fix nothing on the car other than drop in a new battery, alternator, and starter which was done by the dealer who sold me a car with crappy ones. The transmission is still shifting normally, sometimes it will go a tad harsh on the 1-2 but nothing out of the ordinary... even when it's cold, the car runs well. I am fairly happy with my car at the moment and don't see the tranny dying at least until next year, but by then I'll have 120-130k on it and it'll be understandable.