My car is currently 8 years and 150k miles with no issues. There was some leaks to fix, but nothing significant, only $300 for the entire work. I have a truck that is now 22 years old and also 150k miles, but it is a diesel and so you will probably say it doesn't count. My last car (sold only because my job let me take the bus) was at 260k miles and no issues (though I did change the timing belt on schedule).
Modern cars will generally last at least 300k miles today with few problems. When the finally die it is because the body is shot - something that has nothing to do with the power train. (I live in an area where winter means a lot of salt on the roads, my friends in warmer areas report cars lasting even longer).
Of course I probably shouldn't say this. People like you who trade in their almost new cars all the time because they are afraid they are a money pit keep people like me in nice cars for not much money.
> Modern cars will generally last at least 300k miles today with few problems.
That's not been my experience. I was a Honda loyalist and my first 4 cars were all Hondas and the reliability steadily decreased over the years. My first car, an 88, only ever needed regular maintenance and an alternator at 250k miles. My last Honda, an 07, was costing $2500 a year in maintenance when I got rid of it with 127k miles in 2015.
The three most reliable automobile manufacturers according to Consumer Reports Reliability Indexes, by a large margin, are Toyota, Honda, and Subaru.
A more fair comparison would be a higher end Camry, Avalon, or L Series Lexus.
The Corolla is a very simple car in every respect and inexpensive. Reliability goes down when systems get more complicated and expensive. That's why the Acura and Lexus equivalents of there Honda and Toyota counterparts are much less reliable.
Lexus was the most reliable automaker according to consumer reports for awhile. Mazda I think recently dethroned them but they are I think still above regular Toyota. Not sure what your source on this claim about Lexus being less reliable than Toyota...
My source is Consumer Reports. CR lists Lexus as a brand of the Toyota Motor Company, and yes Toyota is the most reliable automaker. But if you look at Brands, Toyota, Honda, and Subaru beat Lexus.
Mazda was never in the running. Mitsubishi has better ratings than them.
Are suggesting that people shouldn't keep cars beyond 5 years or 100k miles?