Peak Auto?
01/21/2026
Over the years and decades, the cars got better and better, they rusted less, the engines lasted longer, the mileage reached half a million kilometers and longer. But at some point, the wind apparently changed direction. Engines have to be overhauled or replaced before they reach 100,000 km. Load-bearing sheet metal rusts, plastic parts crumble and electronic components give up the ghost. Expensive repairs, often beyond the financial value of the car, are the result. The economic total loss is imminent.
But when was this transition, when was "peak car", i.e. the peak of durability, reached?
Was it at the transition from the last to this millennium? Or earlier or later?
The answer is probably: it depends. Model series are known to have individual start and end points. If you ask about particularly durable cars of the past, you might come across the BMW E46 three-seater, the Mercedes C-Class W/S204, the early Fiat 500 Fire or the Peugeot 306. One or two Volvos might also qualify as particularly durable cars.
And it's probably not just about materials, but also about the design itself. To what extent are the components in the car networked? How complex are the electronics? How widely have individual parts been used across model series and are therefore still readily available and interchangeable?
And why did the wind change at all? What prompted car manufacturers to cut costs in one place or another? Was it just profit maximization or did they have no other choice? Over the years, the cost of exhaust gas treatment and noise reduction, as well as safety requirements, have become ever higher. But buyers are not prepared to pay any price for a new car. So savings and optimization had to be made somewhere and we are seeing the effects today. The depreciation of new used cars is enormous, and many car owners are desperate to change their cars before the warranties expire. The spiral is accelerating.
From a classic car perspective, we watch this game with one laughing and one teary eye. Many cars from the late nineties and early noughties have a good chance of giving pleasure for decades. But only if the manufacturers support this and provide affordable spare parts and know-how.
We think "Peak Auto" is an exciting topic. We are therefore planning to make it the focus of the next "Question of the Month".
However, our readers can already comment now and perhaps name the vehicle types that they consider to be the most durable and long-lasting.
