How long before that new car is just a throw away item?

Weird thing about everyday machines often-passed around, like lawn mowers -- everyone needs them, and the more the mfr sucks content to the bleeding edge on the current models, the more the desire for those who use them regularly, to find the older, simpler, non-decontented ones.

Could be said my old Paseo was not a complex machine: speed-density EFI, FWD, 5-spd, rear beam axle -- everything else was as Toyota made it more than a decade. But was designed after Toyota debuted Lexus, so were eager to show even the entry-level could benefit. And I did -- 285K miles and 16y with it, was eminently fixable -- even before I trained to become a mechanic.

Complying with stricter emissions, customer want for garbage infotainment, and hybrid systems... drove up the cost of these, esp the cost of knowing how to fix them. Now you need a code reader (and minimum requirements going more expensive all the time), or at the very least a kit and app to make your phone one, to diagnose the myriad crap that's been brinksmanship'd into your car, esp near warranty-end mileage.

So it's no surprise the kinds of vehicles that don't make you do this, are still changing hands like gold here -- the original iron-block V6 Tacoma with 300K but an intact bed and frame, goes for way more than you think in a land of constant salt spray. The 4.0L later Tacomas also demand a premium, as they make more emissions but have the torque where you need it vs. 3.5L...

For small engines like mowers... the existence of parts from the OEM is usually tight, but lots of PRC-made knockoffs for at least keeping them working, if not made with enough attention to detail to perform like new. My buddy in WA used to say good SBC cranks could be had from PRC for pennies on the dollar back in Y2Ks... but the price was only realising you'd bought a loose-QC'd dud, when your rods knock holes in your block