I don’t know if the author is right in general. But I possess a good German car and I have the experience daily of the quality of the car, the silence, the smoothness etc. And yes, it’s pretty nice!
When I have something that I really appreciate either from a value-add or simply an engineering or artistic perspective it's something I'll never forget - and often spend time thinking back to when it's gone. I think your example of a nice car (whatever that might mean to someone) is an excellent one. I have so many font memories of various cars I've owned over the years, the happiness they've given me and how much I appreciate their engineering.
My personal opinion: Having lots of nice things doesn't automatically make you happy, however having appreciation for nice things you own almost always does.
My personal opinion: Having lots of nice things doesn't automatically make you happy, however having appreciation for nice things you own almost always does.