[kbenson]

I'm always leery when I see absolute numbers like that bandied about without qualification of when someone decided they were a good idea. If someone actually spent some time and figured that out in 1995, that doesn't really mean the same thing as in 2015, just from inflation (the simple inflation calculator I just looked up and used shows it at over $7500).

And that's ignoring all the other things that may affect the automotive industry over time, such as different regulations causing different materials to be used which can greatly affect how long the cars from that era may last. I own a car from 1973, I'm in no way confident that the same model car in 2015 will still be drivable in 40 years.

[sejje]

Not to mention a $5000 Jeep Wrangler is entirely different from a $5000 Ford Mustang from a $5000 Toyota Corolla.

As to your last point, I have no reason to believe cars aren't lasting longer and longer. Engine life is determined more by use than age. (Do you have a million miles on your 40 year old car? Probably not)