to think that cars are not made to last these days

[littlemisscynical]

So annoyed today.

Have a 2014 Volkswagen. I've been driving it for nearly three years. There have been a few problems in that time. I don't have much knowledge of mechanics. Today I went to drive the car and the clutch had went. DHs friend is a mechanic and says it might be a big job esp if some cylinder has leaked. I will have no car to get to work next week and I've only just started back from maternity.

AIBU to think cars are being deliberately manufactured to not last so that we have to replace them more?

Lots of people I know lease cars and drive flash motors, replacing them every 2-3 years.

I'm not really a car person so I don't really want to splash out on a car lease payment every month. However now I am starting to think these people are the sensible
ones!!

Should I stop buying older cars and join the masses?

I drive a 1972 plate VW Beetle. I've had it for 31 years. It was my mother's prior to me owning it, she bought it brand new.
I drive it daily and it rarely gives me a problem. If anything does go wrong it's usually pretty simple to fix as obviously it's not all computerised like modern cars. I think the thing that gets replaced the most on it is the flower on the dash. 😀
I keep it in mint condition and its my pride and joy.

I probably spend more time polishing it than I do my furniture

I am ancient enough to remember cars older than the 1980's. They were truly awful.
It was said about Alfa Romeo cars (then) that if you switched off the engine, and listened carefully, you could hear the Rust munching away at your car.
Modern cars are much, much, much, more reliable than older cars.
But if they go wrong, the repairs are more expensive than older cars. You cannot just get out a set of spanners out, (like I used to).
No, cars are not deliberately manufactured not to last-you should try the old ones!