I am rather glad that modern cars late 90's are so depressingly reliable and lacking in "character" and just works when I turn the key and all they needs is fuel, oil change, filters and fluids at intervals.
I would choose an Audi/BMW if I wanted that sort trepidation in my life.
I read your first sentence and was about to regale you with the reliability stories of my 2009 BMW 335i, but I see you have that covered in your second sentence. I mercifully sold that car just a few weeks ago and it's like having a weight off my back not seeing it in the driveway every day.
I would say for the most part, that's how all cars were up until the 90s. Post 2000 everything is computerized and there's not a ton a shade tree mechanic can do beyond swapping out parts.
At least if you know how to use a code scanner, newer cars are so much better at telling you what is wrong with them. Though it does take some skill and experience to know the difference between what code(s) tripped and what is actually wrong, as often a code that trips is well downstream of what part has failed. But it's amazing the amount of data you can pull out of a car using an Autel reader or similar.
that was my basic impression. I drove an '89? Izuzu and a '85? Mitsubishi as my first two cars in the mid '00s; they were pretty "just works" too, barring some repairs. Nothing this crotchety.
I now drive a '21 Camry and man, it's just nice. Things work. I mean, I don't mind pulling things apart, but it's like, do I really want to run Gentoo constantly if I don't budget 4-6 hours/mo to maintain it? (no)
I would choose an Audi/BMW if I wanted that sort trepidation in my life.