Depends on how far back you go to compare cars. I would say the average 2019 car will far outlast the average 1970 car mainly because of improved fuel injection, build quality, oil quality, and design. However, if you wanted to keep that 1970 car or earlier going forever, and you didn't have to deal with rust, you probably could do so, though there would be a lot of repairs along the way. You would never be able to keep a 2019 car going 50 years from now because chances are: a) we'll mostly be driving electrics then and internal combustion engines will be outlawed b) there won't be gas stations c) the electronics will not be repairable or replaceable. Mechanical stuff can be more easily rebuilt, but electronics and programs just fade away and will render many products useless well before the mechanical bits could keep going. The longest running vehicle and the cheapest I ever owned was a late 1970s Rabbit diesel. I bought it for $200 with a broken odometer that read something like 156,000 miles. I proceeded to drive the car to and from work, 120 miles a day (in the 1980s) for about two years winter and summer. I never did anything to it except change the oil at the cheapest quicky lube places once in awhile. Probably put 60-70,000 miles at least on that thing, then sold it back to the guy I bought it from for the same $200. Got 55mpg too. I suspect it may still be running today! I've never had a gasser go more than about 183,000 in the Northeast before rust and general decay made it uneconomical to keep on the road, despite the fact the engines were still fine.