This is ancient history but will make you wonder. Back in the old days my wife had a 1975 Chevy Vega, she bought it new. Don't laugh it was voted "Car of the year" by some magazine. Anyway, she come down to my house for a visit, and said her oil light was flickering. I popped the hood and yanked the dipstick, nothing showing. I added 1 qt, 2qts starting to show, it took 3 qts of oil to make it to the full level. It only held 4 qts total. That car ate oil, didn't smoke or leak any oil that I could see. She drove that thing for another 10 years with no long lasting effects from being run low. I guess it all depends on what brand of engine your vehicle has in it.,,,
My father bought my mother a '72 Vega because she thought it was a cute little car. He wasn't impressed with the build quality at all, and said it probably wasn't going to last very long. And, he was right.
The aluminum head had a habit of warping away from the iron engine block -- there goes another head gasket. When it wasn't doing that, it was either jumping timing or refusing to upshift (automatic trans).
And then there was the rust. Oh God, the rust. All around the window trim, in the quarter panels...ugh.
Mercifully, the thing gave up the ghost at about 36K miles. My father picked her next car, a '75 Duster with a 318 under the hood. MUCH more reliable!