From my experience they are not that bad really. I used to drive a Renault 19 and that was terrible for parts & service. I went through three alternators, two starter motors and three clutch cables in about 5 years and 100k.
So far on my Cougar I have hardly spent anything, to be sure I got my plugs & leads from Rockauto in the US and saved a bit there but really it has been excellent thus far.
I think it varies a lot from car to car you know if you get a good one and look after it then the car will look after you.
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