Each of my Audi A4 wagons has suffered catalytic converter failure around 200,000 miles / 350,000 km which has rendered them uneconomic to repair (at least in California.) But it's about the only wagon on sale in the US (SUVs do not fit in my garage) so I guess I am stuck with them. It seems more economic to buy a cheap one and drive it into the ground (one can buy two used Audis for the equivalent Toyota/Lexus.)

Maybe on the older models. But I'm a sucker for buying high miles cars, and you simply won't even FIND a high miles Audi A7 for example. You'll find cheap ones sure, for $5k even, with 150k miles and multiple issues the owner can't afford to fix. I've never even seen a 200k mile Audi for sale near me, and I'm in a huge major metro area.

>> as long as maintenance is done religiously.

Maybe, but an oil change & minor service for my Mom's off-warranty Mercedes is clsoe to $1000. You seem to be fighting yourself if you're after a long-term reliable driver and go Euro luxury.

And if you have deep pockets. My BMW at 120k miles started to cost around 2k a year to maintain. I ended up selling it for 6k.