True 40 years ago, not so much any more.
https://totallossgap.co.uk/blog/post/why-do-modern-cars-not-...
https://totallossgap.co.uk/blog/post/why-do-modern-cars-not-...
I've rusted through multiple cars (also in the North East) in the last 20 years while a friend still has his 2006 model year car in pristine condition with regards to that and is debating whether to buy a new one coz he finally wants to take advantage of some of the advances since then but he can't justify it coz it's still fine and costs him just a few hundred bucks in normal maintenance.