Reasonably lucky, yes.

A lot (but by no means all) of cars of the late 90s/early 2000s were fairly well built and comparitively simple. Subsequently, aggressive cost cutting dented long term reliability, as non-performance critical parts were substituted for cheaper alternatives.

I'm puzzled by your choice of renewed parts though. If you're doing 16,000 miles pa, are 4500 mile interval oil changes really necessary...

...yet not change the plugs in 163,000 miles?!

And how do you manage to get through discs/pads in 30,000 miles, and yet get the same mileage from tyres?!

I've had some good fortune with my old wreck that just never seems to go seriously wrong. Both front wheel bearings, o/s ball joint, an engine mount, a water pump and two springs are the only non wear items that have had to be replaced. OEM battery died at 12 years.

In all fairness, exhaust, radiator, brake and suspension life are more down to the type of use than inherent build quality.

My OH had an Almera, a 2001 1.5 S. She drove it 9 years, 95k, and had two sets of brake pads, and discs were replaced at 90k due to corrosion. Otherwise it had oil changes once a year. The only time it let her down was the battery going down due to short winter trips.

Unfortunately, hers was some sort of import, and lacked proper rust protection, and was rotten in to holes.

I would say very lucky. Same set of wiper blades, same tyres for 163000 miles.

I would of changed the timing belt myself as this is recommended in servicing. Thats amazing that you have never serviced it correctly, no spark plugs in 10 years! Never changed the air filter or fuel filter in all that time?

You never got a stone chip in window? Also exhaust lasting that long is very unusual but possible.

Clearly you were concerned about oil changes to the affect that you changed it more often than required but when it came down to other regular maintenance you completley ignored it?