Any car that you intend to drive for more than a few thousand miles will need maintenance. These are no different. But the engine design (chain, not belt for the timing) and the oil pump taken together are massive factors in ensuring that engines will last. I have a 25 year old SLK that I've passed on to other people several times now on the condition that when they stop using it they give it back and even though there are all kinds of smaller issues the engine runs like new.