I own a 182 from 1976 and it looks brand new. It's a common misconception that planes don't oxidize; they do. Aluminum does have it's own form of "rust". Airplanes that are on the coasts usually have a rust preventative applied frequently to prevent oxidizing.
When you have a problem with a car you take it to the shop. This problem could have occurred in your driveway or on the road somewhere away from home. My point here is that cars rarely see service unless there's an issue.
For airplanes, they need to have a yearly "annual". In which a licensed A&P will go over the plane and recommend fixes before the plane is deemed flight worthy again. Also, engines in an airplay haveairplane engine has an end of life. This end of life is somewhat debated in the pilot community as it seems from data collected on accident statistics that many engine failures increase shortly after an engine has been rebuilt. This is in addition to any squawks I may have throughout the year. If something doesn't sound or feel right, it gets looked at. I don't wait for a "breakdown".
I trust my airplane and her engine 100%.
