As for matinence: any car requires regular matinence, oil changes, air filters, fuel filters (if the car has them), spark plugs, tune ups. Do these regularly and when the manufacturer says you should, and your car will last MUCH longer.
For example: dont put off changing your oil a few thousand miles because you 'dont have time', it wont hurt it once or twice, but if you do it continuously, it can start to harm the engine. Same with other parts.