All I can tell you is that in the 10 years that I have known my father-in-law (he drives his cars very hard) he has had the following cars and problems, because he treats an automatic like a stick shift (amoung other things.)

1985 MB 380 SEL (Bought the car new)
In 1993 he blew the motor and the transmission while in touring in Mexico.

1985 MB 190 E (Bought the car used in 1996)
In 2000, the transmission stopped working and before this I do not remeber when but I believe that he had to have the engine rebuilt.

1993 Chevy Blazer (bought the car new)
In 1995 he blew the transmission

1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 (Bought the car new)
In 1996, while I was in the US, I had to buy him a tranny, rear differential and an engine block - do not ask me what he did I still do not understand.

1994 Lincoln Mark 8 (bought the car new)
In 1998 he blew the motor - had it rebuilt and currently the car is in the shop having the transmission rebuilt.

1999 Range Rover (bought the car used in 2002)
In 2003 I do not know what he did to it but it was in the shop for 5 months, in fact he just got it out of the shop a few months ago.

In between all these cars he has had a few Toyota/Mitsubishi Pick Ups (purchased used) that have not lasted him more than 6 months.

Needless to say, I never, ever, lend him my car. In fact, a few years ago he was borrowing one of his brother-in-law's cars and he blew the engine in that too.

So in answer to your question, I would state if you drive a car too hard, past its limitations, sooner or later you are going to pay the piper.......

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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

2006 - Suzuki Gran Vitara (2.0 L fully equipped) Like this car so far except for trying to put on the seatbelt.
1988 - 190e - 2.3L - 172K miles (It now belongs to the exwife)
1999 - Chevy Blazer LS Fully Equiped - killed it June 2006
2001 - Honda Civic EX - 68K miles (sold June 2004)
1963 - 220S - Dual Carb 6 cyl. (sold)
1994 - Yamaha WaveRaider (fun to ride)