An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Most vehicles have regular maintenance schedules from the manufacturer that most people don't follow anymore. Most of these have services like changing fluids and components that are wear items. Following these service recommendations will normally result in your vehicle lasting longer and running smoother without having major breakdowns potentially leaving you stranded on the side of the road. It is true that they do have a cost but generally it results in a savings over the time of ownership of a vehicle compared to not following the service intervals and paying for the repairs.