The first part MG’s4ME can probably shed some light on.
Best car I owned was a 98 Brighton edition. paid $5500 for it like 6 years ago with 89Kmi or something on it. Beat the balls on it for years, put oil, tires and brakes in it. Plugs and wires once. Wiring fault around 240K put here to sleep. Hell and back that thing wouldnt die.
But it was a lucky one… there are problems with them for sure like you said.