OH that article is SO full of crap it's not funny.
I have SCRUPULOUS documentation showing cost of ownership of a 1962 VW since I bought it.
My total cost of maintenance was $345 a year driving 26,000 miles a year. That's 1.3 pennies a mile for maintenance costs of tires, oil, tune up, etc.
Gas/Petrol was a wash with new cars being it got anywhere from 23 to 27 mpg depending on speed and driving conditions.
My 260Z is similar, returning 27mpg at 65 mph highway speeds, linearly dropping to 19mpg by a 100 mph + average speed, with cost of ownership over 110,000 at near NIL in terms of real money. Some heater hoses, tires, brake pads... Acquisition price was $225, and total cost of ownership when I took my first 3,000 mile trip was $731 and MOST of that cost was TIRES!