My Hyundai has fared somewhat better than yours.
My comments about the warranties and better built cars is simply from my own experience. Since 1993, my wife and I have leased or purchased the following new vehicles:
93 Isuzu Rodeo - Great until it hit 38K, or just past the warranty.
95 Dodge Caravan - sucked from day 1. I actually had to invoke the Az lemon law on the dealer. It literally started spewing fluid from the engine the second time I started it after driving it off the lot. After about 9 months I'd had it and threatened them with legal action.
96 Ford Explorer - Purchased this after the Dodge dealer had to take back the minivan. 4 Wheel drive system always broken.
97 Ford F150 - Got when the repairs on the Rodeo were costing us more than a new car would. Never one problem.
02 Chevy Venture - only one step above the Caravan. Fortunately it was a lease.
But then, something magical happened.
02 Hyundai Santa Fe - Not one problem in 3 years.
05 Town and Country - Not one problem in 16 months.
Fortunately, everything was covered by warranty on the vehicles that sucked, expect the Rodeo. Got too expensive to keep repairing.
The Hyundai warranty cost us only 800 to go out to 10/100 from the factory 5 year.
The 05 Town and Country extended warranty cost us only 1200 to extend to 7/70, but that included all regularly scheduled maintenance up to 60K miles.
Both great deals. I don't think it is coincidence that these two vehicles have never had one problem and that the warranties were so cheap. I do believe that the quality is improving. Now, what you say, GD, about repairs actually costing less to make may very well be true, but I think they are building them better so they offer the warranties at a lower cost because they make money on them.