There is no doubt dealers have big problems but not all of the above is correct.
Cars in the past were not "dead in 40k miles". They were less reliable than today but repairs were relatively cheap and it was easy to keep them on the road for years. The exception was a period (late 60s - early 70s?) when councils increasingly used salt to deice roads but British cars had virtually no paint underneath let alone underseal and quickly rusted to death. Possibly we will soon see the modern equivalent when the astronomical cost of spares such as electronic modules and anti-pollution devices makes repair of older cars uneconomic.
Thanks to the complexity of modern cars owners are becoming increasingly likely to stick with dealers for repairs and servicing. In the past many (most?) private owners resorted to small garages or DIY after the first year or so. Hence the success of Haynes manuals. This trend is reinforced through very long warranties even if strictly speaking the warranty does not demand it. Hence, dealers benefit regardless of whether cars are bought directly from them or online.
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Nov Car Sales down 27%, Private sales dow.. 
Nov Car Sales down 27%, Private sales d.. 