The "conventional wisdom" of 3000 miles is mainly perpetuated by those in the business of changing oil. Companies selling cars in the US have recommendations ranging from 3000 miles to about 25,000 miles, depending upon car make, driving conditions, and type of oil used. Also, most car companies say to change it once a year reagardless of miles. Generally, what the manufacturer says should be fine.

My "daily driver" is a 2006 Chevy Malibu which has an "oil condition indicator" to tell me when to change the oil. It usually says about 7000 miles.

I have two "semi-old but modern" cars that I bought new, have kept in excellent condition, but are now only driven about 300 miles a year for fun or special occasions. They are modern in that they have electronic fuel injection similar to today's cars. For the last 15 years, I have been doing something that would make many people cringe, but I have seen no ill effects. I change the oil only every three or four years. I drive the cars only in the summer, and I never run them without completely warming up the engines. When I drain the oil, it looks clean, and it doesn't smell much different from new oil. If I did short trips in the winter with these cars, I would get moisture in the oil and it would definitely bad to go three years between oil changes. In my case, I really don't think there is any harm from going three years, regardless of what people at the "quick lube" places might say.