Well I guess many Americans are more willing to keep a car for as long as it's worth, unlike some places where people junk a car after it just gets a flat tire or a broken taillight lens.

There are some exceptions though. A few months ago, a guy I knew (he's pretty young, around 20 years old) junked his 1997 Ford Taurus. What was wrong with it you ask? Nothing really, just a broken taillight lens, some minor electrical issues (broken power windows, etc...), a sagging rear end (due to worn-out springs, esaily replaced for only a couple hundred dollars), and a few other cosmetic issues (dings, faded paint, fogged headlights, a bit of rust). Nothing serious, not the best looking car but still good transportation. Could have made a good cheap first car for a teenager, or transportation for someone a litlle strapped for cash. But no, had to be scrapped. A perfectly good barely ten-year-old car taken to the junkyard. So wastefull...