From: "Rod Speed" 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers misc.consumers.frugal-living misc.consumers.house misc.rural
Subject: Re: List of highest MPG *used* cars...
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 04:16:19 +1000

Lou  wrote:
> "FC"  wrote in message
> news:431EFCC8.1060206@No.Spam.Wanted.com...
>> Lou wrote:
>>
>>> The best I've been able to come up with is that the US, as a
>>> country, does pretty well in the vehicle longevity department.  In
>>> the US, cars last an estimated average of 160,000 miles.  It's
>>> 145,000 in Australia, 125,000 in the UK, Canada and France do
>>> 115,000, the rest of Europe manages 105,000. Curiosly, Japan
>>> manages a meager 70,000.  (From
>>> http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/What_is_the_average_car's_lifetime_mileage
>>> ) I'm unable to find average mileage or age by manufacturer.  Since
>>> you're so (snip)
>>
>> FYI, unlike the US, there are law work against owning older car in
>> Japan. Not sure about elsewhere. So in Japan one will spend more
>> money to maintain an older car than purchase a new one. I read an
>> article at one time about some people in China imported the junked
>> car from Japan as scrap metal (to avoid import tax) then fixed them
>> up and sold 'em as used vehicle.

> I'm unaware of that situation, but if it's true,

It is.

> that would tend to make Japanese cars less long lived, wouldn't it?

Nope.

> After all, what's the point of spending the money to manufacture (or
> buy) something that will last 20 years if it's going to be scrapped in 6?

Basically you dont save any money designing them to last for that shorter time.