[i_am_proteus]

What is the "death" of a car?

Rebuilding a motor or transmission requires less energy and raw materials than making a new one. Replacing a motor or transmission with a new part requires less than making a new car.

But with economies of scale in manufacture, labor costs for repair, plus consumers' perceived need for new vehicles, results in cars being scrapped when they could otherwise be repaired.

[illys]

From my experience (and similar to your conclusion), the "death" is an economic factor: when the fix has a higher monetary cost than a replacement.

My nearly 300.000 km vehicle costed thousands per year in maintenance, and a moderate crash sealed its "death".

Obviously a car in the same condition in a poor country could be fixed by a low-wage worker with used parts for another 100.000 km.