How to select distinct rows in 2 columns and sort both individually

Question

I have this sql:

SELECT DISTINCT car_year, car_make 
FROM cars
GROUP BY car_year, car_make 
ORDER BY car_year ASC, car_make ASC

It returns this:

car_year | car_make
-------------------
    2009 | TOYOTA
    2011 | AUDI
    2013 | ACURA
    2014 | AUDI
    2015 | KIA
    2015 | ACURA

I need it to be more unique (distinct) and almost make it as individual lists, even though these are stored in same table (cars). Something like this:

car_year | car_make
-------------------
    2009 | ACURA
    2011 | AUDI
    2013 | KIA
    2014 | TOYOTA
    2015 | 

Answer 1

SELECT DISTINCT car_year
FROM cars
ORDER BY car_year

SELECT DISTINCT  car_make 
FROM cars
ORDER BY car_make

Answer 2

try this

  SELECT  car_year, car_make 
  FROM <tablename>
  GROUP BY car_make, car_year 
  ORDER BY car_year ASC, car_make DESC