Interest in cars with the younger generation, what happened?

Klasse Act

Klasse Act

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I'm 47 years old, my buddy Hectour is 38 and we talk about cars all the time. I actually wish our conversations were recorded and/or were on a podcast because they seem to go everywhere. The other day we were talking about why there isn't more younger people at the cars and coffee shows? Also why there aren't more Japanese cars at the cars and coffee type shows? I can only speak for myself but when I was 19 I would attend a local cruise night with my 78' Caprice Classic 2 door. It certainly wasn't a fast car at that time but it was my pride and joy and I continued to build it up over the years. I took a year off of having a toy in 1994 but in 1995 I got behind a Cobra Mustang and it said "Have you been bitten lately" and I snapped, went to the bank that week and bought a used 1987 Grand National. I owned that car for 5 years and modded it every year I owned it, went to cruise nights and drove it everywhere, except during the winter, always had a winter beater with the toys, ofcoarse. A lot of people were really into having cars, it seemed like a right of passage, atleast to me, it was "cool", fast forward to today.

Today you've got teens not getting their drivers licenses, taking an Uber to get around and not being interested in cars in general, kinda like what's happened to rock and roll as well. I mean we attend cars and coffees all over the greater Chicagoland area, really nice areas as well as middle of the road areas and you just don't see the younger crowd. Its not about having the latest and greatest but rather what are YOU working on right now. It doesn't even have to be mainstream, I mean I modded a 78' Caprice Classic coupe and would always hear "why did you build a Grandpa car" or "why not a Monte Carlo or something lighter?" Since then I've always appreciated something "different", so there has to be others out there like this as well but cars and being into them has seemed to be relegated to a "thing of the past".

I brought up Japanese cars and here in the greater Chicagoland there are all types of people and import cars are very popular and there were even cruise nights that catered to them but they've literally dried up over night. I used to go to them when I had my CR-Z which was from 2011 to 2014, now they've gone away, like the big top was brought down and it left town. Where did these cars go? I should also note that at these shows ALL cars were welcomed too, unlike the classic car shows where people would always look down their noses at imports or newer cars, that "built, not bought" attitude or "Murica" tude. I look at it like this, there should be a movement to keep the flame alive with cars, now more than ever because we've got this "movement" to electrify cars and even take the steering wheel and pedals out of the car, forget about "save the manuals", how about save the cars and get back into them.

So I ask, to everyone here, do you notice the same waning interest in cars with the younger generation? Btw, I'm not yelling at anyone to get off my lawn either, LOL, just wanted to pick the brains of my fellow geeks out there, thank you!
 
Without trying to spark an argument, I’d say simply because the vast majority of the younger generation is struggling financially.

I’m sure some people will look and think “well I’m doing fine” but that’s anecdotal, at best.

I’ve always wanted a 2004 lightning in sonic blue, but it’s hardly something I ever think about, because I have such a small amount of disposable income.

One day will I have something? Who knows. Right now it seems unlikely.


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No arguing here, not from this thread anyways. You bring up a good point but here in Chicagoland there's money and even in the nicer areas you just don't see as many younger people involved. I mean they are here and there, usually chasing after Laimbos with their cameras.

We all have a dream car but most of settle for something that fits our needs, sometimes you find a diamond in the ruff, case in point, my car. I look forward to getting into it everyday, turn around to look at it as I walk into work or when heading upstairs after work, not a lot of people find that in a car but it's possible.

The couple times I run into younger people who are into cars it's a big deal because I just hope and pray there are more of them.

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Klasse Act said:
No arguing here, not from this thread anyways. You bring up a good point but here in Chicagoland there's money and even in the nicer areas you just don't see as many younger people involved. I mean they are here and there, usually chasing after Laimbos with their cameras.

We all have a dream car but most of settle for something that fits our needs, sometimes you find a diamond in the ruff, case in point, my car. I look forward to getting into it everyday, turn around to look at it as I walk into work or when heading upstairs after work, not a lot of people find that in a car but it's possible.

The couple times I run into younger people who are into cars it's a big deal because I just hope and pray there are more of them.

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That is peculiar, and something I hadn't considered. My s/o from a fairly ritzy area in MD, out in Columbia, and I haven't met many young people from around there that are into cars in general. Unless you count them getting in to their grossly dirty car to get somewhere.

I also totally get that. My car isn't anything special, just a 2012 Altima in dark red, but I enjoy keeping it clean and maintained cosmetically and mechanically. it's been a fun process getting the paint where I want it, and literally checking boxes I have written down on a piece of paper of things I want to do to it. The next two projects are a new front bumper (eventually) because it's trashed, and filling in rock chips on the hood with something like Dr Colorchip.

I've always taken a sense of pride in taking care of things I've owned, and felt like if you were going to invest into something, you should care about it. I know not everyone shares that mentality (pretty prevalent throw away mentality in society) but it's been a pretty significant part of how I see things.
 
It appears to me that tech/gadgets have become
some people’s most prized possessions...and that
they have a much higher value to/for them than
obtaining a driver’s license, or driving/owning a car.

Their popularity, job searches, dating,
relationships, and most other connections
are defined by their online status—not some
“cool ride”.

Sure they may share someone’s car, and
even go Uber-ing to reach a destination;
but, I’d be willing to bet they’d never share
their smart phone, etc.


Yes:
Vehicle manufacturers have been forced to
sit up and take notice of this trend (yep, their
bottom-line i$ $uffering). They are now hoping
that, by providing vehicles that will have more
and more tech (including being autonomous),
that a reversal of this trend will be effectuated.

And. Soon.


Bob
 
You get it!

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I have 2 kids and I can tell you from talking to them and their friends that the #1 reason is the cost of auto insurance. If the parents aren't paying for it, there's no way a kid can afford $150-400/month for car insurance.
 
Back in 1986 when I first started driving, I had to pay my parents $100 a month for insurance on a rusty 1975 Chevelle/Malibu Classic. That left me enough money for gas and teen expense....1986 here.

It's free to go shows and be interested but I think Bob is onto something earlier. My buddy Hetour made a good point when we spoke about car meets for specific types of cars. My first new car was a 2000 Contour SGT and we would have 20-30 cars show up and this was the Detroit area. This lasted for about 5 years and it slowly tailed off for those cars and then they disappeared. It's really amazing to see one today, let alone a nice one.

It's cheap to get something unique, just gotta look and think outside the box to get into the hobby, seems the torch hasn't been passed on, maybe it was forgotten at a playdate or soccer practice.

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Finacially speaking more and more people are rediculously in debt and when you think about vehicle prices, auto insurance prices, gas prices, and the cost of tires and maintenance that is alot of coin of any teenager. Add in the advance in technology and yes the basics of a car are still there but they are so electronic now I don't see but the special few really getting into cars. The EPA getting a tighter grip isn't helping.

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Good stuff here!

That said, didn't we all have to deal with expense? I started driving in 1986 and minimum wage was $3.35 an hour and I couldn't legally work over 20 hrs due to the law. Sure my Dad traded a rifle for my first car but so are the breaks. Others start saving for their first taste of freedom earlier, just seems cars aren't the thing they once were. Don't see a lot of kids into Hot Wheels even, it's an adult hobby now, LOL but you have to start somewhere

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We discussed selling my extended cab diesel since there is 5 of us now and thinking about 6. My 9 and 7 year old sons both threw a huge fit to which I laughed and there was a huge yes said inside my mind. Both said it's epic and they want it when they can drive but 650hp is a bit much for a testosterone filled 15/16 year old

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Klasse Act said:
Back in 1986 when I first started driving, I had to pay my parents $100 a month for insurance on a rusty 1975 Chevelle/Malibu Classic. That left me enough money for gas and teen expense....1986 here.

It's free to go shows and be interested but I think Bob is onto something earlier. My buddy Hetour made a good point when we spoke about car meets for specific types of cars. My first new car was a 2000 Contour SGT and we would have 20-30 cars show up and this was the Detroit area. This lasted for about 5 years and it slowly tailed off for those cars and then they disappeared. It's really amazing to see one today, let alone a nice one.

It's cheap to get something unique, just gotta look and think outside the box to get into the hobby, seems the torch hasn't been passed on, maybe it was forgotten at a playdate or soccer practice.

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My 20 year old daughters insurance with the best company out there USAA, is $300.00 per month! And that's with all the discounts. Throw a $265.00 a month car payment on top of that, $565.00 a month.

And it wouldn't matter whether she was driving a used car that was paid for, it would still be the same for insurance. That's $3,600 a year just for insurance. That's more than we pay for our 3 other vehicles combined.
 
PS, there is no insurance out there for a kid @ $150 bucks see my above post :props:
 
It's still there, just taking place outside of traditional 'car guy' channels. Bought a new 2016 Subaru WRX when I tired of summer car/winter routine.

Followed some Facebook groups and Forums related to WRX and those guys are just as enthusiastic about the latest MAP, lowering springs, aero, intakes, etc. as we were about carbs and headers.

Despite how many prefer to characterize the 'ricers', the things some of them can do with 4 pistons is the real deal. Sure, you get the Fast and Furious wanna-be's, sticking every mail order catalog piece of chrome and carbon-fiber on their cars, but go to a Corvette show and you'll still see the same thing with a lot of those cars.

There are some really solid builds and some hacked together danger-mobiles...like there always has been with every make, model, genre. They're not going to Cars n Coffee on a Saturday morning but rather a Sheetz or sponsored/organized meet at a parking garage on a Saturday night...wirh attendance meeting or exceeding the local Cars Coffee.

There might actually be more of 'them' than there were in the heyday of the traditional car guy: their reach is farther and their communication methods are faster and more efficient. No passing out flyers in their world.

They're just operating in a lane separate from ours, working with cars and tools that are avaliable to them and they're just as into it as we were.

Kinda makes me wonder though if we sounded as silly with some of our 'mod idea's' as some if them do with their ideas for their cars? I admit to flipping the air cleaner lid on my GM 350 4-barrel carb motor just to hear it sucking air when ya stomped on it. I guess that's pretty much the equivalent them buying an aftermarket intake even though it really doesn't offer any power, just sound. Oops...
 
I've been into the new, perf car scene since 2000, came from a 12 sec 87' GN, so I know what you mean about what these new cars can do. Maybe they can't get up early for C&C. There used to be a show called Friday Night Lights but they disappeared.

IMO a lot of the import tuner cars are pretty decent and should come on out, these C&C's accept newer cars unlike the Doo Whoop shows where they sit in their lawn chairs, put up their crying baby dolls, fake tray of food and talk about the good old days. Meanwhile, they don't get out and look at anyone else's rides and expect you to genuflect in front of their cars...used to see this all the time. One time one of these people came to cars and coffee and ended up being the only person there setting things up, sorry, wrong show. These shows are for people really into cars and what others have done to THEIR rides too.

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custmsprty said:
PS, there is no insurance out there for a kid @ $150 bucks see my above post :props:
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My 22 year old has a 2008 Infinity G37 on my policy for $150/month. Same price as my 2016 Camaro.
 
I hope car insurance doesn't end up like health or my kids will be taking the lamberfeeti express

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I paid $235 a month for an $8K loan on my 87' GN back in 1995, car was $6800, so I had money left over for mods. Also sold my 81' Riviera and that 78' Caprice street racer for paint and tires/wheels. If there's a will, there's a way ==========

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Klasse Act said:
I paid $235 a month for an $8K loan on my 87' GN back in 1995, car was $6800, so I had money left over for mods. Also sold my 81' Riviera and that 78' Caprice street racer for paint and tires/wheels. If there's a will, there's a way ==========

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When I was a kid, I could get a summer job paying 15-20/hr in a warehouse, factory or construction. There are no jobs like that for kids anymore. The temp companies have grabbed them up, the factories closed and moved to China and the construction jobs are all migrant/immigrant workers. Fast food jobs have grown ass adults applying for any open position.

Things aren't like they used to be for this generation coming up. For the first time, their lives will not be better than their parents (ours.)
 
Klasse Act said:
I paid $235 a month for an $8K loan on my 87' GN back in 1995, car was $6800, so I had money left over for mods. Also sold my 81' Riviera and that 78' Caprice street racer for paint and tires/wheels. If there's a will, there's a way ==========

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I do wonder where some of the mod money comes from for the tuner cars. They *seem* pretty young and the things they're doing cost far more than a $59 set of Hedman Headers, even considering inflation and whatnot.

Some really expensive items that are considered standard fare for an acknowledged decent car.


Edit: Cars Coffee is kinda early and all...
 
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