Read this with interest as I have one in college and three teenagers at home. The college kid has no interest in cars or driving. The 17 yo is a good driver. It's not his first priority and he doesn't have his license yet. Should have in the next month or two. He has an interest in cars, but all his wants to talk about are "Lambos" and Ferraris so he's unrealistic. No interest in maintenance.
Watching these kids grow up I have to disagree with a lot of what's been said here about jobs and insurance cost. Insurance was about the same when I was 18 (accounting for inflation), so I rode my bike. We have a friend who is a grocery store manager. Pretty much handed my 17 yo a job there. He wouldn't take it. Somehow below him to bag groceries.
So while things are tough, jobs are out there. Given inflation and wages, insurance isn't that much more than it was 30 years ago. There may be less opportunity. I know this makes me sound old and cranky, but what I'm largely not seeing is a work ethic combined with an obsession with electronic devices that overrides everything else.