Some people say that young people aren’t interested in cars. I say to that, “What?!” Here’s proof: a suburban home with not one but THREE Japanese tuner cars: a Toyota Supra, and two separate generations of Nissan Silvia. Although the Supra and the older Silvia (also known as the 180SX in fastback form) were never officially sold in Australia, you wouldn’t think that upon seeing the sheer number of them on Australian roads. The S13-series 180SX/Silvia in particular is extremely common, and I’ve never seen anyone over, say, the age of 30 driving one. Or the Supra for that matter.
In fact, one of my best friends who is just one year older than me (born 1989) drives a Toyota Supra of this vintage. A stick, no less. And her slightly older sister has a Mazda RX-8. They aren’t the only people I know who are young and love cars. To me, “young people aren’t interested in cars” is one of those throwaway remarks like, “This didn’t happen in the old days!” or “Things used to be so much better” or “All new cars look exactly the same!” Nonsense, as far as I’m concerned.
In the old days my parents would have blown a fuse if my friends had parked their cars like that. Damn permissive parents get those ricers off my lawn. This neighborhood is going to the dogs.
Just Kidding. Kind of. Mainly just getting old
Whoever said young people aren’t interested in cars should have their heads examined. I’ve been interested in cars since I was in my teens. My interest in cars were mostly Japanese cars, Toyotas, Datsuns, Mitsubishi. My interest in cars has since expanded to include American, German, and Australian cars.
I love the Nissans and the Supra! Even though Canada had the recent Silvia, it’s cool to know that today’s young people have an interest in Cars!
I agree. I’ve never seen a Nissan Silvia, but I have seen several generations of Datsun 200SX and Nissan 200SX.
Really I saw 3 on a quick trip to my local supermarket today lots of ex JDM silvesters here.
Last week, while walking to the nearest Honda dealer to get a replacement key, I passed a house with 2 mid 90s 240 SXs. No SE badges on them so they may have been “run of the mill” models. But both looked like they were ready to go drifting.
In about 2008 I went to the Memphis CarMax to check out a 240 SX SE. Reviews said it was a tight fit if you were tall….especially with the sunroof, which this car had. At 6 ft 4 I decided this Nissan coupe had LESS front seat room than my mid 90s Civic.
Saw a 2nd generation Supra just yesterday. While the 2nd gen looks a bit “space agey”, it’s my favorite Supra model.
Seems like today a lot of young people are not interested in cars unless the parents buy the car for them and provide the insurance and upkeep. Those kids are. But the ones that want to get a job and pay for the expenses themselves are a lot less common than when I was young.
More recent studies have in fact evidenced that the whole “less Millennials are driving today” notion from several years ago is a load of b.s.: http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/12/these-numbers-challenge-the-notion-that-young-people-dont-drive/383431/
But of course, there will always be those of a certain age who look down upon younger generations and discriminate just because of one’s age. Thanks to books and the internet, people of every age have access to information on cars. Age is just a number and shouldn’t affect one’s ability to be knowledgeable and have a passion for any car. Sadly, not everyone understands this.
I think there is some truth to the “less Millenials drive today”, but it isn’t a derogatory statement. Unless you’re a hard core hobbyist, ricing up your Silvia, modern cars a bit less interesting and certainly a lot more daunting to work on. I see a lot more kids saving up to buy shiny technology (phones) rather than cars. I think there’s a decent chance I would be the same if I was growing up now, instead of the endless fiddling around with points and plugs that I did back then.
My observations are purely anecdotal, and based on being a high school teacher – seeing how kids have changed in the 15 years I’ve been in this one school. Used to be the 16 year olds reading their highway code and excited about getting their first car, but much rarer now.
I agree there are fewer MIllenials driving today. I am also a high school teacher and one huge difference between the 80s when I was in high school and today is fewer students have jobs. A part time job was very common among teenagers of my generation.
In my opinion, the economy is partially to blame but teenagers lead very different lives today. Sports are becoming year round and college prep programs are becoming more rigorous with kids taking a wide array of AP and Honors courses. These commitments don’t mesh well with a work schedule.
Another factor at least in Washington state is Drivers Ed is no longer a course taught in school at little to no cost. Now that the private sector has taken over Drivers Ed, students have to cough up over $500 just to take the course.
I’m not convinced Millenials are losing interest in driving, but unless the parents are footing the bill, it is a hard dream to realize.
I think the generation born in the ’90s is the last one having access to wide variety of cars at a moderate cost, as the traditional cheap, reliable cars are dying out after this generation ( Chrysler M-Body, GM B-Body, H-Body, Ford Panther. Taurus and Camry are neither reliable by compare ) and variety is limited after this generation too ( all personal luxury cars, two door cars and bigger cars in general ) and car is no longer important culturally ( at least in states like WA, NY. Midwest keeps the same ) and I do have many disagreements about too many courses in high school, as they take too much potential for many things.
Well stated.
Brendan, that study you linked to is too limited; it just shows that Millenials are driving to work as much as the similar age group did in 1980. But there’s several caveats: 1980 was a long time ago, and in that same study it showed that this age group continued to increase their driving to work in more recent decades, and then it started to drop. So really it’s Back to 1980 levels, and lower than in 1990 or 2000 or 2010. And this recent increase only applies to a limited number of metro areas, mainly in the South where cities are more spread out and transit is often very poor.
In a number of key big cities, it has continued to decrease.
More important is the overall Vehicle Miles Total driven. And that same study admitted that VMT is down significantly for Millenials (see chart below).
The simple reality is that on average, younger folks are getting their licenses later and driving less. And more of them are living in urban core areas, where that’s not necessary. But these mega-trends play out slowly, and not consistently across the country. So yes, it’s overkill to say “kids don’t drive” or “kids don’t care about cars”. The evidence to the contrary is obvious.
But there’s no question in my mind that younger folks are relatively more open to urban life, mass transit, car sharing, Uber, etc… and are relatively less fixated on cars in terms of popular culture than was the case some decades ago.
Going back a few decades, cars were the single most exciting, always-new, high-tech, cool thing. Everyone got excited about the new cars coming out each fall like folks are today about the annual new product from Apple. It really has changed very significantly.
But that doesn’t mean plenty of them are still interested in cars too. It’s not a black and white situation by any means. But things have changed, as they always do.
Indeed it’s not a black-and-white situation. This is such a general statement, and I think a lot depends on location and financial situation, as well as personal values (I was already picking out my first car at age 4! – a blue Chevy Blazer!).
Also, Chaz NZ brings up an excellent subject I never considered, which is working on your own car. I think familial practices play a huge role in that. Personally, no elder figure in my life performed significant work on his or her own car, which I why I never really learned how to do so.
That’s interesting though that overall vehicle miles driven decreased from 2001-2009 for all age groups. Then again, 2009 was still at the height of the recession when fuel prices were somewhat higher. Again, this is an individual factor, I drive more now than before I moved in 2011, because I moved to a more rural town that requires driving further to get to anywhere.
Same thing could be said for music. Back in the day before recorded music, families bought sheet music and played together. No TV or internet does that to you. Doesn’t mean music today is any less valid, but that ‘wrenching’ aspect has certainly diminished.
Actually, now that I think of it, music maker programs have more people ‘making’ music today than say twenty years ago. Most of those self-styled DJs can get of my lawn, however.
Back in the day before recorded music, families bought sheet music and played together.
That’s like over a 100 years ago…i’m not sure how relevant that is anymore 🙂 I know that my parent’s attempts to get us to sing together became futile at some point, other than “Silent Night” which was mandatory before opening our presents.
And your second line is quite true; even my younger son, who wouldn’t know how to check the oil, “makes music” on that kind of software.
+1 Don.
Strict Protestants often still have an inhouse-organ and sing and clap along with the family.
Catholics mostly wear a uniform and go out on the streets with a whole collection of instruments. Then and now.
On the other hand, digital keyboards are so affordable and realistic in imitating piano, organ, and other instruments in a way that could only be dreamed of not that long ago. But they still require the skills needed to play a keyboard, as long as you don’t use ‘auto play’. But real piano’s (and pump organs) don’t need electricity! Although those unable to play 100 years ago could still buy the latest “music roll” for their player piano as long as they could pump the pedals.
Brendan, Paul is right… I am of Gen X, we loved getting our 1st car in the 80’s and waiting for the new models to come in the early 90’s.
The Gen Ys, in the mid-to later 90’s, saw the advent of the Internet, and to me didn’t seem as interested as us previous Gen Xers. At least, It seemed that way.
This millennial generation is more “greener” and conscious about the environment, so a lot walk, bus, or share rides. I see a few even bike and skateboard, versus owning a car.
Plus, with the cost of insurance, excise taxes, fees, and overall general maintenance, can you blame them?
Oil changes in the 80’s- mid 90’s was $19.99(usually for a 4 or 6 cylinder)… Now the cheapest is $32.99, and that’s not even synthetic or GOOD oil. So, the cost of living nowadays and lack of employment now, versus more jobs in the Reagan and Clinton years, may also be a factor in less kids owning or wanting a car.
Brendan, you and my niece, who just got her license and loves cars and to drive, are the exception to the rule. I hope we have more millennials who keep the car culture alive.
We often scoff at these young kids who tune their lil Acura Integras and Honda Civics with their loud boofa tube mufflers, but some of them DO actually have swapped JDM, ECU tuned engines with a laptop, and actually work on their own cars, with no funding or help from their parents. Some of their knowledge would astound you.
So instead of looking down on them, we can try to embrace em… Like the 32 Duece coupe kids in the 50’s, Muscle Car guys in the 60’s and 70’s, and import and Euro tuners of the 80’s and early 90’s… These kids ARE, in fact, car enthusiasts.
So, the passion is still there, just not as prominent as decades ago, in this social media and electronic device dependant society.
I think you’re right about it becoming less common to have a parent/family member who routinely does their own work. My Dad doesn’t even change his own oil–mechanic skills are not among his virtues. So I’ve had to essentially teach myself, and while that’s been made easier with internet knowledge/tutorials, it still doesn’t compare to hands-on instruction. And I think this lack of knowledge transfer will only become more common as cars get harder and harder to work on.
Having auto shop in high school (’72-’74) was a big help for me, along with a older brother who used to have me help him work on his cars. My auto shop teacher even found my first dealership job for me just before graduation and arranged an interview. To this day I do most work myself on my own cars and some of the family’s as well. Too bad shop classes went away. Lots of money saved on repairs over the years. The internet is a great help when it comes to locating reasonably priced parts delivered to my door and getting information on repairing cars that are unfamiliar to me.
Fully sick, maaaaaaaate. My 5 year old nephew will see a W123 MB and remark that its similar, but not the same, as his uncle’s car. Alfa Romeo logo recognition is also strong within this one. A New Hope.
My son recognises the Alfa logo since he was 4. That started 2 years ago.
He loves Ferraris because he says they’re super fast. He also asks me if a car with a wing, sporty looking or with a dual exhaust is fast. Explaining that is a bit tricky.
New cars do all look the same – especially with the “daytime running lights” and “LED tail lights” fetish that every car maker is having at the moment. Cars became pains in the ass when they put COMPUTERS and ECUs in them. Before then working on a car was easy (generally) and a lot of fun. Now they are just annoying and you don’t do any of the work. The laptop does. Gen Y knows no better.
If a car is larger and everything is easy to reach ( GM H-Body, or ’90s Thunderbird ) even with ECU it won’t be too bad to work on, but on the other hand, almost all Japanese makers put transmission and compressor upfront ( even on larger fwd cars ) just like D186 Taurus and all mainstream size cars, it’s just an invitation of problems ( younger drivers could drive cars like bumper cars in snowy days, and fragile front end doesn’t help )
My daily car doesnt have a computer or ECU its a mechanically injected turbo diesel it does however have an imobiliser which conveniently failed and shut the engine down there is no cure the imobiliser had failed the dealer had no useful advice and merely said dont mess with the voodoo, So I removed the imobiliser it required the injector pump removal done without disturbing the cambelt thanks to some decent design by PSA I had to cut the 3/8 thick armour casing from the pump to remove the imobiliser track down a different model of electro switch no longer serviced by the dealers, I got one locally new at a diesel specialists that carries Lucas injector pump parts reinstall it and the car runs fine, Ive had little to no mechanical training other than overhauling steam turbines but I managed to repair my car with out most of the right tools, very few kids today learn how to do this but its a hobby thats been paying off for me for years.
Well it seems I have an unusual teen here, she want to become licensed when she turns 16 and is looking forward to getting my Xsara to drive, though she is slightly intimidated by the clutch. Daughter is learning to play keyboard too!
Solid gen Y here and I definitely love cars, I think the difference between Millennial enthusiasts and previous generations is the cars that interest us are older stuff(we can afford) rather than the latest and greatest, of which the ones marketed to enthusiasts(the equivalents of the featured trio) are more expensive than ever. I think the wholesale generalization that young people dislike cars is mostly wishful thinking or an attempt at self fulfilling prophesy by the anti-car new-urbanism proponents.
+1
I think one of the other things that makes a difference at least here in Canada is insurance. back in my time(1980), my old man put my car under his name for cheaper insurance. he also had his truck and my mom’s car. I was listed as an occasional driver on all.
fast forward to today. I am looking at getting a car for my son and when I checked on insurance was told two licensed drivers in the house(his mum doesn’t drive) means he has to go on one car as a full time driver.
I am not going to get into whether this is right or wrong compared to the old days
but reality is even working after school insurance will be a stretch for him. he freely admitted if it was not for our help a car just would not be feasible for a long time to come.
he is a good, hardworking kid that loves cars and wants to drive. talking to a lot of other kids his age the ‘want to drive’ is still there but they figure there is not much point in getting a license if it will be years before they can afford to drive.
so I wonder if it is the interest has changed or just the financial realities of this day and age?
My dad came up with a good idea. He paid my insurance but in return I was required to do all my repairs myself with my own two hands. I paid for the parts, gas, and maintenance. I was allowed to get help from him though, which almost always consisted of him standing behind me telling me what to do next. I never had kids so I never got a chance to try out his idea on my own children.
I can only think of two times I was allowed to hire a professional. exhaust work and transmission work. I pulled the dashboard apart so many time to try to make the gas gauge work I developed a strong hatred for electrical work.
Insurance company should be blamed for many things. Car insurance is so unaffordable that the most feasible solution for me is:
Get a high performance car with brand like Buick, Lincoln and Cadillac.
List summer and winter car in insurance to lower the premium by a good margin.
I added a 25+yo collectable vehicle because it will only top $500 a year, after paying much higher regular insurance. The marginal cost of having a third/fourth vehicle is so low that it makes more sense to do it, but the cost of having first vehicle is unreasonably high.
But as long as keep pinching hard enough, there are always some solutions to screw the insurance properly.
Not only are young people NOT interested in the technical aspects of cars, they do not even care to have a driver’s license! When I was a teen, Every kid could not wait to get a driver’s license and was lining up to take his test the day he was of age. Now days they are going to college and still don’t have a driver’s license.
Note the cars pictured here. All Japanese. I’m willing to admit that I’m a Japanese fan boy, but among enthusiasts there has long been a dismissal of such cars.
I think that there are a lot of younger people who are car enthusiasts who more or less fly under the radar because they are not so interested in the “right” cars.
They might like ricers or broughams, or any number of types of cars that don’t fall into the traditional V8/supercar/ Eurosport sedan/roadster groups.
Yeah locally I dont see any lack of interest most kids now fall for the rice cars that are so plentiful and cheap here but plenty too still drive Holdens and Falcons there are several LexLuxes around here and Lexaces so there must be some interest in cars to be shoehorning Lexus V8s into Hilux utes and Hiace vans, lots of kid stick rotaries into old vans to do burnouts and rotaries into any old RWD car they can find so I reckon interest is alive and well at a grass roots level.
Prices on things like the Mazda R100 are going crazy, taking them out of the enthusiast market and into the realm of the collector/speculator. I’ve said it before, but R32/33/34 GTRs in untouched condition (super rare considering how many were warmed up) are ‘undervalued’ IMO. Ricer movement doesn’t feel nearly as visible as 10-15 years ago, but as Bryce says there’s always someone trying to wedge power into a cheap Japanese body.
My 19 year old son tracks and can identify almost any type of super car or tuner car, yet he waited until 18 to get his license and would rather hole up and play video games than drive anywhere. By his age I had a Road Runner, a Barracuda, and 3 or so parts cars and was weekend drag racing. (my mother was very patient, nay.. enduring and we had enough property to somewhat hide my horde)
There is definitely a difference in the generations.
……sigh…
Nice selection of Japanese tuner iron. We didn’t get the S15 Silvia here, so those always still look exotic to me. And our S13 variant 240SX all had the pop-up lamp nose of the 180SX, not this exposed-lamp look (though I’ve seen a couple of swaps in person).
The Supra was the one that we did get. Rare though, as the turbos were quite expensive here. And even rarer now–one *never* sees beater-status Supras of this generation, nor young people driving them. Pretty much all of them that didn’t get crashed or hooned to death are either fully built, high dollar tuner/drift/drag cars, or meticulously kept low-mileage collector-status cars. Takes some money to acquire or maintain one.
None of my roommate’s three children (16, 21, 22) have a license or can drive. They do however have better smart phones than I do. Online gaming (world of warcraft and minecraft and Halo) do occupy much of their time.
I had my learner’s AND a small motorcycle when I turned 14. I was helping my folks in their annual 3 day drive to California shortly after. I remember my folks complaining about how high insurance was for me. Taking my driving record for those early years into consideration, I think State Farm was justified in that but at the time it seemed very unfair.
Times are changing.
It’s just a generational thing. I don’t like the stuff my Dad liked when he was a teen, and I’m sure my kids won’t like the stuff I liked…
Although everyone above has good points. Not every kid “back in the day” wrenched on their cars, just like people my age are still “hit and miss” wether they use computers, and not all kids these days (get off my lawn) are disinterested in cars/driving. I have a 16-year old nephew who’s been chomping at the bit to get his license for a couple years now. I asked him about this very issue, and he said all of his freinds are getting their licenses ASAP. Of course I live in rural Wisconsin so if you don’t have a car, you can’t get anywhere, or get a job in town (as opposed to farm work)
Also my first car (8-year-old 1980 Pontiac Sunbird, the Monza clone) cost me $1000 (cause I found a really clean un-rusted one, rusty/worn-out Monzas and the like were half that) and the insurance on it was easy enough to afford with me working part-time at a grocery store. My nephew will be spending 100% of his $ JUST on insurance, and the days of a $500 car are long over, unless you get something that was in a fire (or extra-legal) so cars and insurance just cost a LOT more than they used to. Of course I remember my parents spending about $5K on a computer that had less power than the printer I’m looking at, let alone a smart phone…
Things change, and us old guys don’t deal well with that.