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You're less likely to find a younger person in the office these days because they can't get work and if you do find them they can't afford a car. They can afford a phone.
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I think the cost of insurance has stopped young persons car aspirations dead.
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My original observation may be coloured by living in London but I would surmise that fewer younger people driving/automatically getting into the car owning habit is driven by:
1) more 18 year olds going to university which gets them into student mode, typically moving to a city, spending money on other things and living a life where a car is not just not important .
2) When they graduate they're more likely to live in cities and spend longer living in house share accommodation again places where a car may be a liability.
3) car insurance costing a bucket for a much longer period - I remember paying £170 for Tpft for a vw golf in 1987 aged 21 with no no claims. I'd earn that in a week of casual work - imagine now it'd take your whole holiday job summer just to pay the insurance.
4) more young people not even aspiring to own a car even in good jobs. Is this driven by their peers, concern for the environment, parents not encouraging them either?
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I teach 11-18 year olds - they do have an interest in cars and also aspirations regarding certain types of car too, but they know that insurance costs are going to stop them from having what they want or indeed, any car at all. Many of my 6th Formers have licenses but can't have cars, and the ones that do tend to drive 10-12 year old Corsas!
When I was growing up, we had little interest in driving and cars, as Merseyside has an excellent train network which was heavily subsidised at the time. We didn't need to bother, and as innerlondon suggests above, going to uni scuppers the chances of getting a license as you're skint and use the bus!
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why has it happened?
£££££!
Exactly that, my two sons, one 25 years old the other 19 have decided that they are happy to pass their tests and get a licence so they can put it on their CV but neither have any intention of currently owning a car.
The eldest can walk to work and his girl friend has a car paid for by her father, the youngest walks/cycles to college and part time job.
Both have costed it out that it is cheaper for them to use public transport, when available, or when not, cabs.
Both are very interested in cars, my 19 year old could debate the various pros and cons of many varied vehicles with anyone, but on a part time job paying £5.50 odd an hour in his spare time from college he would rather spend his money on a night out with the lads than on an expensive status symbol.
Edited by cockle {P} on 11/03/2013 at 02:43
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I wonder if it's because of competition for youngsters' interests? With all the electronic kit (they ALL seem to be into "movies"),available and definitiely longer working hours, I'm not sure a Saturday morning spent cleaning the plugs has held its appeal.
Further, car maintenance expertise has not been passed down from our generation IMHO, which is just as well, since it's near impossible for amateurs in modern cars.
Thirdly, modern cars don't really grab the imagination somehow. The Imp, E-type, Anglia, Mini, Beetle have no rivals for general character and individuality.
The Beetle, a Golf in a Beetle's clothing today, typifies the difference between now and then.
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Thirdly, modern cars don't really grab the imagination somehow. The Imp, E-type, Anglia, Mini, Beetle have no rivals for general character and individuality.
Yes, cars are white goods now, no redeeming features to set apart the makes thanks to takeovers and floorpan sharing. Just look at a copy of Auto Express. And insurance is ridiculous.
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Yes boring cloned cars and boring constantly monitored driving, ridiculously crowded roads and some sort of spy or penalty device everywhere you look.
Little fun to be had on the road any more when you're in your autumn years let alone in the first flush of youth.
Don't blame the youngsters one bit not wanting to sign up to it.
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Also I wonder if parental/peer group pressure/influence also has changed. My dad in my teen and early twenties era seemed always to think particularly a young man and also girls should own a car. That it was part of showing you were in a good position and able to go where you please. always noticed how slightly derogatory they were about relatives under 50 who either didn't have a car, didn't drive much or worse hadn't passed their test in their 30s etc.
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I read a few years ago that there's been a big decline in ineterest in cars among the young in Japan, with fewer young people learning to drive.
People were saying 'all modern cars look the same' in the 1960's, and it was just as true then as now. And as for the 1930's, when most cars were black and only really distinguishable from each other by their radiator grilles.
But in the old days young men used to buy cars and tinker with them all the time. It's more difficult to do that with modern cars.
Perhaps we're all getting a bit bored with cars, and maybe Top Gear has made being a car enthusiast a bit uncool unless you're an 11 year-old boy!
Conversely there seems to be a growing interest in railways, as the rail renaissance gathers pace despite the fact that train travel isn't cheap.
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Combination of cars being 'white goods' and other posessions, particularly phones and like devices as new subject for male 'willy waving' conversations.
But those who talked cars thirty years ago have lost interest too. My boss and I and a couple of male immediate colleagues are all between 51 and 55. Thirty years ago cars would have been a conversation piece in the office or on a night out.
While I'm vaguely aware that one has a Zafira and another a Shogun Pinin (and they might recall my predilction for Citroens) it's much more likely to be music, TV, the problems of our kids/youngsters in the office or 'shop' that we talk in the pub today.
Edited by Bromptonaut on 12/03/2013 at 22:47
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This lack of interest in cars - and it's not just the young - is probably one reason why peoples driving standards still leave something to be desired and peoples pride in their vehicle (such as where they park it) is so pitiful.
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People were saying 'all modern cars look the same' in the 1960's, and it was just as true then as now.
In the 1960's cars varied in shape and styling much more than now.
Consider the differences between squared-off Ford Zephyrs and rounded Vauxhall Crestas, Farina-styled BMC saloons and Rootes group cars. Not to mention Mini, 1100 and 'Harry Potter' Anglias.
Now everything is aerodynamic-tested and ends up the same shape.
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Interesting topic this.....
I work at a university,the car park is full of Corsa's,old Ka's,Fiesta's etc which probably do not belong to staff.However I agree,most young people do not appear to be interested in cars,usually gaming,music downloads,facebook,the latest phone etc.
I think there has been a big change in attitudes toward motoring.It seems to me most people treat cars as white goods and drive them accordingly,basically a machine to thrash the wotsits off till it fails,then just buy another.
Actually my own attitude has now changed,Like many others I find as I get older I really cannot be bothered providing it keeps going.I keep my car serviced but rarely clean it,which I used to like doing in the past.
Some of this is due,as has been said above,to poor driving experience these days and if I could easily use the train I would,even if it was just to commute to work.
Happy Days!
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When I was in uni I couldnt drive and had no real reason to and as a result I wasnt interested in cars.
As soon as i bought my first car (a year after graduating), I suddenly became interested in them and like researching them etc...
Because most of the younger generation cannot afford a car or the insurance; this is probably where their lack of interest comes from
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Even manufacturers have given up on making cars seem interesting. Compare the names Avenger, Spitfire and Vitesse with Yeti, Splash and Adam :)
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The Mazda Bongo was an amusing name.
Suzuki Jimny. Always tickles.
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Perodua Nippa. It's almost worth owning one so that if someone asks me what car I own I can say it.
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Jamie745 said, "The Mazda Bongo was an amusing name.".
Yes. Sadly, I've not found the opportunity to recommend a Bongo to the member who calls himself bingobango.
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Cars are being demonised these days. From a young age kids seem to be brain washed with the climate change mantra (i.e a one side argument in which cars are the sol cause of everything) and therefore expressing an interest in cars is almost as bad as admitting a particularly bizarre sexual fetish.
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