Declining interest in gbodys discussion

[Opie Knievel]

Ha . . . they'll never take me alive . . . as the H/W Patrol drones are circling! But, seriously, given all the construction and congestion around OKC plus a potty stop, averaging 75mph or better on that Dallas-Wichita run is harder than it sounds. I usually average about 65mph for that trip running 80-85 most of the way which is just how much that OKC congestion and one potty stop costs you.

But, back on topic, I have actually tried teaching my nephews a few things when they've been around while I am wrenching and they really are not interested. Asked the one to hand me the plug socket which he had no idea what that even was so I showed him. Then pulled a spark plug and showed him how they work, working my way up to explaining the entire ignition process and lost him completely before I got to the other end of the plug wire. Now, the other one was pretty stoked over the Iphone AP and how it interfaces wirelessly with the Audi until I started getting technical and then I lost him. Though on the one hand they seem entitled or lazy, just like how millennials spend the overwhelming majority of their day staring at their stupid phone, they do tend to go through life with blinders on. As long as what crosses their path fits within their narrow view of reality, they care about it, want to learn about it, etc. If not, then they could care less.

So, short story long, they think my ole 442 is WAY cool to look at and ride in once in a while [me too 😉] but if I willed it to either of them they would immediately take it to the closest Carmax and get the NADA for a used 30 year old car . . . $800. Go buy a new Iphone. And, I would have to haunt them from the grave. So, like my guitar collection and a few other things, since we were not allowed to have kids, my 442 has to have a specific home in my will beyond my nephews.

I'd be happy to care for your 442 after you're gone.

 

[Canon_Mutant]

Ha, yeah, I have plenty of takers for it, my guitars, and my old Tacoma too. Just would like to get what they are worth so I can give the proceeds to charity.

 

[Bar50]

Anyone else starting to feel like Stallone in Demolition Man..?

I had to learn to fix stuff because my family could not afford to put me in a nice car....that said car broke down...I could not afford to pay someone to fix it...so I had the other option... trial and error. Now, it's sooooo much easier with YouTube and google.

I gotta agree with Ribbedroof as my line of work shows you how little teaching and parenting goes on outside school.

I believe there is interest in cars, and it can be infectious, love it or hate it Street Outlaws has generated tons of car interest in younger people. But, maintaining that interest and drive can be difficult.

Some guys blame it on video games, heck, I am a gamer... but, it's usually in the crappy weather season...I have an older ski boat, a Harley (I bought wrecked and fixed), and car projects that I take a break from now and again.

I also think that society looks down its nose at blue collar jobs, be it mechanic, plumber, construction or whatever and we have kids going to college and getting in debt for jobs that are out of date or just no longer there.

We will see.

 

[joesregalproject]

B = battery-only? For moving the car without starting the gas engine?

I thought maybe B = Braindead? To remind you how dumb you are for buying a Prius

 

[UNGN]

I had to learn to fix stuff because my family could not afford to put me in a nice car....that said car broke down...I could not afford to pay someone to fix it...so I had the other option... trial and error. Now, it's sooooo much easier with YouTube and google.

I bought an Jaguar XK8 coupe earlier this year because it was a beautiful, rare, rust free low mileage $75K new car that was only $4,500 on CL. I knew nothing about Jaguars when I bought it, never owned one, didn't do any deep research on them, but I had faith in the internet that anything that was wrong with it the internet would tell me how to fix it... and if that fails, there was a $2000 kit to convert it to LS1 power.

Now its my 50 miles/day daily driver waiting for the motor or trans to fail so I can swap in my LS1/T56 drivetrain. No signs of failure, yet.

The internet makes owning just about any car possible by someone with basic mechanical aptitude.

 

[1STLATIGERDIVISON]

I think its that good ones to start from are becoming more and more rare. They are all getting ate up by collectors, or getting chopped up by lowrider and racecar guys. I'd be willing to bet at least 50% or more of all the G bodies made from 78-88 are long gone.

Sad but I agree being destroyed for racing or chopped I understand bout collectors but the rest is sad....

 

[ed1948]

Question to the moderators - when comparing the number of registered G Body Forum members from last year to this year, is there an increase or decrease?

 

[1STLATIGERDIVISON]

I think its that good ones to start from are becoming more and more rare. They are all getting ate up by collectors, or getting chopped up by lowrider and racecar guys. I'd be willing to bet at least 50% or more of all the G bodies made from 78-88 are long gone.

Sad but I agree being destroyed for racing or chopped I understand bout collectors but the rest is sad....

Funny thread. I'm 33 and I bought a Grand Prix a few weeks ago. I've always wanted a G body but for one reason or another never could make it work. I remember the G bodies as a kid in the late 80's and 90's as being mod'd muscle cars, turned into low riders, chopped into circle track cars or just old people drivers. I specifically wanted the GP, thought it looked the best. My parents had an 86 or 87 GP, but it was not even close to being the packaged I like, but even as a kid I thought the GP and Old's versions looked the best out of the G bodies. Yes, I was hooked on cars at a VERY young age. A girl-friend of mine in high school had a G body SS Monte with the 5.0. My other friends had LT or LS1 F bodies. I had a L98 TPI Vette from the late 80's. We all lived and breathed cars. I don't see that kind of interest in cars from younger people. There is a big following of car enthusiasts, but the young kids today are not into them like I was for sure. I think it's due to multi reasons. 1- Cars have gotten more expensive. It's not reasonable to expect parents to put kids into 30+yr old cars. A 2010 or 2012 SS Camaro or GT mustang is not a cheap car even today. Working part time at MdD's as a kid is not going to come close to supporting a 2010 SS or GT. 2- younger kids are not as hands-on mechanical, they just want phones and gadgets and they're not going to fix these cars, dad is going to pay for the repairs and mods. 3- The economy since the 2006/2007 crash was brutal on a lot of families and people including myself who entered the work force in 2006, into the construction business of all fields. 4- The selection of cars today's kids parents could have bought 8-12yrs ago which the kids would be driving now are junk. The import Honda wave we saw circa 2000 came from a bunch of middle age people buying new import cars for their families in the late 80's and 90's. When those cars hit 10+yrs old, Jr got the hand me down car and put a fart can on it. I don't even see the import ricer cars around town like I did 10-15yrs ago.... that fad wore out. In 2006, 10yrs ago what were today's 16yr old kid's parents buying? On the brink of the worst economic crash in modern history. Camrys, Accords, crap cars. GM quit making the Camaro in 2002 and started back in what, 2010? Those 2010 Camaros still have payments on them and mom/dad are driving them for another few years in a lot of situations. Schools have gotten rid of any form of shop class and look down on anyone that is a skilled person with their hands. Not a good situation for car collectors. Plus someone mentioned motorcycles... again, those are cheap and easy to insure/store/maintain and they can still have a 2nd car for DD; like an Accord. And let's not forget the brainwashing these kids have received all the way through college. They think cash for clunkers was a great idea and a lot of these kids probably want to see our Muscle cars crushed and us driving a Prius. Makes you wonder if the people who have the time and means should help get involved in the community with young kids to do car shows or something.

Us old guys r the ones that make sure we keep them alive! I have owned mine for 25 yrs my second one. My first one was an 86 T-top. Maroon beautiful car. Little did I no my dumb *ss youngest one had a set of keys for it. Little did I no he was sneaking it out & then one day he totaled it. Both were & are Monte Carlo SS's. So yes us old guys own them , as I do show mine, not a Dailey driver. I bought it with 45k on it & now has 85k on it.
Congrats on ur purchase my love was a 1966 Chevy Chevelle SS396. My father decided to sell it because WTE I was in the middle of Vietnam. So much for that wish I still had it.

 

[Opie Knievel]

Question to the moderators - when comparing the number of registered G Body Forum members from last year to this year, is there an increase or decrease?

I don't think I can look up registration. GP403 surely knows. Maybe he'll see this and chime in.

 

[1STLATIGERDIVISON]

I don't think I can look up registration. GP403 surely knows. Maybe he'll see this and chime in.

Registration for what Opie if I may interject aka ask lol