What happened to young people and driving culture?

[bob64]

I think it's a sign of the times. Kids move as soon as possible from the country to the cities. Once there it's easier to use transit. The cost of getting a license, car, insurance, up keep and parking is just a responsibility they don't want.

If us as parents don't guide them as they grow up towards learning to have a vehicle or learning about a vehicle it can be very intimidating for them.

My Daughters, all 6 of them are into some type of ride be it Car, Truck or Motorcycle. By the age of 5 they loved being in the shop as much as me. They all know the basic maintenance an 2 of them can even show me up. 2 think there princess but will throw on gloves and get dirty working on there off-road 4x4.

Point, start them young or its easier to call a cab.

 

[motorheadmike]

In about 5 years the market is going to be flooded with 400+hp cars that are a Chinese turbo away from running 9s. Way better option for a young person than the over-hyped junk from the 60s and 70s. The opportunity to go fast for cheap is there if it is wanted... and if you are willing to work for it.

 

[TURNA]

That was short lived. The auto industry has kicked out millions of cars since that ended 10 years ago. Plenty to fill the population.

Not really since most of the "newer" cars t are what...... prisu's?

Notice how the prices of GBody doubled ever since then??

There use to be 2-3 older cars on the block. Now nothing older than 5 years until you get to my house.

Where did all the 80's Camaro/Firebirds and 80's-90's Fox Body's go?

Yes a lot of the foxes are on the track but they where a dime a dozen on the streets.

When was the last time you seen a 73-77 Abody parked at the curb.

Here in the city they were actually plentiful.

Between the cash for clunkers, the China steel deals and the yards exporting almost every GM V8 to the Middle East.

Well they wanted them gone and they made it happen.

 

[carnutjw]

Things go in cycles. Cars/trucks have in and out as the “thing” for kids for as long as I can remember. I got my license in 1967 at the height of the muscle car era. At that time cars (and street racing) WERE THE THING. Of all the guys I went to high school with there are probably only 3 of us were really into cars and stayed with it.


I don’t think kids have really changed, cars are just not the hot thing/status symbol right now. Reading over the thread there are a few kids out there that (at least for now) are the ones that are really into cars and trucks. Probably about the same percentage as it was 50 years ago.


I’m one of the lucky ones, my oldest grandson is usually over about once a week and has been following me out to the shop since he was old enough to walk. Somewhere along the line he picked up a love for old cars.


About a year ago he asked about getting the old 74 Mustang I had built for his Grandma back on the road…….long story short, his mom and I agreed that he would get the car, provided he kept his grades up and paid for all the parts and did all the work on it.



cleanup 1 by M Patterson, on Flickr




He wants the car so for the last year he’s been pretty hard at it. He’s been painting buildings, doing yard work, and even helped me re-top coat the roofs on the house and shop. He’s not necessarily a great student, but has been generally kept his grades up enough to keep working on the car.



So far he’s converted it back to a 4 speed (I had put an automatic in it for his Grandma) and gone back to a manual rack. The 2.3 is no ball of fire but kind of fun with the 4 speed and just about right for a 15 year old to learn on.


2 by M Patterson, on Flick





There is still a ways to go (tires, radiator, timing belt etc ) but he keeps plugging away at it.



74 Mustang 2 by M Patterson, on Flickr




Basically he’s one of that small percentage of us who probably enjoys building the car as much or more than driving it. He’s got a younger brother and sister who I suspect will be the ones that with the attitute that “a car is just a car” unless cars become the “thing” again in the next couple of years.



That’s OK, they just reflect the majority of the people in this country……just as it always has been. We can’t all be car guys and gals.




. Back to the shed by M Patterson, on Flickr

Mike I think that is just F-ing awesome. After he gets his license and some miles under his butt a 87-95 5.0 would be really fun in the II.

 

[grandamman]

1. This doesn’t need to be political
2. Young people are getting into gbodies, just when they show up here you guys run them off because you dont like what they’re doing. True story.
3. Spare me the “kids today” thing. We were all young lazy disrespectful dipshits at some point and eventually most of us got thru it. Not sure I did but whatever.
4. See 3.

Carry on. I’m sitting here waiting at the dealer for an oil change (still under warranty) and then I’m gonna go home and play vidya while posting memes on my phone.

Agree. Especially #2.
Someone comes here looking for a part and they get hounded for an introduction....and they disappear.

 

[motorheadmike]

Things go in cycles. Cars/trucks have been in and out as the “thing” for kids for as long as I can remember. I got my license in 1967 at the height of the muscle car era. At that time cars (and street racing) WERE THE THING. There were a bunch of neat cars in my high school parking lot my senior year (a GTX, a hand full of mustangs, 3 SS396 Chevells, a Nova SS, a Fairlane GTA, etc etc) Of all the guys I went to high school with. there are probably only 3 of us were really into cars and stayed with it.


I don’t think kids have really changed, cars are just not the hot thing/status symbol right now. Reading over the thread there are a few kids out there that (at least for now) are the ones that are really into cars and trucks. Probably about the same percentage as it was 50 years ago.


I’m one of the lucky ones, my oldest grandson is usually over about once a week and has been following me out to the shop since he was old enough to walk. Somewhere along the line he picked up a love for old cars.


About a year ago he asked about getting the old 74 Mustang I had built for his Grandma back on the road…….long story short, his mom and I agreed that he would get the car, provided he kept his grades up and paid for all the parts and did all the work on it.



cleanup 1 by M Patterson, on Flickr




He wants the car, so for the last year he’s been pretty hard at it. He’s been painting buildings, doing yard work, and even helped me re-top coat the roofs on the house and shop. He’s not necessarily a great student, but has been generally kept his grades up enough to keep working on the car.



So far he’s converted it back to a 4 speed (I had put an automatic in it for his Grandma) and gone back to a manual rack. The 2.3 is no ball of fire but kind of fun with the 4 speed and just about right for a 15 year old to learn on.


2 by M Patterson, on Flick





There is still a ways to go (tires, radiator, timing belt etc ) but he keeps plugging away at it.



74 Mustang 2 by M Patterson, on Flickr




Basically he’s one of that small percentage of us who probably enjoys building the car as much or more than driving it. He’s got a younger brother and sister who I suspect will be the ones with the attitute that “a car is just a car” unless cars become the “thing” again in the next couple of years.



That’s OK, they just reflect the majority of the people in this country……just as it always has been. We can’t all be car guys and gals.




. Back to the shed by M Patterson, on Flickr

How did I miss this?! Incredible! Thanks for sharing.

 

[CaliWagon83]

There are still young "car guys" (and gals) out there. But car hot-rodding/restoring just isn't as much of a mainstream pursuit anymore. It takes commitment, whether that comes in the form of time, money, or both. Some young people have little of either. If their main context of vehicles is blah mid-90s minivans, sedans and SUVs, then of course they're not really going to care. If someone in their family has a Mustang, Camaro, Corvette, or other classic or rare car, and is enthusiastic about it, that's what makes the difference. I don't know if you've seen these Hagerty Insurance spots on Velocity lately, but I think they're pretty cool.

 

[oldmansmonte]

Not really since most of the "newer" cars t are what...... prisu's?

Notice how the prices of GBody doubled ever since then??

There use to be 2-3 older cars on the block. Now nothing older than 5 years until you get to my house.

Where did all the 80's Camaro/Firebirds and 80's-90's Fox Body's go?

Yes a lot of the foxes are on the track but they where a dime a dozen on the streets.

When was the last time you seen a 73-77 Abody parked at the curb.

Here in the city they were actually plentiful.

Between the cash for clunkers, the China steel deals and the yards exporting almost every GM V8 to the Middle East.

Well they wanted them gone and they made it happen.

You can go read the terms and facts for cash for clunkers. They were extremely limited and did offer much that the dealers couldn't already offer. Dealers used it as a major marketing tool but the actual government offer didn't do much. It took Astro vans, '96 explorers and Cherokees, off the road. Not classics.

https://qz.com/1042742/why-did-cash...plains-how-obamas-stimulus-program-backfired/

 

[79 GP 4 speed]

My son and daughter who are 6&4 help work on vehicles all the time. They also like to sit on our lap and drive in our yard with us. Most of the time I think it is how they are raised. There are a lot of weeks they ask me if there is a car show to go to. If there is one within a hour drive we go. I use to enter my car but I don't any more due to having to pay a 20 dollar entry fee.

 

[melloelky]

my dad used to take myself and a kid from down the street to car shows when we were in our early teens.between the music and the sights there, we were hooked.i haven't seen Carmen in atleast fifteen years but last i heard he had a wicked twin turbo vette.if it wasn't for him bringing us in that beat up chevy, i wouldn't be where i am in life rite now.
If he could only see what cars are up to today he'd flip his lid.take a kid to a car show, it might mean more to them than you think.