Are car enthusiasts a dying breed?
Discussion
I'm not so convinced it's all about the cost.
When I was 17-18 (41 now) we were all desperate to learn to drive cars to have freedom and go and see our mates. We all wanted to have the coolest "banger" so got interested.
These days you have the social networking sites, games consoles, mobile phones with unlimited minutes and texts etc... which seem to be more important to the teens, and allow them to keep in touch more easily, so cars are taking a back seat.
When I was 17-18 (41 now) we were all desperate to learn to drive cars to have freedom and go and see our mates. We all wanted to have the coolest "banger" so got interested.
These days you have the social networking sites, games consoles, mobile phones with unlimited minutes and texts etc... which seem to be more important to the teens, and allow them to keep in touch more easily, so cars are taking a back seat.
Most of my sons friends show little interest other than, ooh a spoiler or ooh a big exhaust. I'm pleased to report that my son is a massive car nut and suprisingly knowledgable for a 10 year old.
My father was never into cars but my brother and I could identify a car from the shape of a headlamp before we could walk.
My father was never into cars but my brother and I could identify a car from the shape of a headlamp before we could walk.
psgcarey said:
I'm not so convinced it's all about the cost.
When I was 17-18 (41 now) we were all desperate to learn to drive cars to have freedom and go and see our mates. We all wanted to have the coolest "banger" so got interested.
These days you have the social networking sites, games consoles, mobile phones with unlimited minutes and texts etc... which seem to be more important to the teens, and allow them to keep in touch more easily, so cars are taking a back seat.
I'm inclined to agree with you. When I was at school we were mad on cars at 13 with no clue as to potential costs, good or bad.When I was 17-18 (41 now) we were all desperate to learn to drive cars to have freedom and go and see our mates. We all wanted to have the coolest "banger" so got interested.
These days you have the social networking sites, games consoles, mobile phones with unlimited minutes and texts etc... which seem to be more important to the teens, and allow them to keep in touch more easily, so cars are taking a back seat.
From experience, I would definitely say so. Most 18-21 year olds who pass their test these days seem to get a 3 year old car bought for them, which 'looks nice,' but they have no interest beyond the appearance of their car. So they don't really go through that steep learning curve I imagine most here did, of your first car being a 300 quid snotter, one you could tinker on etc. My mate and me are the only car enthusiasts I interact with regularly, most other folk only seem bothered about 'A to B' cars.
Dying might be a tad strong, but I think they (we) are in decline.
If you speak to the people who run the big motorsport events many are worried about an ageing audience. There just aren't as many young people interested in racing these days.
Part of it genuinely is the green issue I think. Kids are bombarded with the low carbon message - far more so than my generation was growing up in the late '80s and '90s, and infinitely more than those before - and it is having an effect. I know the environmental impact of motor racing itself is actually pretty minimal, but it's just not seen as cool to belch out CO2 for fun any more.
If you speak to the people who run the big motorsport events many are worried about an ageing audience. There just aren't as many young people interested in racing these days.
Part of it genuinely is the green issue I think. Kids are bombarded with the low carbon message - far more so than my generation was growing up in the late '80s and '90s, and infinitely more than those before - and it is having an effect. I know the environmental impact of motor racing itself is actually pretty minimal, but it's just not seen as cool to belch out CO2 for fun any more.
I was born to love cars.
I have no idea where it came from, as neither of my parents had any interest in cars, and by the time I was age 15 they were still on their 1st car!
I always assumed that if I have children, that they will automatically have a love of cars too, but after realising that my enthusiasm has seemingly come from no where - maybe they will come out hating cars and loving the environment!
I have no idea where it came from, as neither of my parents had any interest in cars, and by the time I was age 15 they were still on their 1st car!
I always assumed that if I have children, that they will automatically have a love of cars too, but after realising that my enthusiasm has seemingly come from no where - maybe they will come out hating cars and loving the environment!
Mermaid said:
One of these cars is more interesting than the rest - produced before daft health & safety rules.
He's a 100% car and bike nut, but he's also discerning enough to understand the difference between a perfectly balanced mid-engined masterpiece, unfairly maligned because its performance is so accessable, and a poorly conceived bitsa, that's badly detailed, probably just as badly engineered and I suspect frightens its owner on a daily basis.
SS7
First post 
Been lurking on here for ages, so thought I should join in.
I'm 16, and as soon as I turn 17 learning to drive will probably be the first thing I do, even if I cant then actually afford to own a car after I pass. I've always had an passion for cars, probably beause my dad always had something relatively fast and swapped cars after about a year or two. No one else in my group of friends has any real interst in cars, but my cousin's boyfriend does. He is 21, and is the only person I can have a good chat about cars with and has a knowledge of them like me. Whether or not car entusiasts are dying, i don't know, i'm too young to have seen it happening, but I definitely am one.
Been lurking on here for ages, so thought I should join in.
I'm 16, and as soon as I turn 17 learning to drive will probably be the first thing I do, even if I cant then actually afford to own a car after I pass. I've always had an passion for cars, probably beause my dad always had something relatively fast and swapped cars after about a year or two. No one else in my group of friends has any real interst in cars, but my cousin's boyfriend does. He is 21, and is the only person I can have a good chat about cars with and has a knowledge of them like me. Whether or not car entusiasts are dying, i don't know, i'm too young to have seen it happening, but I definitely am one.
Some of this appears due, in a small part, to parenting. When I was 17, not long ago as I'm 23 now, the health and safety message was just about catching on. Others' mothers knew nothing of engines, performance or styling but they were aware of airbags, anti-locking brakes and traction control.
The media, driving instructors and car companies themselves pushed forward a message of safety for young drivers. Young drivers will crash etc and they must be in the latest, NCAP chart topping super hatch in order to survive. But these are expensive. I know of many young drivers who were not allowed to purchase anything but a brand new shopping trolley on crippling finance; as old cars are "unsafe".
Compare and contrast this to my situation. There are those who claim it is prohibitively expensive. This is untrue. I paid well over a thousand pounds to insure my first car; but received no financial support whatsoever. My parents were rather more liberal. I asked my dad what I would be allowed to drive. "Anything as long as you pay for it". So I did. I worked Saturdays and holidays at a supermarket, for the minimum wage, and saved every penny. I desperately wanted a car - so did without other things. When the time came, at 17 1/2 years old, I went out and bought one. I hated it and swapped it for another about 4 months later. Since then I have had 11 cars.
I was allowed to do this. Many are not. If I turned up in an Austin Seven, my parents would not disown me; or make me sell it. I know that others would; therein lies the problem.
The media, driving instructors and car companies themselves pushed forward a message of safety for young drivers. Young drivers will crash etc and they must be in the latest, NCAP chart topping super hatch in order to survive. But these are expensive. I know of many young drivers who were not allowed to purchase anything but a brand new shopping trolley on crippling finance; as old cars are "unsafe".
Compare and contrast this to my situation. There are those who claim it is prohibitively expensive. This is untrue. I paid well over a thousand pounds to insure my first car; but received no financial support whatsoever. My parents were rather more liberal. I asked my dad what I would be allowed to drive. "Anything as long as you pay for it". So I did. I worked Saturdays and holidays at a supermarket, for the minimum wage, and saved every penny. I desperately wanted a car - so did without other things. When the time came, at 17 1/2 years old, I went out and bought one. I hated it and swapped it for another about 4 months later. Since then I have had 11 cars.
I was allowed to do this. Many are not. If I turned up in an Austin Seven, my parents would not disown me; or make me sell it. I know that others would; therein lies the problem.
A combination of things that have been said so far:
Other distractions such as facebook.
Costs - too expensive to buy and insure a car. I wasn't that interested in cars for a long time, as I knew it was pointless for me in terms of not being able to afford one. Now making up for it,
Modern cars - too difficult to work on when they go wrong, so there is less of a "relationship" with the car when fixing it.
Just too busy in the cities for any enjoyment in driving. When doing my test driving in cities is very boring. It's being out on small roads that is the fun part.
However I have discovered the '5 is great for getting random strangers to come over and have a talk to you (basically "That looks fun").
Other distractions such as facebook.
Costs - too expensive to buy and insure a car. I wasn't that interested in cars for a long time, as I knew it was pointless for me in terms of not being able to afford one. Now making up for it,
Modern cars - too difficult to work on when they go wrong, so there is less of a "relationship" with the car when fixing it.
Just too busy in the cities for any enjoyment in driving. When doing my test driving in cities is very boring. It's being out on small roads that is the fun part.
However I have discovered the '5 is great for getting random strangers to come over and have a talk to you (basically "That looks fun").
Chris71 said:
Dying might be a tad strong, but I think they (we) are in decline.
If you speak to the people who run the big motorsport events many are worried about an ageing audience. There just aren't as many young people interested in racing these days.
Part of it genuinely is the green issue I think. Kids are bombarded with the low carbon message - far more so than my generation was growing up in the late '80s and '90s, and infinitely more than those before - and it is having an effect. I know the environmental impact of motor racing itself is actually pretty minimal, but it's just not seen as cool to belch out CO2 for fun any more.
I think Goodwood are doing well at the moment with the FoS in this respect. With the likes of Ken Block and Top Gear, kids are interested in cars. I think it's fantastic the reaction from children when they see a Veyron for the first time. My hope is that these kids then hear a Ferrari 312PB heading up the hill and fall in love with that flat-12, fuelling a life-long love affair with multi-cylinder engines. I suppose the challenge then is to get youngsters interested in the happenings at the Revival. If you can engage an 8 year old in the significance and unadulterated joy at seeing ERA R5B being driven around Goodwood at the limit then you've cracked it! If you speak to the people who run the big motorsport events many are worried about an ageing audience. There just aren't as many young people interested in racing these days.
Part of it genuinely is the green issue I think. Kids are bombarded with the low carbon message - far more so than my generation was growing up in the late '80s and '90s, and infinitely more than those before - and it is having an effect. I know the environmental impact of motor racing itself is actually pretty minimal, but it's just not seen as cool to belch out CO2 for fun any more.
I think like marriage and life expectancy, the age that people are becoming interested in cars is increasing.
With the heinous costs of motoring, and the costs of uni and housing thrown into the bargain, cars, especially nice ones, are seen as no longer a necessity but an aspiration.
Most of my friends are in their late 20's & early 30's. Amongst them there is now a Focus RS, a Panda 100 HP, a Defender anniversary, a Golf GTI, and the PH favourite, the MX5. Quite a few of my friendship crowd are into cars, the main question is what comes first - house or car. Some have done car first, most have done house first and (in their late 20's) are finally getting into cars and indeed interesting cars.
With the heinous costs of motoring, and the costs of uni and housing thrown into the bargain, cars, especially nice ones, are seen as no longer a necessity but an aspiration.
Most of my friends are in their late 20's & early 30's. Amongst them there is now a Focus RS, a Panda 100 HP, a Defender anniversary, a Golf GTI, and the PH favourite, the MX5. Quite a few of my friendship crowd are into cars, the main question is what comes first - house or car. Some have done car first, most have done house first and (in their late 20's) are finally getting into cars and indeed interesting cars.
Daniel1 said:
TBH insurance has always been obscene for young new drivers.
My gut feeling (with no research at all) is that the costs are just too prohibitive. I also think that some of the hysteria of global warming has rubbed off on people.
My first car was a MK2 Golf 1.6, that was £1500 TPFT, with a better choice of first car I could've got driving cheaper. I found work easily, despite being an awkward SOB at times, which paid for lessons, then insurance.My gut feeling (with no research at all) is that the costs are just too prohibitive. I also think that some of the hysteria of global warming has rubbed off on people.
With the current prices for fuel and insurance, and the job market being pants, new drivers are priced off the roads.
Oh definitely the car enthusiast is dying for sure and as each new generaion of people grow and become more and more hung up on health and safety there can only be one conclusion.
The mere mention of speed on here can start a huge arguement that will rage for days!
Modern cars are ever more complicated and get written off because their windows will not wind up anymore.
Just take a look at the threads on here and you have you're answer.
Motoring enthusiasts are dying fast.
Hands up all those that can take an engine apart and rebuild it using a DTI to adjust the cam timing when its fitted with offset dowels or a vernier pully or pullys, see what I mean, most of you are lost already.
Get down you're nearest turbo nutter rolling road and get them to insert another chip.
The mere mention of speed on here can start a huge arguement that will rage for days!
Modern cars are ever more complicated and get written off because their windows will not wind up anymore.
Just take a look at the threads on here and you have you're answer.
Motoring enthusiasts are dying fast.
Hands up all those that can take an engine apart and rebuild it using a DTI to adjust the cam timing when its fitted with offset dowels or a vernier pully or pullys, see what I mean, most of you are lost already.
Get down you're nearest turbo nutter rolling road and get them to insert another chip.
TomJS said:
With the heinous costs of motoring, and the costs of uni and housing thrown into the bargain, cars, especially nice ones, are seen as no longer a necessity but an aspiration.
That's a very good point. You hear about people who started driving in the sixties picking up an old 4.5-litre Bentley as their first car because it was cheap than a second hand Austin A30! Okay, maybe you could technically still get a Turbo R for less than the price of a Fiesta these days but I defy any normal college student to fund running one...As any hobby gets more expensive it will always be pushed towards the hardcore of supporters that's willing to pay through the nose for it. How many people here would get a bike license if time and money were no issue, for example?
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