Youngsters are not into cars....

Youngsters are not into cars....

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Discussion

Wudee

Original Poster:

269 posts

143 months

Saturday 20th May 2017
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When selling my 991, i tried a few younger people in my surroundings (with disposable income) to gauge their interest. Sub 30y olds are really not into cars. That raises the question when they will be the biggest vote in the car world and therefore our used Porsches become unsellable?

Porsche911R

21,146 posts

264 months

Saturday 20th May 2017
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I find just the oppersite. But then I don't drive a 991 lol


Pugley

687 posts

191 months

Saturday 20th May 2017
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Its not really that surprising given that average ownership is 85% male around 55 years old!

Grantstown

952 posts

86 months

Saturday 20th May 2017
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I'm 36. I hope this still counts as young thank you very much!

caelite

4,273 posts

111 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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There are under 30s about with disposable income? I thought the tories had sorted all of that ruckus out years ago!

g7jhp

6,959 posts

237 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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Perhaps you have to wait until they're inheritance comes through. They'll probably want a Tesla anyway!

andy97

4,691 posts

221 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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g7jhp said:
Perhaps you have to wait until they're inheritance comes through. They'll probably want a Tesla anyway!
There won't be an inheritance, it will have been spent on the care home fees.

IknowJoseph

542 posts

139 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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caelite said:
There are under 30s about with disposable income? I thought the tories had sorted all of that ruckus out years ago!
This. And how much disposable income do you need to buy / run a 991?? Genuinely interested in a sub 10 page thread answer.

OP living in a Dreamland.

paul0843

1,914 posts

206 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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The son of one of my friends who's 28 and a high earner wanted to upgrade
his car .
I tried to push him towards a 991 gts and even a nearly new California..
He bought a new g wagen.
It doesn't make sense .

hondafanatic

4,969 posts

200 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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I'm a highschool teacher (boooohissssboooo) in a very boy dominated subject at GCSE level...believe me, they are very much into cars.

Image is the main focus as they don't drive and can only look at stats about cars so phrases like 'balance' and 'steering feel' are lost on them, as it was me at that age.

The cars that get mentioned are pretty much the ones on popular console games...Lambo, Merc, Audi RS, BMW M etc. There is some American 'wants' with Chargers and Mustangs mentioned.

The big one they all want though is a Nissan GTR.

The fact that Porsche (and to some extent Ferrari) haven't really appeared on these games means they tend not to be in their consciousness. The latest Forza Porsche pack got some of the conversation going regarding 911s but they're not as fast as a GTR "init"?


GT4P

5,188 posts

184 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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Our son has just turned 30 and is very much into cars although he drives a boring rep mobile at the moment, has a mortgage wife and 2 kids he some day wishes to own a Porsche( I didn't get my first one until 39) He has access in the past to drive some fantastic cars last he owned being a 2006 M3 . He is not into 911s but absolutely loves the Gt4 and says it's the best car I have owned and would one day like to own such a car! My nephews 13,15 and 25 are also into cars!
I think it's just 991s they find boring(gt3 not included) and it shows round my way by the type of person who drive 991 ie middle aged women where as 30 somethings tend to be in bmw M cars or AMG merc! And the 25 year olds seem to be in your fast ford!

Grantstown

952 posts

86 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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GT4P said:
Our son has just turned 30 and is very much into cars although he drives a boring rep mobile at the moment, has a mortgage wife and 2 kids he some day wishes to own a Porsche( I didn't get my first one until 39) He has access in the past to drive some fantastic cars last he owned being a 2006 M3 . He is not into 911s but absolutely loves the Gt4 and says it's the best car I have owned and would one day like to own such a car! My nephews 13,15 and 25 are also into cars!
I think it's just 991s they find boring(gt3 not included) and it shows round my way by the type of person who drive 991 ie middle aged women where as 30 somethings tend to be in bmw M cars or AMG merc! And the 25 year olds seem to be in your fast ford!
Is Essex truely representative though?!

Round my way (North West) 991s are rare, 30 somethings may have a 320d if they're lucky and 25 year olds drive whatever they can get their hands on. Middle aged women drive a generic SUV.

RDMcG

19,096 posts

206 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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There is a lot to this. I am 68 and grew up at a time where a car was a huge social advantage to meet up with mates and girls. Smoke filled pubs were essential meeting places. People drove drunk a lot and speed limits were rarely enforced. MOT inspections were not required so lots of cheap death traps were on the roads.

I am not advocating this in the least. However the fairly unfettered ability to drive on less crowded roads was much higher.

Today the web has become the primary social lubricant. Speed limits are ruthlessly enforced and many cities are very anti-car. Young people are flocking to dense urban environments. The sharing economy is on us and non EV cars have less cool factor for many. My son for instance has a very successful career and drives a beat up Land Rover of great age.

I have had fairly quick cars forever and on Saturday usually go for a Porsche cars and coffee meet. The meet is big and the median age is about 55. Lots of people in their sixties and seventies. The car that has the broadest demographic is the GT3/RS with some successful people in their thirties joining the older crowd.

Yet Porsche's best selling car , the Macan is completely absent as is the Cayenne. My guess is that younger people are less interested in sports cars and even when they can afford a new Porsche their first choice is a Macan.

David W.

1,905 posts

208 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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Average speed limits, Gatsos, Euro Tier x emmisions regs, congestion charges, automatic lane control, black boxes and sky high insurance cost, not quite like the old days is it!l

7184c

415 posts

90 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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"youngsters" are very much into cars, but as others have mentioned, the cost of living these days and strong Porsche residuals means that ownership is mostly limited to those who are well remunerated or receive financial assistance through family, inheritance etc.

The problem is most of the younger generation will get their first decent job and then go and get a pcp on a golf/1 series/c class coupe rather than make do with a fiesta or other runabout because they have some disposable income burning a hole in their pocket. This then takes them longer to get on the property ladder which is the next priority before thinking about getting a decent performance car. However by this stage there will likely be a wife and or kids which forces people down the SUV route, hence Macan popularity.

The GT4 is a car that is perfect for the younger generation, particularly at the list price point. It's just a shame about the process for getting one means it is nigh on impossible anyone new to the brand would get one. There's a strong business case for it as most would take finance, and then likely either move on to the more profitable macan/cayenne/911 range.

hornbaek

3,670 posts

234 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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I think that driving has lost its allure to young people. It used to be an enjoyment. Today it is a chore and for young people driving is a means of transport to get from A to B. It is no longer horsepower end engine noise that make up a driving experience but the fact that you can be comfortable and online whilst travelling. I agree with a previous poster, that in 10 years time inner cities are for electric cars only. It will happen much faster than we think and development is exponential - not linear. The big question is where the revenue to the government is going to come from when they can no longer tax car owners. I think that a stamp duty of 12% is only the beginning.

Geneve

3,857 posts

218 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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I tend to agree. The 'golden era' of motoring has passed - cars represented freedom and independence. And, at 17, a licence and 'four wheels' was the main objective. For today's youngsters there are other distractions, a car doesn't necessarily have the same priority.

Going out for a drive, just for the sake of it, was also common place. Families would go out on a Sunday, just for a drive. I'd never do that - I only ever get into a car when I really have to (although when I do, I want to be in an enjoyable car for the purpose). There are often better or more convenient options.

Of course there will always be some passion for cars, but I do suspect to a lessening extent.

SV_WDC

679 posts

88 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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Anyone who has watched The Grand Tour may remember there was a small part in one of the episodes about the number of driver passing their test last year vs 10yrs ago.

There was a big drop (almost half if I recall correctly).

So yes, enthusiasm potentially dying simply as a result of their being less people learning to drive.

And let's not forget all the other factors such as money, priorities, attraction to live in city centre now (making parking more difficult/expensive). Plus you could get Ubers everywhere and it probably cost less than running a car

hunter 66

3,888 posts

219 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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After 30 years of only driving RS and Gt Porsche models , I have just bought a Tesla X .......... and yes it is very impressive maybe that is what the next iphone generation will aspire to ....
Electric cars are now even nearly 30 secs a lap faster at the Ring than the GT3 ....
My kids love X- Box take them to the track when racing a RSR or GT2R ...... and they are not interested ....too noisy as well.

Shnozz

27,421 posts

270 months

Sunday 21st May 2017
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woollyjoe said:
I would 100% choose uber if i didn't already have a car.

Yep, and uber always aimed at making it a cheaper alternative to owning a car for the majority.

I live in a city centre and so traffic is bad 75% of the time, my parking space costs me a fortune, insurance is higher than rural areas and risk of damage probably higher too (hence the insurance!). Public transport is on my doorstep, ubers tread where public transport won't. I walk around the city for the most part, as do most of my city based friends. In turn, this also means many arranged and impromptu drinking sessions.

In truth there is no need at all for a car. Even when I visit home (5 hour drive away) its cheaper for me to catch a domestic flight than it is fuel for the car, before taking into account the 4 hours I've gained by choosing a plane.

The car is an expensive toy for me and if I worked out the cost per mile it would be horrific. Before it turns a wheel it's about £4k pa just to have it sat in a parking space in central town, insured and taxed. It is where the car club idea is probably a far better one for me as I would estimate its probably £10k pa overall to do 3k miles.