Are teenagers just as interested in cars as before?
Discussion
My mates and I spent years craving to be old enough to drive, pass our test and get a car as soon as possible. For some it was even more important than getting their first knee-trembler. In fact the really afflicted ones even put up with the humiliation of having a puny motorbike for that annoying year from 16 to 17. We all had car posters on the wall and knew more about the current crop of new cars available then than we ever would now. It just doesn't seem to be like that anymore.
Whereas a generation ago, kids used to grow out of their toys and desire the real McCoy, these days they seem happy to hang on to their Nintendo-X-Station thrills for much longer. There's also the financial burden of insurance (although it was always very high for 17 year olds), impending enslavement with student debt and a year's holiday in Thailand to consider, before they can fund a car, especially with fuel at 1.50 per litre. All of these factors combined (and I am sure many more) just seem to dampen their enthusiasm for the car.
Of course there will always be many exceptions and I am sure most of them are either on here, or in a McDonald's car-park near you, but in general is that teenage car culture, which I guess really began in post war America, now starting to die out?
Whereas a generation ago, kids used to grow out of their toys and desire the real McCoy, these days they seem happy to hang on to their Nintendo-X-Station thrills for much longer. There's also the financial burden of insurance (although it was always very high for 17 year olds), impending enslavement with student debt and a year's holiday in Thailand to consider, before they can fund a car, especially with fuel at 1.50 per litre. All of these factors combined (and I am sure many more) just seem to dampen their enthusiasm for the car.
Of course there will always be many exceptions and I am sure most of them are either on here, or in a McDonald's car-park near you, but in general is that teenage car culture, which I guess really began in post war America, now starting to die out?
Kids seem far more interested in spending all their hard earned on the latest smart phone or other piece of consumer electronics these days, and combined with the higher insurance premiums and fuel costs these days, I wouldn't be surprised at all to find that fewer people have an interest in cars/ bikes.
Yeah, the insurance must be enough to put off a lot of kids, gave our old Polo diesel to our niece and nephew as they'll be passing their tests soon, and the quotes are shocking. 
It was cheaper in the days before hot-hatches, 17/18 year olds could get insured on MGs, Capris and the like.
It was cheaper in the days before hot-hatches, 17/18 year olds could get insured on MGs, Capris and the like.
kin sDefinitely. And to that end, I think you see fewer boy racers these days clogging up McDonaold's and Halfords car parks. And when you do see them in their little congregations; I can't help but feel that the notion of meeting like minded people in empty car parks revving the nuts off their tin cans to impress eachother is a little bit dated nowadays. There's too many other worthy distractions around these days to keep teenagers entertained.
Yes still completely obsessed. I'm 19 so still a teenager technically and all my classmates were excited by cars and to turn 17 to learn to drive. However what is fading the excitement is the fact that it is very expensive to run even the most boring of cars. Plus the fact that most of the new cars out these days thateenages could afford are all pretty boring. It asks the question how interested in cars would you be if you was driving around in a slow 1/1.2 litre 10 year old hatchback.
I think the price has just about killed them off. When I passed my test (about 4 and a half years ago) I could go out driving in the evening and race at least 1 teenager off the lights, or see loads of chavved up Saxos.
In the last 2-3 years or so I haven't seen many teenagers on the road at all.
In the last 2-3 years or so I haven't seen many teenagers on the road at all.
other five-pot turbos are available!yeah, i used to go up merry hill, and birmingham races every week, was awesome, modified cars good ( and bad ) , car slags everywhere, and the police a rare sight. was brilliant.
also, theres was always someone who knew someone if you were after a hard to find part, or needed some help tweeking or adjusting somethnig under the bonnet
no longer is it like that
also, theres was always someone who knew someone if you were after a hard to find part, or needed some help tweeking or adjusting somethnig under the bonnet
no longer is it like that
I've been into cars since a baby (honestly, my first word was car...) but I've never met anyone my age who's really into them. Alot of the guys I know have a passing interest but that is usually just "I watch TG every now and then and like a few supercars". Only people I've met who are really really into cars are those who are 10+ years older than me. I'm guessing (and hoping) that it's more my bad luck than anything on not meeting the right people, and there are plenty of people around my age on PH I'm guessing yeah teenagers are interested in cars, but it's alot less common than it was before.
Barely anyone I know whos my age drives either.
Barely anyone I know whos my age drives either.
Both my boys (14 and 12) love the TVR and the Jag but arent particularly interested in cars.
My 12 year old is learning to drive with the under 17 car club and has his own car (a daewoo lanos!) , but the older boy has shown no interest in doing the same.
When I was 14 I would have sold my soul to the devil to have someone buy me a car and take me driving every sunday!
My 12 year old is learning to drive with the under 17 car club and has his own car (a daewoo lanos!) , but the older boy has shown no interest in doing the same.
When I was 14 I would have sold my soul to the devil to have someone buy me a car and take me driving every sunday!
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