Why Don't Young Americans Buy Cars?

The Atlantic ^ | Mar 25 2012, 9:00 AM ET | By Jordan Weissmann

[DeaconBenjamin]

Kids these days. They don't get married. They don't buy homes. And, much to the dismay of the world's auto makers, they apparently don't feel a deep and abiding urge to own a car.

This week, the New York Times pulled back the curtain on General Motors' recent, slightly bewildered efforts to connect with the Millennials -- that giant generational cohort born in the 1980s and 1990s whose growing consumer power is reshaping the way corporate America markets its wares. Unfortunately for car companies, today's teens and twenty-somethings don't seem all that interested in buying a set of wheels. They're not even particularly keen on driving.

The Times notes that less than half of potential drivers age 19 or younger had a license in 2008, down from nearly two-thirds in 1998. The fraction of 20-to-24-year-olds with a license has also dropped. And according to CNW research, adults between the ages of 21 and 34 buy just 27 percent of all new vehicles sold in America, a far cry from the peak of 38 percent in 1985.

At a major conference last year, Toyota USA President Jim Lentz offered up a fairly doleful summary of the industry's challenge.

"We have to face the growing reality that today young people don't seem to be as interested in cars as previous generations," Lentz said. "Many young people care more about buying the latest smart phone or gaming console than getting their driver's license." The billion-dollar question for automakers is whether this shift is truly permanent, the result of a baked-in attitude shift among Millennials that will last well into adulthood, or the product of an economy that's been particularly brutal on the young.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

You subsidize the democrats by having a job yourself via ever-increasing taxes.

Democrats give that tax money to people whose jobs have been lost to foreign workers.

Just saying.

Even smashing a union, still results in more democrats.

What we’re doing now, isn’t working. The GOP needs to become aggressively pro-America once again.

“Free trade” has been a GOP disaster.

[BobL]

“This has been the argument since Ross Perot warned us of the “Giant Sucking Sound”. What we’ve seen since then, is that Perot was right. Buy American.”

Unfortunately Perot was looking at the symtom, not the cause. The cause was and is THE UNIONS, THE EPS, OSHA, and our LAWYERS.

Perot, instead, blamed it on Mexico. Mexico was simply filling the void that we abandoned in our quest for Utopia.

Now it’s the Chinese. If anyone thinks that people would be better off today with union-made everything, rather than Chinese imports, they are insane. Maybe other don’t remember, but I certainly remember the cost of just about EVERYTHING before the Chinese started moving in and selling cheaper (roughly 4 times higher than today). The US companies that could fight back (i.e., non-union) gave China some competition, other companies (and unionized workers) got EXACTLY what they deserved, for their attitude.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

We disagree.

In fact we seem to have no room for compromise.

I oppose pretty much everything you are saying. No offense, but I disagree and reject the entire premise.

America first.

[BobL]

“We disagree. In fact we seem to have no room for compromise. I oppose pretty much everything you are saying. No offense, but I disagree and reject the entire premise. America first.”

I agree, we’re hopeless. Let’s get some sleep.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Lol.

FReegards.

[Paladin2]

"...because too many of today’s cars suck..."

Yeah, Duh.

****************

Here's my five simple requirements:

4 doors (well, 5, as a station wagon(van, minivan, SUV etc.) is a necessary part of the body shape(dogs in back with their own entrances))

Red paint

Manual Transmission

Turbo Diesel

4X4 or AWD

********

How difficult can that be?

[Paladin2]

There’s a fair amount of labor $ associated with an assembly plant. Component’s labor may be equivalent, but I don’t have any personal knowledge.

[paul51]

it’s difficult to swing a car with a part time job at $12 per

[BobL]

“Lol. FReegards.”

Thanks, you too.

[familyop]

"Unions need to be deleted and erased from our memories."

I agree, except that the unions that once employed us evil "males" with families have nearly all been busted by the real, government-linked, global corporate commies (now in collaboration to help their Chi-Com buddies destroy our country). I, as a union member, made $3.80 an hour as a laborer and $7 an hour making fine custom parts in the late 70s and early 80s. I spent seven years as a combat engineer (combat--light, infantry related type), while my employers chased other men's wives in their offices (before they conspired with foreign communist nations against the USA).

I agree with your desire to get rid of unions, because that, along with other measures, is shutting down revenues enough to eventually lay off hundreds of thousands of overpaid, regulatory and other local government tyrants using federal funding. That, in turn, with stop the other half of the traitorous debt regime from stealing from everyone else (their government-linked globe-trotting buddies in the not-really-private sector).

As for Democrats, they're only half of the commie equation, and you're looking at a big no-vote, come year's end. Let the bond collapses commence. It will be for our own good. Wait'll you see how the hard working and technically inclined folks do after the default process ahead (better than any fat bureaucrat or government-fed service).

Friends, avoid buying anything that you don't really need. Become more self-sufficient each month, and learn to make something useful. Starve the B.

[Paladin2]

"The only truly american made vehicles today are pickups with a 3/4 ton rating or higher. That means a ford f250 or greater, and a chevy c2500 or greater."

Dude, wise beyond your years, you are.

[Paladin2]

"You subsidize the democrats by having a job yourself via ever-increasing taxes"

Go Galt or go Virtual Galt.

[Paladin2]

"Starve the B."

Yep, go virtual Galt.

[truth_seeker]

Over half of new passenger vehicles sold in Europe are diesel.

Mileage over 30 is commonplace higher too.

Yet no American maker offers us this option.

VW (VW, Audi), BMW, Mercedes offer diesels.

Too big to fail has cost imagination, risk taking, etc.

[Husker24]

The stick only came with the turbo coup, which was not a v8. I used to have an 87 tbird, it was a baby blue, wish I still had it. The transmission went out at 190,000 and it just wasn’t worth fixing.

[OL Hickory]

Here’s my simple requirements:
v8
30 MPG
300 HP

Mustang has come very close to this in a V6!

Also, take a trip down memory lane and look @ our older cars..they had style!..Now everything is eco-boxes..We went from cool sounding names like trident v8/440 six pack/ to eco-boost and 1.2 liter turbo... Ask a young kid who is Delorian,Iaccoca,Shelby,or larry Shenoda...I guarantee you.The answer will not be “the creator of the GTO,Mustang,AC cobra or boss 302 Mustang..We need Harley earl back..(Google it if your under 40..LOL)

[Paladin2]

I bought 2 VW Jetta TDI s/w's in 2005 'cause gas went over $2. Studded snow tires largely compensate for no AWD.

As for Zero suggesting lately that 50 mpg cars are a panacea for $4 Diesel is to laugh. Zer0 is a lieing l0ser.

[mamelukesabre]

That’s what I remember. They also had a ford taurus with a 4 cylinder stickshift around the same time.

[Grams A]

The cost of the average car, not even anything special, has gotten way out of control.”

My grandma died in 1967 and left me $20,000. Bought a brand new split level house, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, double car garage, huge yard with a four-line clothes line and a brand new Mustang. No money left but if that were now we could hardly buy just a car.

[Paladin2]

Corvettes have been close to that for decades now.