I’m Calling BS On All These ‘Young People Don’t Like Cars’ Stories

People keep reporting that young people are falling out of love with cars, but just because big city kids don't need to drive, that doesn't mean there's an absence of true enthusiasts in the car scene
I’m Calling BS On All These ‘Young People Don’t Like Cars’ Stories

It’s a story we’re hearing more and more often: young people don’t care about cars anymore. If you believe everything you read you’d think that nobody under the age of 50 will bother buying a car by 2020. The story goes that with technology taking over their lives, young people just don’t need cars to keep in contact with their friends, and would rather spend their money on new technology and the ever-rising cost of education.

There’s no denying that fewer young people are getting driving licenses; there are numerous studies that show this steady decline. In America, the number of 16-year-olds getting a license dropped from 46 per cent in 1983 to 28 per cent in 2010. In recent years, the drop has been most severe for older teens, with six per cent fewer 19-year-olds holding a license in 2010 than in 2008.

And the decline is similarly stark here in the UK; in 1995, 43 per cent of 17- to 20-year-olds had a driving license, whereas just 31 per cent do now. Interestingly, given that driving is often regarded as a male pastime, the UK’s drop is most drastic amongst men.

So why are so many young people not driving anymore?

I’m Calling BS On All These ‘Young People Don’t Like Cars’ Stories

There’s some debate about this. The universal conclusion from older generations desperately trying to figure out what kids are up to these days is that they’re so busy staring at their phones, they can’t be bothered to drive. And if you actually look at studies into the subject, typically the responses young people give as to why they don’t drive are that they’re too busy or don’t have enough time.

The easy conclusion to draw from that response is that young people today are lazy, but that doesn’t take any external factors into account. For a start, even at the turn of the millennium, the only reliable way to stay in touch with friends and loved ones was to actually go and see them. These days, there are numerous social media sites, messaging services and ways to call people that face-to-face time just isn’t as much of a thing.

The other most common reason for people to not get a license comes down to money. Now that you can keep in contact with people 24/7, there’s no need to spend cash on a car as a status symbol anymore. Status comes in other ways, such as having the latest smartphone or gaming console. Other social events such as going to gigs, the cinema or even multiplayer gaming have switched online, so travelling to expensive events isn’t necessary when you can do it from the comfort of your own home.

I’m Calling BS On All These ‘Young People Don’t Like Cars’ Stories

Then you take into account the fact that a growing amount of the population is moving into big cities - with young people 40 per cent more likely to move away from rural areas - and the need for young people to have a car becomes even less apparent. I never drive in London; congestion is horrendous, there are traffic lights everywhere and the omnipresent buses and taxis seem hell bent on ramming you off the road.

Instead, you can get pretty much anywhere by bus, tube or even communal bicycles. Oyster cards and contactless payments make it hassle-free to travel by public transport. Don’t want to share your private space? Unlock your phone, tap a couple of buttons, and a lovely hybrid vehicle will turn up at your exact spot within minutes from a service like Uber or Wheely.

So it’s not laziness, it’s just that for previous generations, people who were never that fussed about cars still had to get one if they ever wanted to leave the house. These days, if you don’t want to drive then you really don’t have to.

So why does that prove young people still like cars?

I’m Calling BS On All These ‘Young People Don’t Like Cars’ Stories

It doesn’t. What it does is give some context to the generalisations people make about young people and driving. They’re not inherently wrong, but the problem with generalisations is that they tend to ignore vital minorities in any given situation, and in this case, that’s young petrolheads. That’s you guys.

Since the first cars entered mainstream society, a culture erupted around them. These enthusiasts spawned their own niche scenes and interests, from high-powered motorsport race cars to those who enjoyed cruising about slowly in style. And in 2015, our culture is bigger, brighter, and more varied than ever before.

I’m Calling BS On All These ‘Young People Don’t Like Cars’ Stories

I recently wrote about everything I hate about car culture right now, and a large part of it centred around the role social media plays in influencing trends. With that said, it’s done a huge amount to give petrolheads unparalleled access to the people we love, and the cars we aspire to own. For every douchebag revving a Lamborghini in front of an audience of 12-year-olds, there’s a Mighty Car Modder inspiring people to have fun with their cars.

So yes, while the general population’s interest in driving a car might be waning, the enthusiast sector is booming. We see it every day here on our very pages, with knowledgeable CTzens regularly joining us for conversations about cars, new and old.

What does this mean for the future of cars?

The Tesla Model S has some of the most advanced autonomous features available in 2015
The Tesla Model S has some of the most advanced autonomous features…

We’ve all seen the stories about autonomous cars, and how more and more manufacturers are jumping behind this incredible technology. Taking off our petrolhead hats for a moment, it’s easy to see the appeal; the convenience of a car without the hassle of actually driving through traffic, finding a place to park, or sharing your commute with sweaty strangers. The safety benefits are potentially huge as well, with road deaths likely to plummet once the technology takes off.

With most of the population not too fussed about driving anyway, interest in these vehicles will begin to soar, and the investment manufacturers spend on these cars will increase to anticipate demand.

Where does that leave young petrolheads?

Venues such as the Nurburgring will become even more popular
Venues such as the Nurburgring will become even more popular

There’s no denying it, it’s going to become harder and harder to indulge our passion for cars, but it’s not all doom and gloom. For a start, we’re still a few decades away from fully autonomous cars, so the chance of ‘normal’ cars being banned in our lifetimes is fairly unlikely.

Thanks to our wonderful new, technologically connected world, we’re now more knowledgeable than ever about what we love. That means we have more expertise about cars than any other generation has had, which allows us to grow more informed opinions and shape what we’re passionate about accordingly.

Couple that with the fact that as cars become more technologically advanced, those vehicles that bring us closer to the mechanical aspect of driving (with that real feeling of actual, physical parts working together to propel you down the road) have become more and more popular.

More young people will turn to retro cars to get their kicks
More young people will turn to retro cars to get their kicks

A connected community has driven the small number of us to have a loud voice, so it’s easy to see why that’s driven us to a golden age of performance motoring. The likes of the Holy Trinity, the hybrid tech-fest Honda NSX, and even insanely capable front-wheel drive mega hatchbacks have all been born from a renewed enthusiasm for the car scene.

For young petrolheads who make up that small minority of 16 to 20-year-olds excited to get their first car, such vehicles might seem like they’ll never be affordable. But thanks to the fact pretty much all of human knowledge is accessible via the phone in your pocket, it’s easier than ever to find something fun within your budget. That, in turn, encourages the aftermarket, with more and more young petrolheads diving into used car ownership and looking for cost effective ways of getting their kicks.

It also means that the new car scene has begun to shift towards offering affordable, approachable sports cars. The Toyota GT86 and its siblings are arguably the first stage of this, and although many people bemoan its lack of power, few new cars offer the levels of driver involvement coupled to the low running costs those cars provide. The lust for Honda to bring the diminutive S660 to Europe and America is further evidence of this shift in mentality - expect to see more of these cars hit the market over the next decade.

As long as performance cars still exist, I'm happy

Niche manufacturers and fun cars will become the norm
Niche manufacturers and fun cars will become the norm

Well, fortunately, I think you’re going to stay happy. As the number of cars that actually require a driver begins to drop, those that do require a driver will only be bought by enthusiasts. That means a huge market of car enthusiasts being catered for by manufacturers whose sole job is to create cars that are fun to drive, and venues that cater to the kind of driving that’ll become (even more) anti-social will begin to pop up.

So next time you hear people discussing how young people are deserting cars, remember that there are literally millions of us who still love these big, noisy, obnoxious machines. The death of the car isn’t imminent, the industry is just shifting, and young petrolheads will be the ones who see the benefit.

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Comments

CAElite

In my opinion atleast in the UK money is the main factor why young people arnt getting behind the wheel. Insurance mainly which has increased roughly 5 fold in the last 20 years. But also petrol and taxes on the rise. Couple that with the fact that your average young person is poorer than ever relatively. With entry level jobs getting worse and living costs going up your average 20 something really needs to compromise nowadays more than ever.

12/16/2015 - 23:26 |
6 | 2

I don’t know why this is being downvoted, I completely agree. Insurance costs for younger drivers are on the rise and as such, younger petrolheads such as myself are being put off getting cars. For example my car has cost me over £3500 so far (which I saved for ages to bring together), and I can only keep it running with enough money left for food etc with two jobs and a student loan!

12/17/2015 - 01:14 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

whats annoying about this post is that half of it is wrong, imo. i like to drive i sometimes i beg my father so that i can drive that eclipse he has left on the road collecting dust. darren, no you don’t know how teens think based on a “study” you don’t know is true or not. so stop these things and post some stuff that you know are true.

12/16/2015 - 23:29 |
2 | 0
nandee

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

And do you know how teens think, or do you only know how you and your friends think? Sure, everybody here likes to drive and likes cars (why on earth would be on this site if you didn’t?), and someone who loves cars will have at least some friends who also love cars…

12/16/2015 - 23:39 |
0 | 0
ArturoS14

Gotta start the young. That’s all there is.

12/16/2015 - 23:34 |
4 | 0
Dale Wakelin

You need to come to Aberdeen for a car meet, majority of people are early 20s/teens and come in thousands.

12/16/2015 - 23:39 |
0 | 0
shahzeb gondal

this is totally fine with me! more cars for me:)

12/16/2015 - 23:42 |
0 | 0
M A K

We don’t get our license because the effin classes are 200 bucks. I personally can’t afford it and I am 18.

12/16/2015 - 23:45 |
0 | 0
Burger

One of the problems that arises among “Young car enthusiasts”, (I’m talking about in Australia), is that 90% get overwhelmed with the fact they actually have a car, and end completely ruining it with stupid modifications. This ranges from the usual Excel/Micra/Lancer/Yaris/Civic crowd, to the bunch that somehow manage to afford Naturally Aspirated versions of the stereotypical imports such as the Toyota Supra, and the Nissan Skyline and Silvia. God only knows how they can afford to insure these things, and to make it worse, most of them think that Stickers, a Body kit, and Neons make you look cool in the KFC car park. It doesn’t matter what car they have or are given, it’s an almost certain chance that they will have either some stupid form of “Modification”, or be thrashing the hell out of their car. If you spot a P-Plater (License stage after Learner, for those over the pond) in any car that is semi-nice, and isn’t driving like a wanker, take a photo, you won’t see it often. No wonder young drivers in general have a bad reputation. Rant over.

12/16/2015 - 23:53 |
0 | 0
Razz

Please excuse me as i go for a drive to nowhere… you know… just to drive

12/17/2015 - 00:05 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

The reason why young people don’t drive, is because its too f_cking expensive. some people cant afford $300+ a month just to drive

12/17/2015 - 00:12 |
0 | 0
Alex P

Getting a license is a true pain in the a**, which is why I do not have one yet. I don’t ever want to see non-autonomous cars be outlawed, not in my lifetime, not in my great grandchildrens’ lifetime.
I will never stop being a car guy, and I hope non-car weirdos don’t stop us from enjoying what we love. I hate having to be worried about what will happen in the coming years, and thinking about the future that tech people say is so amazing. To me, the future looks terrible for technology and cars. Let’s stay where we are now, there is little need to go further.

12/17/2015 - 00:15 |
0 | 0