http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39970363/ns/business-autos/

"Meet Natalie McVeigh, the auto industry’s latest headache.
At 25 years old, McVeigh lives in Denver and has two good jobs, as a research analyst and an adjunct professor of philosophy. What she doesn’t have — or want — is a car.
A confluence of events — environmental worries, a preference for gadgets over wheels and the yearslong economic doldrums — is pushing some teens and twentysomethings to opt out of what has traditionally been considered an American rite of passage: Owning a car...."




I've seen this more and more now-a-days. Whenever I talk to neighbors, friends, or my daughters and their friends it seems to me that the allure of driving a cool car is fading for today's youth.

I noticed this at a chip company I worked at a decade ago, out of the 30+ engineering college interns that worked there only a couple had any real interest in cars. The rest viewed them as just appliances to get them to class/work/happy hour/and other activities. Most had other interests (bicycling, partying, travel,...) but cars were not it.

 

The passion is still there. People my age are into cars. It just gets difficult when fuel prices rise, we can't find jobs after college, etc.

Our generation has a shit load of headaches. I feel like everyone I know from 22-32 is in some type of quarter life crisis......... So a car doesn't sit on our priority list as it did for previous generations.

 

I can't stand the thought of not having a car... at least, not having one that I cared about. I just love driving, period. I even noticed yesterday, just driving home on the freeway with the windows halfway down and music pretty loud seemed to brighten up my day. And this wasn't even in my "fun" car.

 

There is no problem. People still want and love cars.

There are a few misfits that don't, but America still has a passion for the automobile.

 

One thing that sticks in my mind is a neighbor's son who has a pretty nice setup in their basement with a high end PC with great graphics card, a drivers seat, steering wheel, pedals, a couple 24" monitors and a 50" HDTV they also use as a monitor. He and his friends play Gran Turismo and other games. I asked him last time I was there if he wanted to get a EVO or WRX like he drives on the game. He said no, he's watched some of his friends get into real cars and said with all the costs, insurance, and dealing with no where to drive them and really have fun and push the limit. In addition he said watching other classmate's deal with the real law (not the Grand Theft Auto law) also dissuades him. Today I just don't the high school kid's interest in cars that I saw when I was in high school.

 

The interest is still there, these geeks you refer to were the same who played Dungeons and Dragons in their mom's basement a generation ago. I wouldn't worry.

 

A car is no longer a necessity in many parts of North America, so the majority of people who own them do because they want to own a car, not necessarily need it. Public transit is convenient for most people, as well as much cheaper. Those who want to put up with the costs of owning a car do it because they enjoy cars and driving.

My point is that the number of car owners is probably down, but the number of car enthusiasts isn't.

 

You clearly have not been to California.

 

I've been to Toronto, I have relatives there including my brother. Congratulations on proper urban planning and mass transit.

Having said that I think you need to leave the Toronto area and see the rest of the continent. You'd change your mind quickly regarding the necessity of a vehicle.

 

No offense but....Your neighbors son is a basement-living freak, who needs to find a life outside of the "virtual" basement world, and experience life in the actual world.

 

This.

 

So maybe he should just get a "normal" high school car and not some junior supercar at 16 years old. And FWIW, dealing with the "real law" is not an issue if you're obeying it.

Sounds to me that this kid needs to get unplugged, out of the basement, and into the real world ASAP...

All the kids I know can't wait to get their first car, whether it's a newer car or 1990-something Accord or whatever. They can't wait. Maybe it's just where you live?

 

There are probably eight cities in the United States where it's "not necessary" to own a car.

The rest of the country does not have the means of transportation to provide any sort of quality experience.

Unless of course, they think that ZipCar != using a car.

 

Actually the kid also plays defense for the varsity football team for the best high school in the county. I do see him outside on occasion, it's just he has no interest in real world cars

 

Edit: I thought they were called Millennials now?

 

In Houston, everything is so widespread and not to mention that its freakin HOT here. People are just not willing to walk.

We do have a pretty big car scene here. from riced out civics to high end automobiles.
Heck, we didn't even feel the recession.

 

i'm not sure i completely agree ... i know a lot of people my age who are crazy about cars ... myself included

 

Well "cool cars" are becoming less and less affordable with every passing year. Throw in high gas prices and, huge recession causing a glut of college grads who struggle to find a job that pays more than squat, and nothing would surprise me.

 

You need to return again, clearly your impression is erroneous. I'll buy the first beer. But we have to leave the bar at 12:30 cause the subway closes at 1 mmmmkay.

 

to what the dougler said.

In downtown Toronto, you need to NOT have a car. It's impossible to find parking/move in traffic there. Go north a bit and it's the complete opposite. It's like whoever was designing the TTC (our mass transit system), just gave up halfway through.

I can't think of any other reason why this number would be going down If these people needed a car, they'd have one.

 

^ Sounds a lot like downtown Vancouver. It's a pain in the ass dealing with all the one-way streets and expensive parking.

 

Vancouver BC and stick shifts cars dont mix. I use to go there a lot and hated driving a stick there. And dont get me started about making a left turn on Kingways, Oak, Hasting. You block everyone cause there is no left turn lane.

 

i can not imagine living without a car but if you f up your record and then your prices goes way up like 600-700$ a month for liabilty for one car it comes to mind if its really worth to pay that high prices ? in some states (NJ) the insurance rates are ridiculusly high... paying for rent bills gas insurance and loan whats left ? not much.

 

Life is about entertainment so I rather drive everyday as oppose to a subway, bus. I did it before in NYC and it felt like prison cause youre limited.

 

I could never imagine living without a car.
i've never rode a bus since i got my drivers license, and i started working at 14, so i could afford my first car myself.
there are a lot of people that look at cars like appliances though, i think it's mainly due to the prices of everything, makes being a car person very expensive sometimes

 

I love cars and driving but will be a really happy guy when Chekov can just beam me somewhere instantly... Also, I would like to be able to email packages...

 

 

Owning a car is expensive when gas and insurance are added to the equation. Millenials are out of jobs by the millions. Thus, no car. Why is this news again to the media?

Around Cleveland, public transport is ok if you live conveniently to a line and it goes pretty far out. In fact, a few years ago our system was pronounced the best in the country if you can believe that. The main disadvatage is how long it takes to get anywhere on the bus, which is why I don't do it.

 

see, I solved that problem by simply living IN DT, so I can just walk anywhere (Yaletown to be exact). but I need to go further (like Richmond), I'll drive...


but seriously... I fucking hate paying for parking, it's one of those pet peeves of mine...

Like DT Costco... it's $2 per visit (to park)... if I go there every other week... that's 26 times a year x $2=$52 -the cost of membership. I'll go to the one in Richmond if I happen to be near it... but I ain't going out of my way to drive to Richmond to save $2 worth of parking either

 

people still want cars. it's just an anomaly not a statistic. fckng moron reporters.

 

ummmm....