Our daughter couldn't wait to get her learners permit at 15. She saw freedom and having fun. We saw nightmares and heartburn, but all has turned out well. She'll be 17 in January and she's done well to date.
Our son just turned 15 and has just asked about getting his learners permit. I picked up the book just the other day, but he's yet to crack it or ask me to take him driving. He has ZERO interest in cars as well.
It's a mode of transportation.
I couldn't wait to drive a car when I was 16, being a car nut all my life and helping the kid across the street work on his corvair and Jeep for several years. I bought a 70 Triumph GT6+ and then a 69 TR6 by the time I was 17 or 18. Now, it seems what I consider to be a cool beater costs way to much, but they are sporty, comfortable, have power everything and cold AC.