Younger Just Not Interested in Buying Cars

[KNS]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/business/media/to-draw-reluctant-young-buyers-gm-turns-to-mtv.html?src=me&ref=business

Interesting story in the NY times about young people not interested in cars today, I understand this is happening in Japan as well and is a big concern for the automakers. The comments are also interesting...

Oops, messed up the title...

[Rot 911]

Wow, the comments are surprisingly well thought out for the most part.

[oldE]

What I found interesting about the article was GM's attempts to understand the market and bring in features and colors which 'fit in' with young people's lifestyles.

The thing they didn't 'get' was the automobile doesn't 'fit' the lifestyle nor the expectations. Roads in urban areas are crowded. They no longer represent "freedom" in the way they did three or five decades ago.

You might as well offer a young person a desk phone with a cord attached to the wall. You can dress it up with a bazillion features and colors, but it is still attached to the wall.

The product does not meet expectations. It is easier to take the bus and watch your device at the same time.

Best
Les

[recycled sixtie]

GM in my opinion just does not build excitement into their cars with the possible exception of the Camaro and Corvette. GM just does not get it. Why do many of us like imported cars? Because they have the capability of building excitement into their cars. Examples are: Mazda(partly Ford owned), VW, Porsche BMW. This is not an anti American stand on my part. I just like smallish fun to drive cars! I understand the buy American slogan but many "foreign" cars are built in the US anyway. No floaty boat type cars for this driver.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

GM in my opinion just does not build excitement into their cars with the possible exception of the Camaro and Corvette. GM just does not get it. Why do many of us like imported cars? Because they have the capability of building excitement into their cars. Examples are: Mazda(partly Ford owned), VW, Porsche BMW. This is not an anti American stand on my part. I just like smallish fun to drive cars! I understand the buy American slogan but many "foreign" cars are built in the US anyway. No floaty boat type cars for this driver.

I think you need to go to a couple dealerships and drive the Chevy Sonic or Ford Fiesta (very small car, like Mazda 2 or Honda Fit), Chevy Cruze or Ford Focus (like Mazda 3 or Honda Civic) and tell us your opinion.

Of course BMW and Porsche will be more exciting. They're also significantly more expensive. Although I'd take a Cadillac CTS-V over any BMW, any day. And for the same money, I'd take a Corvette Z06/Z07 Carbon over a 911.

[Jim Richards]

Great subject! My son, a Dr. in his mid-30's, has never been interested in cars. They are just a necessity he deals with. His car is 12 years old, and it was given to him by us when he was in his residency. He's in no hurry to replace it; it gets good gas mileage and his surf board fits inside. He told me his next car will need to meet those same criteria, but he's not going to look for a car until he absolutely has to. I don't think the concepts of "building excitement" or "fun to drive" would register in his mind. To him, driving a car is generally a PITA.

[emcon5]

The strategy is to infuse General Motors with the same insights that made MTV reality shows like “Jersey Shore” and “Teen Mom” breakout hits.

So their target demographic is morons? Hard to go wrong with that.

[Noah930]

Sweet. Less traffic with which to contend.

[Jim Richards]

You're a glass-half-full kind of guy, Noah! Excellent!

[GH85Carrera]

I saw one survey that most high school kids would rather have to pay for an internet connection over a car payment. That is one reason many car makers are building internet and gadget connections into a car.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by kaisen

I think you need to go to a couple dealerships and drive the Chevy Sonic or Ford Fiesta (very small car, like Mazda 2 or Honda Fit), Chevy Cruze or Ford Focus (like Mazda 3 or Honda Civic) and tell us your opinion.

Of course BMW and Porsche will be more exciting. They're also significantly more expensive. Although I'd take a Cadillac CTS-V over any BMW, any day. And for the same money, I'd take a Corvette Z06/Z07 Carbon over a 911.

I am not one to criticize what others drive. That is of course their choice. If you like a Cadillac, go for it. I have owned GM products in the past. They were okay. We have a Camry. It is reliable but not exciting. My neighbor's Dad is 84 and he enjoys driving his new VW Jetta 5 cyl. over his previous Toyota Corolla and I can understand that.
Some people don't need exciting cars and are happy with plain old transportation. I am not happy with plain. Nor is my 84 year old friend. He still enjoys driving.

[Jim Richards]

Sixtie, the discussion is centered about "younger people," and their attitude about buying cars. I can see that the manufacturers need to address changing attitudes of these young people, as they represent the next few decades of potential customers. With higher gas prices, increased traffic congestion, and the explosion of internet-based social networking environments, the desire for and the relative importance of automobiles may be diminishing. How do manufacturers adapt?

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

GM in my opinion just does not build excitement into their cars...... GM just does not get it. Why do many of us like imported cars? Because they have the capability of building excitement into their cars.

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

We have a Camry. It is reliable but not exciting..... I am not happy with plain.

Jeez, now I'm really confused

Also confused because a Chevy Sonic is more "exciting" to drive than a Toyota Yaris, and a Chevy Cruze is more exciting than a Toyota Corolla, yet you espouse the Toyotas and shun the GMs?

If you think GMs aren't "exciting to drive" you need to get into a dealership and drive a few. Reminiscing about eighties GMs or nineties VWs doesn't say much about today's cars.

BTW, the "all new" VW Jetta has been universally criticized for being a soul-less plain-vanilla shell of what VW was once known for. VW is trying to be #1 automaker in the world, and that means the Jetta needs to be high-volume, ala Camry. So it is flaccid and cheap.

You need to get out more

[asphaltgambler]

I saw an article along these lines a few months back. Some recent studies were done on your average American teenager ages 14-16 concerning their hopes, priorities, ambitions. For the first time since the 1950's obtaining a drivers license was NOT at the top. In fact it was several notches down. So I would imagine the desire to also buy a car or truck is also down on today's teenagers list.

[Jim Richards]

When I read the NYT article, the author wrote about the new colors to attract younger buyers. That seems like a pretty half-assed solution to me. Something easier to drive/park in congested environments, and with much better fuel economy would be good. And it would have to support a high degree of (data/voice) connectivity for the driver and passengers. It needs 21st century capabilities consistent with what younger drivers have when they're sitting on their butts at home.

[bell]

The bigger picture odds why cars brought us freedom in the past.........we had no cell phones and internet making us actually be sociable....
The younger people simply have to much access to the electronic age......take away those tips and every kid would need a car....

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Sixtie, the discussion is centered about "younger people," and their attitude about buying cars. I can see that the manufacturers need to address changing attitudes of these young people, as they represent the next few decades of potential customers. With higher gas prices, increased traffic congestion, and the explosion of internet-based social networking environments, the desire for and the relative importance of automobiles may be diminishing. How do manufacturers adapt?

My best friend has a 20 year old and a 16 year old, and they had to PRACTICALLY cram a drivers license and car into the hands of the older one.

The younger one just doesn't give a schit- he don't care if he's on a bus.

When I was growing up I was shopping for cars by 14..... Couldn't shut me up about it.

My how things have changed.

[GWN7]

A friend of my son has no car. He had one 3 years ago and got rid of it. I asked him why? He said I don't know how to fix it so I have to take it to someone who does. I can't drive it to work (no parking ...there is but it's too expensive - downtown). It's a extra expense that I can't afford. So he rides his bike (exercise) everywhere and takes the bus to work. I asked him about getting things...his answer is if I buy anything the stores will deliver. He borrows a car every once in awhile to buy bulky grocery items.

I think he's weird

[RANDY P]

Ya know the other big reason for owning a car when you are younger?

Trips and Girls - going places, doing things and chicks. - it's sad that kids these days live in a virtual world- they don't have a sense of real adventure it seems.

WTF are you gonna do when without the internet? Or you want to go on a date?

[Rick Lee]

I can't imagine a DL not being THE top priority for teenagers. Even if getting laid is higher up, having a ride make it easier to get laid. Those were the two things I cared about when I was a teenager. In fact, my then GF was six mos. older than me and thus could get her license that much sooner. Her folks wouldn't let her get her license, probably to keep us apart a bit more. My folks pretended to not want me to have a car for the same reason. But the convenience to them of having me be able to drive myself and my sister to school and work was just too great. I turned 17 as an exchange student in Germany. I came back to the US five weeks later on a Saturday, got my license on Monday morning.