News, Cropley on cars: What's the real reason young people don't buy cars? (F150, insurance)

[JD59]

The fact that 'millennials' make up a fast declining proportion of the car-buying public has been bothering car makers for years, more so in recent years because all sales have been in the doldrums.

Marketing types have been wondering whether the recovery – when it came – would involve these people, and whether there was anything they could do to rekindle their interest.

Cropley on cars: What's the real reason young people don't buy cars? | Autocar

[City Guy997S]

This is also crushing sales for ATVs, jet skis, boats, etc.....if kids won't buy a car this other stuff is going to suffer also!

I know of several kids that never even got their license until years after their 16th birthday!

[Electrician4you]

They live at home more and if they have a buddy with a car, have a SO that has a car or borrow moms when they need to get somewhere why bother buying a car.

[Hemlock140]

Despite the overall decline, there are still areas with plenty of kids driving. Here for example, we have 3 high schools within 3 miles of each other. Those parking lots are packed, and they are fairly late model or new cars.

[theother]

Not enough money?

[HollaGeo]

B.s.

[mustang84]

Maybe it's just where I live, but I only know 2 millennials that don't own cars and either walk, bike, or use public transportation to get to work. I also know a surprising amount that drive new or newer cars (1-3 years old).

I'd wager that some of this shift is demographics; millennials are moving to urban centers of large cities where ownership of a car is prohibitively expensive. The rest is probably the economy and high student loan debt. But, I'd disagree with the generalizations that young people don't want anything to do with cars because they can Skype, Facebook, or Tweet one another - go on Facebook and look at all the millennials that post on the automakers pages, or YouTube.

[d4g4m]

Kind of difficult to buy a car when you're not working. If they are working, they are not making enough money to purchase a new car, a used car, register the car, if they are under 25, they pay through the nose for insurance, Gas at $4 a gal, repair parts are expensive, labor to fix is outrageous.
A lot are still living with parents, so use Mom's car and gas.

[stilldriveem]

Originally Posted by d4g4m

Kind of difficult to buy a car when you're not working. If they are working, they are not making enough money to purchase a new car, a used car, register the car, if they are under 25, they pay through the nose for insurance, Gas at $4 a gal, repair parts are expensive, labor to fix is outrageous.
A lot are still living with parents, so use Mom's car and gas.

I know when I bought my first new vehicle in late December 86 when I was 20 (a 87 F150) I worked three jobs to make the 265 monthly payment and I was living at home. Of course minimum wage was only 3.35 back then. And I still couldn't hold onto it. Dad traded it and his 81 F100 in on a new 88 Suburban. I can't imagine any kid today wanting to work that much. So I'm sure expense has a LOT to do with it.

[IonRedline08]

It is difficult to afford a car.

My first car, in 97, was an 83 Plymouth Reliant that I paid maybe 300 bucks for, ran decently for a year or so.

Now, I couldn't imagine that it is feasibly possible to purchase a car for that little that will run.. Used cars are expensive now, even clunkers.

Factor in insurance, which, even for liability alone for a Teenager is probably at least 100 a month, if not more, plus the gas, maintenance (which they probably can't afford).. etc. Also, remember, many states have made it harder for teens to get their licenses with expensive schools, additional road time, restrictions, etc, that make it that much more difficult.