Interesting stat for youth on vehicles

[rjundi]

46% youth 18-24 would choose Internet/Smartphones over owning car in Gartner survey.

IMHO a good thing but not for auto industry.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/a-teenage-question-a-car-or-a-smartphone/

Also less folks under 18 have their license than years before. A really good thing as they are awful drivers as a group.

 

[jcwit]

Best news I've heard in a long time.

 

[Shannow]

Now that it's stated, it's pretty true.

My nephew is learning to drive, and it's more like a chore to him than exciting.

Guess that's what happens when you are chauffeured everywhere by Mum and Grandparents and never had to make appointments and stuff on busses/bikes.

 

[acceptablename]

I'm 18-24. I'd much rather have my phone than a car. I really depend on it.


jk. This is me:

 

[charmicarmicat]

I remember reading an article not long ago that shows that annual miles driven has been falling over the last 10 years. This is spectacularly good news as most climate change / oil reserve forecasts are based on AMD increasing or remaining steady.

FWIW in my group of friends, who are mostly 20-30, probably about 30% don't own cars. None of them are too poor to own cars. They just don't think it's worth the hassle.

I kind of feel the same way. I love driving and working on cars, I just hate driving somewhere. Commuting and stuff is best left to motorcycles and bicycles I feel

Although I would definitely rather have a car vs my phone. My phone is mostly there so my girlfriend/parents/relatives can hassle me. If it disappeared I think I'd probably be happier

 

[eljefino]

This is terrible news for society! If people don't want cars they don't want to travel. They don't want to socialize (in person) and won't have the will to breed!

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
[...] won't have the will to breed!


Where's the problem?

 

[pzev]

Originally Posted By: cchase
Originally Posted By: eljefino
[...] won't have the will to breed!


Where's the problem?

Agreed!!!!

 

[MrHorspwer]

Edmunds Inside Line recently had an article about the youth's indifference towards cars.

http://www.insideline.com/features/do-kids-hate-cars.html

 

[jeepman3071]

I'm 21. I'd take a car any day over my iphone. I'm also different than most though. I don't have a facebook, I had my first job when I was 10 working on a farm, and got my license as soon as I could. I have many college friends who are 18-24 and don't have a job or license. Their parents do everything for them.

 

[rjundi]

With today's fuel prices, used car prices, and insurance costs I can understand why the aversion.

In college I had a car my parents let me use(AMC Eagle). With the exception of ski season it sat in a remote school lot.

 

[antiqueshell]

The problem is when you factor in the costs they are becoming too expensive for young folks to maintain...insurance, inspections, repairs, ect...a few decades ago the number of things needed were fairly reasonable and the costs were within reach, now not really.

This is a notice to the auto industry that you need to make your entry level cars much more affordable too.

 

[Shannow]

They are...Cherry down here is $13k or therabouts...people are buying them for their kids rather than second hand.

 

[modularv8]

When I was a kid it was exciting to drive the tractor on the ranch, then a car when I was 16 yrs old. I couldn't wait to drive. I think today's kids have a much higher threshold for excitement because of the high stimulation that electronics provide. A car to them would be boring. Alot of them grow up playing video games, so playing outside a game of tag, etc would also be boring. In a way, they are brain-damaged from chronic use of these devices. It is also difficult for these same kids to have a normal conversation without reverting back to their phones, video games, or something related to the Internet.

 

[yesthatsteve]

My oldest has been old enough for a permit since November, but really has no interest. I even offered her a car (donated it instead). I thought I understood her pretty well...until this.

 

[01rangerxl]

I think it's great for now, but what about when they have jobs and have to commute? Will they be even worse drivers because they didn't learn the hard lessons early on? If they think the phone is more important than the car, and driving the car is boring to them, obviously they won't be paying attention to everyone else. I think it's a scarey prospect we will have to share the interstate with them one day during rush hour. Hopefully public transit improves around here.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
This is terrible news for society! If people don't want cars they don't want to travel. They don't want to socialize (in person) and won't have the will to breed!

Right, and its precisely what Obama and his ilk want; i.e. to force us out of our cars and onto bikes, scooters, or mass transit, just like all the other third world basket cases.

But not for them of course, they're not about to give up their limos, Escalades and luxury european imports.

 

[Colt45ws]

My brother is this way. I dont understand it. I was chomping at the bit to get my permit.

 

[rjundi]

The twenty something's at my medium sized tech company mostly live nearby and don't drive. There was a huge outcry when our owner thought of relocating an office park in middle of no where with easier parking and cheaper rent.

We determined it was not worth moving as our location was attracting top talent. I am an odd ball who works from home 98% of the time.

 

[johnachak]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
They are...Cherry down here is $13k or therabouts...people are buying them for their kids rather than second hand.


Cherry?