Fair enough, but what's an affordable fun car? All the classics have rotted away: and as we all know, it wasn't that long ago that beige V6 Camry's gained the ability to keep up with the best muscle cars, in all but looks.
Also: back in the 60's, 70's, 80's--who was doing the lusting after the cool vehicles? Was it all age groups? Were 60 year olds pining for muscle cars in the late 60's? Or have cool cars been chased after only by select groups of people?
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Trying to think, as I do not partake in many social settings. But in most of them, I can't think of when we talked much about cars, other that to bemoan about them. Just one more thing on a laundry list to complain about.
Some folks like to gripe and complain a lot? I can't help you there.
Who was lusting after cool vehicles? Car guys and gals, all ages. Probably skews younger for lusting for what one cannot obtain. At local shows and drive-ins, I see car folks of all ages. The mustangs, camaros, and firebirds that I loathed in the 90s as new cars seem popular now. Guessing they are cheaper, especially if clapped out a bit. Modern day rat rod.
There have always been those that only want a car to go from A to B, and to spend as little time as possible behind the wheel. That's fine. I try to spend as little time possible cutting grass, trimming shrubs, and raking leaves.
There are plenty of affordable fun cars. I see kids out with 10 or 15 year old VW's and Hondas, or 4x4 pickups that they take to the local off road trail. While not my cup of tea, they are having fun. BMW E30 convertibles never caught the upswing in pricing of the coupes, and they seem to be popular with younger crowd and not expensive.
As for new cars, I think the Toyota GR86/FRS / Subaru BRZ isn't terribly expensive as new cars go. Base model with a manual is $30k. Its a fun drive. I enjoyed the one that I test drove a few months ago.
Go to SCCA, HSR, and whatever vintage racing circuits in your area, assuming there is a track near. Lots of car folks of all ages. Heck even the local drag strip can be interesting. All ages and even families.
I also live where there is no snow and salt. Cars don't rot away, unless they've been parked in a field for 50 years. That may be a big difference in what we are seeing.