Why aren't kids interested in old cars?

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44) 07/03/2014 at 19:03 • Filed to: None

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My big Chrysler draws a crowd wherever I park it in Toronto. I always walk out to a cloud of people standing around it talking and taking pictures of it. But none of these people are ever under the age of 20. I remember cars fascinating me from my earliest memories. Has the magic gone?

I think "kids" aged 14 to 19 are undeniably less interested in cars that they were 20 years ago. And there are a few reasons why I think that is.

Too many stifling parents: Parents see old cars as leaky and dangerous (cause they kinda are) and most faint of the idea of their son hopping into a 40-year-old car. My parents just never cared. It was considered to be my money and my decision. I drove whatever I wanted to.

Lack of initiative from kids: My highschool had two kids that actually rebuilt their cars and respect them greatly for it. But someone young buying a car and really tearing it down and working on seems to be a rare thing today. Most seem to not care about simply driving mom's minivan through highschool.

I probably sound old and crotchety but I'm just 22 myself and I can't imagine living without some useless but cool classic in my garage. Am I off my rocker here? Am I imagining things? What do you guys think?

PS Bandit, I have a huge amount of respect for you restoring and maintaining a (bitchin') classic.

Brian Silvestro > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:06

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Parents see old cars as leaky and dangerous (cause they kinda are) and most faint of the idea of their son hopping into a 40-year-old car. My parents just never cared. It was considered to be my money and my decision. I drove whatever I wanted to.

This is why I'm not driving an Alfa Romeo right now.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:07

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Here it's a status thing to have newer cars (our registration plates indicate the year the car was built) so that's a big part of it. Then I think people just amuse themselves with things other than working on a car.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:09

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I fall into the age category you're talking about, and I love old cars. I wouldn't want to DD one, but I still love them.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:11

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You're right. At least before, some kids would look over Motor Trend and memorize specs sheets because their parents didn't support the interest. Now, I rarely see that. I've driven my 1985 C4 very little, and while it's not the most desirable vette it got about 0 looks as I drove behind a Model S everyone pointed at. Not even the burble of a V8, smell of gas, or an obnoxious red, low car will get attention next to a silent sedan that could be the next Camry, but that's what I like about the C4. No one gives a shit it's there.

By the way, at my high school absolutely no one else cared about cars. A really big school, too.

Decay buys too many beaters > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:12

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Why do old people always overgeneralize about my generation?! (just kidding I saw that you are actually 22) But, yes you are very correct, people on average are less interested in cars in general today no matter how much we enthusiasts like to think otherwise.

Personally, I just buy enough vehicles to make up for all those uninterested souls, and If it means I'm not fighting a bunch of high schoolers over buying a cheap interesting cars, I'm happy.

Soloburrito > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:15

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Kids are still plenty interested in cars, but I'd say mostly from their era.

I remember getting out of my Mustang once and a couple of kids on their bikes stopped to gawk. One asked me "is that a Shelby?"

Well that wiped the smirk off my face. They rode away disappointed when I said it wasn't.

Moral of the story: kids are little shits.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/03/2014 at 19:17

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Honest question: Is it a cost consideration or are you worried about unreliability hassles?

Louros > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:23

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Why are internet commenters so concerned about what other people are doing with regard to cars?

If you like old cars, buy old cars. Stop worrying about what other people are doing.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:24

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I'm smack in the middle of that age group, and I love old cars. Love them. I'd kill to find an old Camaro or Firebird cheap and DD it.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Soloburrito 07/03/2014 at 19:26

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Every time I come back from the Carlisle Ford Nationals in June I remember just how much I want a '65 or '66 Mustang fastback...

I don't want a Shelby. I also don't want something that's been pampered or restored to stock... Well to be fair I want a stock look interior (console delete option, please), but I would like something that I would not be angry at myself for modifying the drivetrain on.

Manuél Ferrari > Brian Silvestro 07/03/2014 at 19:28

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Man it's gonna suck when that GTV you could have bought is worth twice as much in 5 years!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:33

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It is neither of those. My car is more expensive to maintain and has more potential for problems than any old car. It is partially due to the comfort and convenience of a new car (a lot of little downsides to owning an old car) and mostly due to the safety: old cars are nowhere near as safe as new ones.

Brian Silvestro > Manuél Ferrari 07/03/2014 at 19:33

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There is no god.

Nibbles > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:34

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Lol - sorry, huehuehue - it's articles like this that remind me I'm not a young'n any more :|

lone_liberal > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:37

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I'm old so I don't really know but could it be that it's because there are so many other things constantly vying for their attention? When I was a teen a car was the ultimate possession. Before we could buy them we read the magazines and argues about which was better and was insanely jealous of those who had a car. Then when we finally got one to call our own we lavished attention and every penny we had on it. A car meant that you could go visit your friends or take off to wherever you had enough gas to go to. You didn't have to be isolated. Now nobody is ever isolated.

jack > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:41

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I am also in that age group also living in Toronto I can say that most all my friends would never even consider driving anything under a 5 year old car

I think it's mostly a combanation of they would never be seen in a beater plus reliability issues

I my self just bought the newest car I ever owned it's a 00

daender > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 19:46

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Because parents don't know when to show their kids Bullitt .

T5Killer > jack 07/03/2014 at 19:57

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I think you hit upon something as well. The area in which you live. Come out here to the Southwest US and tons of young folks love and are driving classics. When I was in the car parts business you wouldn't believe how many of my customers during the summer were folks under 25 that were restoring classic cars (mostly '60s Impalas '70s trucks and '60 Mustangs)

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 20:09

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When I bought my car I was 17 and it was my DD. My mother still tells me she let me buy my car even though it was with my money. I think the problem is partially the parents. It could start at a young age when they recall the bad of older cars, or they get the new car and talk about all the goodies compared to the last one that was only 5 years old. Sure the old cars are outdated (tech wise) but I'd much rather my child be attentive and enjoying themselves. They're not as safe, but when you drive an older car, I find people don't drive as close and when you drive a manual, you are much more observant. Plus, visibility is 1000 times better. Lane departure systems my ass. Watch the road and look in your mirror ya lazy bum (not you, just ranting).

But, among all issues, I think kids our age are too lazy. There are much better things to do on the internet or wherever else, than to find out how things work and create a lifelong bond between man and machine. No, that would take effort, sacrifice, and patience. Why would anyone want that. Well, when I pass you revving out third gear, you'll have a glimpse of what it's worth. When I'm at a light, I see people's reaction that someone so young is driving an old car. Shocking. It shouldn't be.

PheeNoIVI > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 21:04

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Me personally, I like old cars, not all, but many. I just don't really rally ant to buy one because of all the learning I'd have to do and how much sitting the car would do from me not being able to fix it

djmt1 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 21:23

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Because when I loaded Need for Speed (insert tagline) I looked to drive either a Fast and Furious tuner or a Top Gear exotic. Muscle cars were basically N64s in a room with Xbox 360s and PlayStation 3s.

catkam623 misses his 944 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 22:05

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Well I'm 16 so I believe I fall squarely into that category and I'll try and restore some of your faith. I DD a Porsche 944 that I bought with my own cash 2 years ago. The only reason it wasn't a 60s mustang, firebird, cutlass, or any of the other classics I constantly dream about including that running, primered chevelle that was just barely out of my budget; was that they were all out of my budget. Regardless this car may very well be the newest car I will ever own with my sights set on a spitfire for my next car. While I may be more extreme than others, I still see my friends at my local cars and coffee and we car spot and talk about dream cars on a regular basis most of these being classics. This is not restrained to a single gender and I would say about a three quarters of my school is interested in cars to some degree. The reason why none of us drive anything interesting has less to do with interest and more to do with our lack of money anything classic has been priced out of our budget and many of our parents are the ones making final decisions since so few of us have jobs or even money to spend. Not paying attention to the car itself may have more to do with so many things vying for our attention and the self consciousness that doesn't allow you to stop and examine things like that.

bhardoin > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 22:14

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I haven't experienced that. I'm bought my 71 Z when I was 20, and I think its been pretty unanimously well received - though most of my friends consider it a deathtrap.

jack > T5Killer 07/03/2014 at 22:22

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totally agree here in the city all I see is suvs and beige mobiles

When I drive out to the country side I always see a cool classic for sale on somebody's front yard

Ellington1899 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/03/2014 at 22:50

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I fall right in that age group. I currently drive a 1998 Dodge Stratus, but plan on (and am financially capable of) getting a 1974-1976 Cadillac Fleetwood. My first move would be to rebuild the 500 c.i. motor at some point, bringing it up from 190 hp to the pre-malaise 375hp. But otherwise, you are completely right about the attitudes of millenials in general. At my school, there are 3 types of vehicles - F150s, E90s, and Grand Caravans.

Unfortunately, complete automotive apathy. But hey, if that makes my Caddy cheaper, then so be it!

(Not my car, of course... yet)

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/04/2014 at 01:08

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I know at least 6 people who have bought old cars an are about 16-18. 5 of them DD them to school! I'm luck in the fact that my school has quite a bit of gearheads, and a good number of people know how to wrench on their own stuff. A friend of mine, kevin, has been working on his MR2, trying to get it working, since last winter!

Jobjoris > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/04/2014 at 04:55

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Your 'lack of initiative from kids' could come from the fact that todays cars are not as self-maintainable as the cars of the 80's and earlier were. The chance of meeting/seeing someone who does it's own maintenance is getting zero. If I look at my own 2002 and how relatively easy all can be replaced/swapped: I can't imagine how that would be with an E92.

And don't forget the 'green lobby', at least that's what happened in Europe: Cars are bad and tear down forrests, kill the cutests furry little animals and stuff.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power 07/04/2014 at 07:11

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Stuff like this makes me happy

Jedidiah > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/04/2014 at 16:09

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I drive my 72 Cutlass that I restored nearly everyday and I'm 19. I don't understand it either.

If they are interested in cars, alot of people seem to think that owning an old car is expensive and difficult, which is not true. A total restoration is difficult and expensive, but owning one is not.

I tell them that it is not impossible; I fixed everything on my Cutlass with just hand tools. Owning an old car is significantly easier than restoring one, but they are worried that they don't know enough to fix one if it does break. I tell them that I didn't know anything either; if you want to learn how to do something—read. Anything you could possibly want to learn about fixing cars is online.

They seem to have a lack of initiative; they would like to have an old car, but they don't want to do work or spend money, which I don't understand. Oldsmobile has been out of business for nearly a decade and my car is 42 years old and parts are very reasonably priced. Gas milage isn't too expensive—you're a teenager, what can you possibly do to rake up extremely high miles on a car? It's not like you're doing anything important that merits driving long distances every day. Personally, I'd rather own the car than worry about gas. You get so much more satisfaction out a gallon of gas in an old car than a gallon of gas in some new plastic shitbox.

Old cars are better value for money too. You can get a fantastic amount of comfort and style with an old car than you can with a newer one. Wouldn't you want to drive a more comfortable and stylish car anyway?

Working on old cars is simple too. They don't need special tools for regular maintenance; only major repairs require specials tools (that you can rent cheaply). There is generally well documented repair procedures online and in manuals. They have no computers or fancy electronics to go wrong.

Truthfully, I think us young people are just lazy and want everything now without having to pay anything.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Jedidiah 07/04/2014 at 19:47

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You nailed it. pics of Cutlass?

Jedidiah > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/05/2014 at 01:04

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Cutlass Pictures

I bought for $100 and drove it home. Cheap old cars are out there; you just have to be persistant when you're looking for them.

Recent Pic

in 2010:

Izzy Curiel > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/05/2014 at 15:44

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I think it has a lot to do with how less driven each generation gets. If something breaks on an old car you either fix it or make it (ordering is almost always a last resort), but with the popularity of late 90's and early 2000's japanese vehicles along with the growth of cheap aftermarket parts, a fix is just one bid on ebay away.

I myself am 24 and DD my 64 Nova Wagon and if im running late to work might take my 96 Vette. Before that I had my 86 rickshaw Boss Bronco.

So to answer your question, deffinitely easier to just own a "newer" car because RaceCar.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/09/2014 at 14:13

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I rebuilt my first truck, I started on it when I was 14. My dad (mechanic) bought a 88 blazer with a blown motor for 500 bucks and we rebuilt it. Great experience. So yeah I was one of those guys in high school, haha.

My little brother in law (15) is coming to spend the weekend with me so he can join me riding in the Montego during the car cruise on Saturday. He's crazy about the Montego and wants to drive it desperately. He's asked his parents for a project car plenty of times. They just don't have the $$ for him to have a second car as a toy, and frankly he's probably not responsible enough for anything fast (like a cheap fox body or something).

Maybe he's the exception to the rule, but the kid is pretty crazy about cars - always has been.