Jump to content
Create New...

Industry News: Study: Gen Y Wants Cars... When They Can Afford Them


Recommended Posts

So, in essence, what we're advocating here is, stupid Josh and Emily would rather have their face in an electronic device than drive. So... instead of enforcing distracted driving laws, we throw up our hands and say "you know what, we're so sorry we tried to get your face out of your electronic device. You've been right all along, here's a FREAKING SELF DRIVING CAR!"

Luuuuuuudicrous!!! :rolleyes:

  • Disagree 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Easy tiger, it wasn't directed at you so don't take it personally. I know you know how to work on cars. However, when a guy comes in wanting to use fuel line to replace his leaking brake lines, or someone calls you up asking if its ok to disconnect the rear lines and drive 45 minutes on a busy highway, its not "looking down", its a road hazard. You shouldn't be working on your car if you're 1.) Don't understand how the components work but proceed to argue with the people that do and 2.) Aren't going to fix it properly.

I know how to work on cars now. I didn't decades ago. Sure, I gophered for Dad when he pulled engines and transmissions, but I was a kid with a typical short attention span.

If someone is so stupid to not understand that without brakes, you can't stop the car, what is to stop them from getting in a car and not know what pedal to press to stop the car? One reason so many people lack common sense is because they don't have practice using common sense. You have to learn somewhere... and in 2014, you can put in a few keywords in Youtube and watch someone do the repair and give you precautions on what NOT to do.

My buddy who is slowly retiring from a lifetime patching radiators, complains because he loses business to this. A few weeks ago, a mid-50s woman with a Taurus wanted a radiator replaced... but scoffed at the labor. So she ordered it though him and she installed it herself... it was her first car repair ever!

But none of what you did is out of love for cars, it was about survival, which is an entirely different motivator.

It was survival... but I had a love of cars, too. I dreamed of having the cool, restored musclecar. I wasn't happy to watch my quasi-musclecar first car fall into worse and worse disrepair... actually, it was absolutely heart wrenching.

The disconnect is get from point A (wanting) to point B (having)... and this disconnect is what Gen Y is glossing over.

The mechanical victories, however small, still felt good. It was nice when the car ran good... even if it looked like hell.

This thread is about a generation who has decided they can live without a car until which point they are not limited to $800 basket cases. It is true that the price of cars, even used ones, has gone up while wages have remained stagnant.

Seriously, who is the wiser, the old fogey (who still has his wits) or the teenager? My grandfather used to lament that by the time you figured out the world, and accumulated the things you needed to do what you wanted to do, you were too old to benefit from them. I'm not sure it always applies, but I can definitely see where he was coming from.

I'm not an old fogey (regardless of what you young guys read into this), but I know a few things besides cars... and I seriously question how Gen Y is going to succeed in the long run if they can't be self-mobile. I'm not convinced an online degree is as good as physically going to college (if it was, why do we still require high school students to report to school?). Telecommuting does not give you the benefits of being in office... telecommuters tend to be the first let go and the backlash against telecommuters is just beginning.

Sure, you can forgo a car in NYC and a few other areas... provided you live REAL close to work. But for many in other areas, this can be a time waster. Does Gen Y value their time? Waiting for the bus is a huge waste of time.

One of my high school friends decided to forgo a car as a young adult. Due to the local buses, it limited her work options to McDonalds... where she quickly rose to manager... and still wasn't making decent money. After about 7 years of this BS, I taught her to drive and she took the test in my beat-up car. And passed. She soon had her own $600 car and her employment options opened up and she now can make 3x what she used to make. Not bad for someone who had to drop out of high school to work. The turning point was getting the car. Today, she has a fairly nice, modern, reliable car.

Most of my bus-bound friends found themselves severely stunted careers.

Bringing this back to Gen Y... colleges are charging more than ever... jobs suck more than ever... nobody wants you without a heap of experience... they are forgoing cars until "When they Can Afford Them"... Well, when is that? Cars are not getting an cheaper. Insurance is not getting any cheaper... Gas and parts are not getting cheaper... mechanic labor isn't getting any cheaper.

My Gen Y relative came from a well off house-hold and still drove beaters. He's been able to go from university to internship to career in quick succession. Six figures a year at 28, he can now buy whatever he wants.

Of course, since life is essentially graded on a curve (if an entire generation is a bunch of slackers, the top slackers are going to get the cherry careers), some Gen Y'ers are going to fall into dream careers and drive dream cars... but I question if the rest of Gen Y ever makes the jump... and spends a lifetime in a deadend job, trapped by public transportation options, waiting for the bus... then two hour-long transfers... having a 6 hour daily commute to go 11 miles and back... dealing with all the homeless and thieves that love hanging out at the bus station.

Years ago, the bus riders were the ones who envied the person driving a beater. However, the media has trained the public that public image is so important that riding the bus is somehow better. Kind of ironic... just like the hipsters who are cool because they dress up like the homeless. Maybe I'm completely off-base and being poor is the new rich.

I doubt that.

Honestly, I have no vested interest in whether Gen Y fails to launch or not. I only try to offer advice... because, god knows, along with what does work, I know most of the stuff that DOESN'T WORK... But Gen Y seems to be more stubborn than their parents, and seems to know better than I... so, as far as I'm concerned, they can make their own mistakes if they want.

If living at home with the 'rents until they come up with a new internet meme and become Twitter celebs or write a killer iPhone app is the turning point to getting that new car, then who am I to deflate that dream. But I do have an story about my friends who were going to become rock stars and sports superstars...

Guess I'm done rambling for now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, in essence, what we're advocating here is, stupid Josh and Emily would rather have their face in an electronic device than drive. So... instead of enforcing distracted driving laws, we throw up our hands and say "you know what, we're so sorry we tried to get your face out of your electronic device. You've been right all along, here's a FREAKING SELF DRIVING CAR!"

Luuuuuuudicrous!!! :rolleyes:

Moving the goal posts again. And a strawman on each one too!

This isn't about stupidity. It's about priorities. Why not give people more interested in their gadgets the ability to own a self-driving car? They'll make the road safer for people like you who want to drive normally and save law-enforcement agencies a lot of hassle.

Driving sucks for the 80% of the population that inhabit metropolitan areas. Why should I waste my time in gridlock when an automated vehicle can let me be productive on the way to work or have a nap on the way back home?

  • Agree 1
  • Disagree 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love driving my car. I HATE commuting to work in traffic.

Yeah... in my commute, the morning drive getting to work is usually smooth and fast...coming home, another story...choice of bumper-to-bumper freeway stop and go slog or surface streets with many traffic lights...

Edited by Cubical-aka-Moltar
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You know, since this is still such a hot-button topic, I'm probably going to wind up doing a complete and totally thorough rewrite of my original article on it in the near future (should be interesting, right?). It's amusing; these threads never fail to generate a discussion and they always illustrate this hilariously absurd gap between my generation and the older one.

Some actual thoughts now that we're steering the discussion away from the whole "you damn kids and your 'may-mays'" deal from earlier.

1.) I've went on the record before as being skeptical of self-driving cars. Well, I still do hold some reservations. I mean, it's software-based, and while we've come such a long way in the world of programming over the last 25 years, software still does occasionally fail. Software failure is, for example, currently the reason why your 2014 Silverado can randomly do a Ferrari impression. However, I'm still more than willing to give that technology a chance, and it's totally immature to deny someone the option to have that technology on their own personal vehicle just because you don't like the idea of it.

2.) It's painful and horrifically curious how some of you can recognize the sociological aspects of this discussion and still, somehow, completely fail to integrate them into your understanding of it. SAmadei, I don't mean to call you out here, but bits and pieces of the last stretch of your post is a perfect example of what I'm talking about.

3.) The day that an automaker can build a genuinely interesting and cheap-to-insure-and-repair car for under $15,000 is the day that this discussion will change ... somewhat ... for the more fortunate of us, anyway. As a whole, it will only manage to move the needle so far. When you're $30,000 grand underwater in student loan debt and only making $8,000 grand a year at McDonalds because someone failed to educate you on the costs and risks associated with going to college and obtaining a degree, and because the job market for your degree has dried up, or is in the process of drying up, it isn't hard to add two and two together. That's why I personally decided to make the most out of the job I have now instead of trying to make what has been a hobby of mine into a career.

Edited by black-knight
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2.) It's painful and horrifically curious how some of you can recognize the sociological aspects of this discussion and still, somehow, completely fail to integrate them into your understanding of it. SAmadei, I don't mean to call you out here, but bits and pieces of the last stretch of your post is a perfect example of what I'm talking about.

Please explain. Seriously, please explain, even if you prefer to discuss in PM. I'm in need of some integration.

I'll even overlook that you seem to have had a car your entire adult life.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If someone is so stupid to not understand that without brakes, you can't stop the car, what is to stop them from getting in a car and not know what pedal to press to stop the car?

What you've done is make a compelling argument for autonomous vehicles. In addition to those would would like the convenience to use it when they wanted, there are those, young and old, who should not be allowed to operate 2+ tons of mass.

Also those brake stories were true, in case you were wondering.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2.) It's painful and horrifically curious how some of you can recognize the sociological aspects of this discussion and still, somehow, completely fail to integrate them into your understanding of it. SAmadei, I don't mean to call you out here, but bits and pieces of the last stretch of your post is a perfect example of what I'm talking about.

Please explain. Seriously, please explain, even if you prefer to discuss in PM. I'm in need of some integration.

I'll even overlook that you seem to have had a car your entire adult life.

It'll hopefully make sense when I publish a new version of that old article. Give me a little time.

I'm an exception to the rule. However, I should also add that, because I chose to own a car and make a monthly payment on it, I can't afford rent and still live at home with my parents. Since I'm trying to put myself through college and paying for that expense completely out of my own pocket, my parents have also agreed to help me out and pay my insurance premiums on my Charger (they didn't on the Cherokee when I had that). Now, I do earn enough money to pay them, but I'll also add that it could really make things difficult without some very deliberate budgeting. I don't own my own car without some assistance. That also means that I'm not to be made an example for that reason, and because I've made my enthusiasm and my want for a car an illogical priority instead of obtaining my own residency and total independence.

Honestly, at 23 years-old ... well, this is another reason why I want that damn loan off of my plate, let's put it that way.

Just because I've spent -- no -- wasted a good deal of money on my hobby is not indicative in any way of the bigger picture at play here. I'm just a tree in the forest, and one that doesn't have many of its leaves at that, if that makes sense. How I've owned so many cars over the years is also a story slightly more convoluted than I've let on, too, but I'm going to leave it at that.

Edited by black-knight
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If someone is so stupid to not understand that without brakes, you can't stop the car, what is to stop them from getting in a car and not know what pedal to press to stop the car?

What you've done is make a compelling argument for autonomous vehicles. In addition to those would would like the convenience to use it when they wanted, there are those, young and old, who should not be allowed to operate 2+ tons of mass.

Also those brake stories were true, in case you were wondering.

I can believe that... you can't fix stupid. I don't like to believe the average person is that stupid.

Actually, I'm on the fence about self-driving cars. I get tired of driving every so often... though its fairly rare. I doubt I would buy a self driving car, however, as I'm certain that for the near future, its going to be tiny, have too many tiny doors and no trunk space... and as an IT guy, I am skeptical about the real world use of self-driving cars.

Most people, even the most clueless, realize their car is broken by driving it. If the rider in a self driving car is asleep or engrossed in porn or working on Candy Crush level 514, they are not going to recognize the brakes going soft, the bearing rumbling or the engine running rough after OBD-5 puts the car in limp-home mode because an O2 sensor is acting up. The safeguards that need to be put into the system are absolutely mind boggling.

I don't mind if they are on the road, and since I predict that their coding is going to drive very conservatively, I love the idea of 75% of traffic staying right on the freeway and not tailgating me with their high beams on.

My only fear is that at some point, self driving cars will be given exclusive use of the majority or entire roadway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It'll hopefully make sense when I publish a new version of that old article. Give me a little time.

I look forward to it.

I'm an exception to the rule. However, I should also add that, because I chose to own a car and make a monthly payment on it, I can't afford rent and still live at home with my parents. <snip> ... well, this is another reason why I want that damn loan off of my plate, let's put it that way.

Various solutions to this have been posted. Rhymed with Blight Zonda Discord. ;-)

Incidentally, if you followed my posts about my recently acquired '97 Tahoe 2 door... that is a sub-$1000 purchase. In fact, even with the various minor initial repairs, I haven't gone over $1000 yet. It even got inspected. Perhaps we can watch over the next months and years just how much it costs to maintain... though I am at a disadvantage since its inherently more expensive to repair trucks and because I planned to bring it back to decent shape, instead of just getting by with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It'll hopefully make sense when I publish a new version of that old article. Give me a little time.

I look forward to it.

I'm an exception to the rule. However, I should also add that, because I chose to own a car and make a monthly payment on it, I can't afford rent and still live at home with my parents. <snip> ... well, this is another reason why I want that damn loan off of my plate, let's put it that way.

Various solutions to this have been posted. Rhymed with Blight Zonda Discord. ;-)

Incidentally, if you followed my posts about my recently acquired '97 Tahoe 2 door... that is a sub-$1000 purchase. In fact, even with the various minor initial repairs, I haven't gone over $1000 yet. It even got inspected. Perhaps we can watch over the next months and years just how much it costs to maintain... though I am at a disadvantage since its inherently more expensive to repair trucks and because I planned to bring it back to decent shape, instead of just getting by with it.

You should! There's going to be substantial research this time! Also, interviews (possibly)! You know, what I should've done from the start instead of a mouthy op-ed piece trying to ape Jeremy Clarkson.

When did Zonda start making this Discord you speak of and how is it a blight?

Only kidding. You know, I know that FAP and Dodgefan were giving out good advice, especially now looking back on it.

Did you follow my posts about the '00 Cherokee I had? I purchased it for about $1,500 after tax and transfer and put another $500 in some extensive repairs only to be worried sick about the powertrain and it's 280,000-plus original miles. I bought that with the intention of getting it back into decent shape and selling the Charger only to realize that I bit off way, way more than I could chew. After sitting down and doing the math, I sold it and wound up with a small couple hundred dollar loss ... and I really don't like admitting that. In fact, I wish I could forget I even bought that Jeep because the guy I sold it to drives the sumbitch everywhere and it hasn't failed him. Whatever. My luck would been different and blah, blah, blah.

As much as it inconveniences me, it's really best to invest in the Charger and pay it off before it hits the 100,000 mile mark. Or, at least really try before I throw in the towel this time. That means I have to knuckle down, hard. It really sucks, but I gotta do what I gotta do on top of everything else I gotta and wanna do. (Whew!)

Edited by black-knight
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If someone is so stupid to not understand that without brakes, you can't stop the car, what is to stop them from getting in a car and not know what pedal to press to stop the car?

What you've done is make a compelling argument for autonomous vehicles. In addition to those would would like the convenience to use it when they wanted, there are those, young and old, who should not be allowed to operate 2+ tons of mass.

Also those brake stories were true, in case you were wondering.

I can believe that... you can't fix stupid. I don't like to believe the average person is that stupid.

Actually, I'm on the fence about self-driving cars. I get tired of driving every so often... though its fairly rare. I doubt I would buy a self driving car, however, as I'm certain that for the near future, its going to be tiny, have too many tiny doors and no trunk space... and as an IT guy, I am skeptical about the real world use of self-driving cars.

Most people, even the most clueless, realize their car is broken by driving it. If the rider in a self driving car is asleep or engrossed in porn or working on Candy Crush level 514, they are not going to recognize the brakes going soft, the bearing rumbling or the engine running rough after OBD-5 puts the car in limp-home mode because an O2 sensor is acting up. The safeguards that need to be put into the system are absolutely mind boggling.

I don't mind if they are on the road, and since I predict that their coding is going to drive very conservatively, I love the idea of 75% of traffic staying right on the freeway and not tailgating me with their high beams on.

My only fear is that at some point, self driving cars will be given exclusive use of the majority or entire roadway.

See on that point we agree. I don't want self driving cars to become mandatory, I doubt they really ever would be since there's so many millions of used cars on the road it would be impossible to get them all to convert. What I'd like are self driving cars for people who should not be allowed to drive that can never be switched off (sort of like those cars with on board breathalyzers), and ones that those of us with good driving records can drive ourselves or set it to self driving when we don't feel like driving. As long as I have the choice its cool with me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You should! There's going to be substantial research this time! Also, interviews (possibly)! You know, what I should've done from the start instead of a mouthy op-ed piece trying to ape Jeremy Clarkson.

I can. It would be interesting experiment... but its not the vehicle I would ever recommend for a newbie... because I would consider this to be an enthusiast vehicle... something that people buy, customize, beat the hell out of, uncustomize, sell to next guy who customizes it again and beats the hell out of it. Camaros, Firebirds, sports trucks, hot hatches, certain SUVs are in this group. I usually recommend GM versions of the Blight Zonda Discord to people who need beaters on a budget. Especially those grandma fresh ones you refuse to believe are out there. ;-) Few people customize a '94 Delta 88.

In any case, I suppose my truck being the wrong kind of beater negates my repair knowledge and tools. (Though to be honest, these trucks use a lot of GM parts I'm not real familiar with... ripping the door apart was a learning experience.

Did you follow my posts about the '00 Cherokee I had? I purchased it for about $1,500 after tax and transfer and put another $500 in some extensive repairs only to be worried sick about the powertrain and it's 280,000-plus original miles. I bought that with the intention of getting it back into decent shape and selling the Charger only to realize that I bit off way, way more than I could chew. After sitting down and doing the math, I sold it and wound up with a small couple hundred dollar loss ... and I really don't like admitting that. In fact, I wish I could forget I even bought that Jeep because the guy I sold it to drives the sumbitch everywhere and it hasn't failed him. Whatever. My luck would been different and blah, blah, blah.

Yep.

Well, like I list above, I'm not sure I'd recommend a Cherokee for a newbie (not calling you a newbie). Their popularity means cheap ones have problems. Better to buy something nobody loves... like an Aztek. Sure it ain't trail rated... but its drive-to-work-and-school rated.

As far as your buddy driving that Jeep without failures... he is aware of one of my beater buyer corollaries... buy the car that someone just replaced a bunch of stuff on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

See on that point we agree. I don't want self driving cars to become mandatory, I doubt they really ever would be since there's so many millions of used cars on the road it would be impossible to get them all to convert. What I'd like are self driving cars for people who should not be allowed to drive that can never be switched off (sort of like those cars with on board breathalyzers), and ones that those of us with good driving records can drive ourselves or set it to self driving when we don't feel like driving. As long as I have the choice its cool with me.

Well, its not just the idea that self driving cars might be mandatory, but also "effectively mandatory". If the bridge you commute over is 4 lanes today... I don't want to see 3 "SDC"-only lanes in the future.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It'll hopefully make sense when I publish a new version of that old article. Give me a little time.

I look forward to it.

I'm an exception to the rule. However, I should also add that, because I chose to own a car and make a monthly payment on it, I can't afford rent and still live at home with my parents. <snip> ... well, this is another reason why I want that damn loan off of my plate, let's put it that way.

Various solutions to this have been posted. Rhymed with Blight Zonda Discord. ;-)

Incidentally, if you followed my posts about my recently acquired '97 Tahoe 2 door... that is a sub-$1000 purchase. In fact, even with the various minor initial repairs, I haven't gone over $1000 yet. It even got inspected. Perhaps we can watch over the next months and years just how much it costs to maintain... though I am at a disadvantage since its inherently more expensive to repair trucks and because I planned to bring it back to decent shape, instead of just getting by with it.

I have to disagree with you about saying that inherently trucks / suv's are more expensive to repair. My 94 GMC Suburban LTE has been an awesome SUV. Yes I am the original owner, but no it has not been expensive to repair. I can say that the cost of maintenance is 25% of the cost for my H2 or Escalade. Also the repairs have been cheap over all and one thing I still love about it over all my newer auto's is how much room under the hood there is to do repairs / tune ups myself. Also the few things that have worn out on the inside, I have repaired myself and again the cost of parts has been cheap. The most expensive repair was the time it took to pull apart the dash when I had to replace the heater fan inside when it died and took out some other electronic parts. Picked up higher quality parts from Napa and spent a weekend doing the repair myself. That thing has a Volcano Furnace now to keep the interior nice and toasty. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have to disagree with you about saying that inherently trucks / suv's are more expensive to repair. My 94 GMC Suburban LTE has been an awesome SUV. Yes I am the original owner, but no it has not been expensive to repair. I can say that the cost of maintenance is 25% of the cost for my H2 or Escalade. Also the repairs have been cheap over all and one thing I still love about it over all my newer auto's is how much room under the hood there is to do repairs / tune ups myself. Also the few things that have worn out on the inside, I have repaired myself and again the cost of parts has been cheap. The most expensive repair was the time it took to pull apart the dash when I had to replace the heater fan inside when it died and took out some other electronic parts. Picked up higher quality parts from Napa and spent a weekend doing the repair myself. That thing has a Volcano Furnace now to keep the interior nice and toasty. :)

I'm not saying Mercedes or even Nissan levels of expensive... but when we are talking beater level, a GM beater truck is more expensive than a GM beater car. Real trucks, not S-10s. Trucks can be used for work, plus are worth more as scrap, so they are initially cost more used. It is VERY hard to find a decent beater truck below $1000... pickups are difficult to find below $2000... at least in NJ. 8 spark plugs costs twice 4 does. Bigger alternator costs 20% more. Tires are $125 each instead of $50. More O2 sensors. Etc.

When I got the Tahoe, I immediately was going to put tires on it, until I realized that a decent set is going to cost me more than the truck cost and I'd have to mount and balance them on rims I want to remove later (and revert to something OEM). I'll wait until I find a good rim and tire takeoff from a newer truck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That does make sense SAmadei, I know that after I put on my lift kit and bigger 36" diamater BF Goodrich All terrain tires, $1500 later the tires last but there is higher cost. Most Gen Y cannot afford that yet.

Then again, if a Gen Y loves off road or the size, look and feel of a full size truck / SUV then you end up sacrificing something else to have that.

I would have to say that many Gen Y young adults have been given pretty much everything due to the growth of the 90's and early 2000's and as such some have an entitlement attitude about what they should get rather than realize that hard work and learning to take care of a beater leads to nicer things down the road and an appreciation for both old and new auto's.

I think that the subcompact and compact auto's plus the need for Mini Trucks that would allow Gen Y to own a inexpensive truck or car and customize it is needed in this market.

I BELIEVE that a Marketing Case can be made to have a Mini Truck that sells for 12-15K dollars and many inner city people would buy them plus young adults just starting out.

I BELIEVE that the auto industry has lost site of the need for inexpensive entry level auto's. This needs to start by making the gov realize that you do not need Nanny Electronics on everything, air bags on everything, backup cameras and sensors on everything. The cost of electronic everything is causing this gap of allowing Gen Y to have fixer uppers and entry level auto's.

What is wrong with Manual Door Locks and Windows? Regular AM/FM radio with a USB port.

I challenge everyone on this thread to put aside their personal feelings and lets DEFINE an Entry level auto that starts in the $10K to $15K dollar range with just basic equipment. Not one of the plain janes of the 70, 80 or 90's that had no radio manual everything including steering. But lets see if we can build a auto that would have the basic needs and meet the bare minimum of the gov regulations.

Truck Features

Manual Windows

Manual Door locks

AM/FM Radio with USB port

Manual Transmission

Front air bags only

head rests

4 cylinder engine

Monochrome paint job

Car Features

Manual Windows

Manual Door locks

AM/FM Radio with USB port

Manual Transmission

Front air bags only

head rest

4 cylinder engine

Monochrome paint job

So would this do it or are there other considerations that must be made?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thing of it is even if you can get a car, insurance is brutal for "new" drivers. I got my license at 18. I got my car at 21. I paid $2100. I went to insure it and cost me somewhere in the neighborhood of $3000 annually! This is for a family sedan that was already 6 years old. I didn't even have full coverage, I got comprehensive because it was only marginally more than liability. Granted a chunk of that price was due to where I lived, but by the time I finally moved out I was down to 1500ish annually. I now pay about $750 annually for the same coverage with the same insurer. Being a new driver is very expensive and adds a lot to the cost of ownership for new drivers.

  • Agree 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yup, my first auto stayed in my dads name and was on the family insurance till I moved out at 24. Then got my own insurance for a crazy expensive year and then saw the benefits of turning 25. Both my kids stayed on my insurance till 26 and now the nice thing is as a family they can still stay on but pay for their own and get my family discount, auto and home. Love Costco insurance. All the auto's are on the same policy as is the house and it really keeps the rates down.

I think for Gen Y folks they should work with their parents to keep the auto's on one big policy and take advantage of insurance brakes for multi auto, home, etc. One bigger insurance plan that gives all breaks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would have to say that many Gen Y young adults have been given pretty much everything due to the growth of the 90's and early 2000's and as such some have an entitlement attitude about what they should get rather than realize that hard work and learning to take care of a beater leads to nicer things down the road and an appreciation for both old and new auto's.

430.jpg

Damn it, dfelt. We were doing just fine until you had and go and post that bout of nonsense.

1/10 because I replied.

Anyway, far as your ideas for entry-level cars, see the old article I wrote that featured the Dodge M80 and Razor concepts. You pretty much described 70 percent of those two concept cars.

Again, I'll stress this, it would only manage to open the door so far. There are other factors at play.

I think for Gen Y folks they should work with their parents to keep the auto's on one big policy and take advantage of insurance brakes for multi auto, home, etc. One bigger insurance plan that gives all breaks.

Been there, got the t-shirt. Didn't you read my earlier two posts?

Edited by black-knight
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My cars stayed registered in my Dad's name and on his insurance through college and grad school to avoid the high cost.

as did mine.

Yup, my first auto stayed in my dads name and was on the family insurance till I moved out at 24. Then got my own insurance for a crazy expensive year and then saw the benefits of turning 25. Both my kids stayed on my insurance till 26 and now the nice thing is as a family they can still stay on but pay for their own and get my family discount, auto and home. Love Costco insurance. All the auto's are on the same policy as is the house and it really keeps the rates down.

I think for Gen Y folks they should work with their parents to keep the auto's on one big policy and take advantage of insurance brakes for multi auto, home, etc. One bigger insurance plan that gives all breaks.

Must have been nice. I paid for my own driver's ed, car, fees, and insurance and repairs. No loans or borrowed money.

I would have to say that many Gen Y young adults have been given pretty much everything...
Did I mention I'm Gen Y?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would have to say that many Gen Y young adults have been given pretty much everything due to the growth of the 90's and early 2000's and as such some have an entitlement attitude about what they should get rather than realize that hard work and learning to take care of a beater leads to nicer things down the road and an appreciation for both old and new auto's.

You-keep-using-that-word-300x252.jpg

Please explain how we're more 'entitled' than any generation before us?

Methinks you're like every other 40-something who's been manipulated by corporate America and governments to regurgitate the word 'entitled' to browbeat our generation in order to further their interests of reducing our wages and voting capacity.

I think for Gen Y folks they should work with their parents to keep the auto's on one big policy and take advantage of insurance brakes for multi auto, home, etc. One bigger insurance plan that gives all breaks.

This only works if you're upper-middle class, own cars and live with your parents. Young people who come from families without cars end up subsidizing the wealthy ones. It also means that wealthy kids will have more opportunities for careers while poor ones can't go anywhere outside of a 500m radius of a bus stop.

Also, I thought living at home didn't build character? I thought leveraging your parents made you entitled? Which is it?

Edited by FAPTurbo
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Must have been nice. I paid for my own driver's ed, car, fees, and insurance and repairs. No loans or borrowed money.

Don't worry, DF, I was in the same boat. My parents actually could have put me on their insurance and it would have saved money, but it also would have left them liable for my mistakes. My parents did not believe I was a hazard, but since everything was entwined with the family business, it was decided that it was better that I have my own policy.

That said, I had discounts for good student, college use, driver ed so that helped. What didn't was the new driver cost, the fact it was State Farm and being in NJ during the dark days of our car insurance disaster... so it was just under $2K/yr back in the late '80s, IIRC.

Please explain how we're more 'entitled' than any generation before us?

Methinks you're like every other 40-something who's been manipulated by corporate America and governments to regurgitate the word 'entitled' to browbeat our generation in order to further their interests of reducing our wages and voting capacity.

You'll note I did not use that word. I realize it is a hot button for Gen Y... and its not usually used correctly.

I also agree that a lot of people have this sense of entitlement, regardless of generation. I would also say that the Gen Y'ers on this forum do not have this sense of entitlement (at least in terms of cars) because they own cars and are paying (dearly, in some cases) for them. And they are right. If you have the receipts for something, its not a sense of entitlement anymore... its a proper entitlement when you own it.

However, I find it laughable that a generation with such a minority of population as Gen X could ever be considered to be brow beating the massive population of Gen Y.

This only works if you're upper-middle class, own cars and live with your parents.

First, being put on a policy with your parents does not require you to be upper-middle class. You only need parents with at least one car. Adding a second in their name, with you on the policy is not world ending expensive. And this is usually done with the idea that one is off at college most of the time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No, the self driving cars won't be tiny. The closest thing to self-driving that I've driven recently is the Benz GL350 Bluetech

Let me rephrase... they will be as tiny as most of the vehicles sold today. Tiny by my standards.

I did recently try out all the stuff at the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealership... everything requires removal of head to enter car. I'm still looking to try some models without sunroofs... but unless there is a major difference in headroom, everything Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep has is off the table. I suspect the GL350 has about the same roofline and door size the big Jeep has. Challenger is more comfortable once in the car, but I'm not sure I could live with the daily routine of ingress/egress.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep is off the table for this 6'6" tall man if it has a sun roof. Amazing that they lower the roof line by almost 3" so for me I can actually drive in comfort my son's Jeep Patriot as he does not have the sun roof. Yet when he tested it with a sun roof I could not drive it due to the lack of head room.

Lucky me he does not care for sun roofs so he saved the money from the sun roof and got a trail rated version instead and it has been a great auto for him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't quite understand how autonomous vehicles were brought into the conversation. It's not in the article, and honestly, this is likely going to be a technology that will need to trickle down before it's even on my generation's radar. This sort of technology will be expensive, starting out on executive-level prestigious sedans that all the CEO's of the world will absolutely love. Just think, they won't have to pay a chauffeur anymore!

As cost is the biggest problem for my generation--something I've experienced first hand--there are various factors that aren't very friendly to those of us trying to get a car. Some issues have already been touched on, such as: insurance costs, used car maintenance and repair costs, and the seemingly monstrous cost of a new car.

Of these, let's first discuss my views on insurance. As something that is mandated, it doesn't seem to be well-regulated. Costs are absolutely astronomical for teenagers. If you don't have the luxury of enjoying a family discount thanks to your parents, full-coverage is out of reach for most. Even bare-bones liability insurance for 15 year old beater will elicit a "What? ...Really? That much?!" response. A yearly premium can often cost more than the vehicle's actual worth. What is being done to regulate Insurance companies?

Let's move on to used car maintenance and repair. We, here, often gloss over this one. To us, as car enthusiasts on an automotive forum, this isn't a problem. We love cars, and working on them is second nature, either by choice or necessity. Myself, I've had my share of each choice-driven and necessity-driven automotive adventures. To others, though, this isn't the case. It is often difficult to work on and maintain vehicles if you don't have the knowledge, tools and space to do so. Tools aren't always expensive or difficult to obtain, but working space can be. Knowledge, well, to those without a mechanical aptitude, a Haynes manual can be overwhelming. Cost of the parts themselves, and the time necessary to do the repairs you aren't familiar with is likely the biggest expense here. For many, they will simply turn to having a trained Mechanic do the work, often after needing a tow.

Finally, what about a new car? As the cheapest car you can currently buy in the U.S., let's use a Nissan Versa as an example. The cheapest it can be purchased for, after destination charges, is $12,800 ($10,198 a decade ago, $8,000 two decades ago, $5,515 three decades ago, etc.). What does that buy you? A four-door sedan packed with features like a 2-speaker audio system, manual controls, some airbags, middling fuel efficiency, horrid performance, and looks to kill (via suicide). Raise your hands if you would have spent your hard-earned money to own this as a teenager. Anyone? Okay, so $12,800 for a car virtually no one wants. But, wait, that isn't the entire picture, is it? What about fuel, insurance, and finance costs?

  • Let's add $1650 for annual fuel costs, or approximately $140/month (Fueleconomy.gov).
  • Now, let's add $7320 for annual insurance premiums or approximately $610/month (Allstate.com for a 16 year old male, basic full coverage with $1k deductible for collision/comprehensive). Insurance rates drop substantially after the first year, so I included annual rates for the years thereafter: $2680, 2nd year; $2220, 3rd year; $1520, 4th year; $1360, 5th year.
  • Before we calculate finance costs, we need to add taxes, tags, and fees to the total. State sales of 6% adds $768, state registration with a new plate adds roughly $100, and let's estimate dealerships fees at approximately $50. Our total to finance is $13,718.
  • Let's be honest, as a first time buyer with no credit, getting approved is probably a stretch in the first place. In the event you do get approved, a prime interest rate isn't in the cards. Assuming you do get approved with a 10% interest rate for a 60 month term, annual costs are $3497, or $297 a month. You'll end up paying an extra $3770 in interest over 5 years, or $754 each year.

That's $12,467 for the first year, or $1038 a month! To put that in perspective, someone working 40 hours a week at the federally mandated minimum rate of $7.25/hr would earn approximately $11,950 annually after taxes. Things do improve after you get over the initial year of absolutely outrageous insurance premiums. How an insurance company can get away with charging that much in the first place is beyond me... Makes me glad my parent's kept me on their insurance through school.

  • Agree 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Insurance = legal extortion. You pay your premiums for years... then have a claim and either your premiums go up, or they drop you. And so many people are going to $1000, and even higher deductibles that they can't pay when the time comes. All in an effort to save a few bucks in premiums. Or their agents fail to sell them rental coverage on their policy, which is usually cheaper than paying for one day of rental out of pocket. We see all kinds of crazy stuff.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Let's not forget that when it comes to Insurance on Auto's the GREAT WHITE LIE that WOMAN are better Drivers.

I have seen more woman drivers have accidents and speeding far more than guys and that is due to the increase nature of them driving so the Auto Insurance needs to stop giving them lower rates compared to guys.

Perfect example is my Daughter and son both on my family policy with Ameriprise pays half of the rate my son pays and yet he has a better driving record. Yes one of the two accidents she has been in was not her fault but they both are on the record when I called and she still pays half of what her brother pays and they have the same identical insurance plan.

Blackmail Extortion that is Government approved and forced upon us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guess different parts of the country as here in Washington they are Less attentive due to distractions but very aggressive in driving. Aggressive less attentive drivers that I have seen.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search

Change privacy settings