Why Don't Young Americans Buy Cars?

**microrobert** · 03-27-2012, 03:57 PM

Why Don't Young Americans Buy Cars?

Auto makers are worried about the Millennials. They just don't seem to care about owning a car. Is this a generational shift, or just a lousy economy at work?

Kids these days. They don't get married. They don't buy homes. And, much to the dismay of the world's auto makers, they apparently don't feel a deep and abiding urge to own a car.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/...y-cars/255001/

**~~Äike~~** · 03-27-2012, 03:59 PM

As far as I know, many Americans get a car as their 16th birthday present from their parents. That's because cars are ridiculously cheap in the US and the gas prices are also considerably cheaper than in Europe.

**Loddfafner** · 03-27-2012, 04:01 PM

Debt for student loans is a major factor.

**~~Riki~~** · 03-27-2012, 04:03 PM

Kids these days. They don't get married. They don't buy homes. And, much to the dismay of the world's auto makers, they apparently don't feel a deep and abiding urge to own a car.

That's a problem.And the funny thing is, while Governments on one side are worried with Housing business.At the same time more and more it's getting difficult for the medium working class People to buy a Home.

**Grumpy Cat** · 03-27-2012, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Loddfafner

Debt for student loans is a major factor.

This and lower wages.

**Siberyak** · 03-27-2012, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by Karl

As far as I know, many Americans get a car as their 16th birthday present from their parents. That's because cars are ridiculously cheap in the US and the gas prices are also considerably cheaper than in Europe.

lol Wouldn't that be nice.

**~~Äike~~** · 03-27-2012, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by Siberyak

lol Wouldn't that be nice.

It's the truth.

Most Estonians who visit America and see the car prices and gas prices there are like this:

+ your wages are also considerably higher

**Siberyak** · 03-27-2012, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by Karl

It's the truth.

Most Estonians who visit America and see the car prices and gas prices there are like this:

+ your wages are also considerably higher

Its not the truth to say that Americans get cars on there 16th birthday. Maybe the rich and spoiled kids do.

**antonio** · 03-27-2012, 04:15 PM

Frankly, I fully agree with that trend. Owning a car is a source of troubles which should be delayed until it becames really necessary, with the colateral advantage of accesing to better models. At Spain is the same, educated youth hurry less than uneducated to get a own car. For example I got the license at 24 y.o. and drive the old Renault 18 of my father till sadly gasoline deposit got rotten some years after.

BTW probably Spain has an economy more dependable on car manufacturing than USA one.

**~~Äike~~** · 03-27-2012, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Siberyak

Its not the truth to say that Americans get cars on there 16th birthday. Maybe the rich and spoiled kids do.

You can get a shitty car for 200 dollars in the US. In Estonia, you need at least 2500 dollars to get a shitty car.

We have a 20% VAT here + ridiculously high prices because of a "small market".

Many Estonians go to Germany and buy a car there and drive it to Estonia, as the prices there are cheaper. (Although the average German wage is 4 times higher).

Everything is very expensive here.