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There is always talk of mass transit when gas prices momentarily increase. Then we forget about it once gas prices drop. The same thing with small economical c

by qubax 8y ago

There is always talk of mass transit when gas prices momentarily increase. Then we forget about it once gas prices drop. The same thing with small economical cars with great mileage. Remember a few years ago when gas prices rose above $4 and every pundit was saying that gas guzzling trucks and SUVs were a thing of the past. Want to guess what the the best selling vehicles are today? They aren't small sedans. They are large trucks. https://focus2move.com/usa-best-selling-cars/ https://focus2move.com/usa-best-selling-cars/ > Americans chose to pay later for mass transit. Now it’ll cost us a fortune. No. We chose cars. And we will continue to choose cars over mass transit. It will take something drastic to change american culture and our lifestyle.

spamizbad 8y ago
> No. We chose cars. And we will continue to choose cars over mass transit. It will take something drastic to change american culture and our lifestyle. You can't generalize this to all Americans, as it largely seems to be localized to the Baby Boomer generation, who were responsible for roughly 2/3rds of automobile sales in 2011. There's an Autoweek article[1] that tries to spin this positively, but it basically says that Millennials and Gen-Z are responsible for just 30% of vehicle sales in 2017. Essentially, people ages 18-35 are purchasing less than a third of the vehicles, despite being at a position in their lives where a demand should be at its highest. Complicating matters, it looks like the market research pointing to millennials essentially purchasing them merely out of pragmatic necessity, to drive to work or cart families around because there are no other options: Makes sense, because that's how the Baby Boomers shaped most of our metro areas. They're less car "owners" and more car hostages. As boomers die off, their economic and political power will wane and we're going to see some pretty dramatic changes to urban and suburban landscapes. [1] https://autoweek.com/article/car-news/bucking-trends-millenials-fastest-growing-segment-vehicle-buyers https://autoweek.com/article/car-news/bucking-trends-milleni...
- qubax 8y ago
  > You can't generalize this to all Americans, as it largely seems to be localized to the Baby Boomer generation, who were responsible for roughly 2/3rds of automobile sales in 2011. You mean the largest and wealthiest demographic bought the most cars during one of the worst economic recessions where a significant portion of the younger generation had to move back with their parents just to survive? > There's an Autoweek article[1] that tries to spin this positively, but it basically says that Millennials and Gen-Z are responsible for just 30% of vehicle sales in 2017. They aren't "spinning" anything. They are just offering data and expectations. As the economy improves and as the younger generation get on better financial footing and as they get older, they'll buy more cars. What's so shocking about that? Even you acknowledge that they went from a 20% market share in 2011 ( a major recession era ) to 30% today. And as millenials get wealthier and as gen-z gets older, common sense and data says that trend will increase. > Essentially, people ages 18-35 are purchasing less than a third of the vehicles, despite being at a position in their lives where a demand should be at its highest. How is 18-35 at the age where demand is the highest? You think kids in college need cars? > Complicating matters, it looks like the market research pointing to millennials essentially purchasing them merely out of pragmatic necessity, to drive to work or cart families around because there are no other options: As opposed to buying them to hang on your wall as decoration? > As boomers die off, their economic and political power will wane and we're going to see some pretty dramatic changes to urban and suburban landscapes. In some matters sure. But certainly not when it comes to cars and most definitely not in the suburban landscape. Even in urban landscapes, like NYC metro area with great public transportation, people still love cars. Come check out the yearly auto show at javits center.
- JBlue42 8y ago
  That's an interesting point. Made me think of my friends compared to my parents. I'm 35 - pretty much everyone I could think of my age or slightly younger has run their vehicles into the ground before getting or new one or had to get something due to life events (babies). My parents (Boomers) somehow cycle through new cars every 3-4 years. It's weird to get a call or text from my mom with a photo of a new car that she traded her barely two year old one in for but 'she just had to have it!'. I'm pretty content with my 15 year old one that knock wood hopefully has more years in it.

by qubax 8y ago

spamizbad 8y ago

> No. We chose cars. And we will continue to choose cars over mass transit. It will take something drastic to change american culture and our lifestyle. You can't generalize this to all Americans, as it largely seems to be localized to the Baby Boomer generation, who were responsible for roughly 2/3rds of automobile sales in 2011. There's an Autoweek article[1] that tries to spin this positively, but it basically says that Millennials and Gen-Z are responsible for just 30% of vehicle sales in 2017. Essentially, people ages 18-35 are purchasing less than a third of the vehicles, despite being at a position in their lives where a demand should be at its highest. Complicating matters, it looks like the market research pointing to millennials essentially purchasing them merely out of pragmatic necessity, to drive to work or cart families around because there are no other options: Makes sense, because that's how the Baby Boomers shaped most of our metro areas. They're less car "owners" and more car hostages. As boomers die off, their economic and political power will wane and we're going to see some pretty dramatic changes to urban and suburban landscapes. [1] https://autoweek.com/article/car-news/bucking-trends-millenials-fastest-growing-segment-vehicle-buyers https://autoweek.com/article/car-news/bucking-trends-milleni...

qubax 8y ago
> You can't generalize this to all Americans, as it largely seems to be localized to the Baby Boomer generation, who were responsible for roughly 2/3rds of automobile sales in 2011. You mean the largest and wealthiest demographic bought the most cars during one of the worst economic recessions where a significant portion of the younger generation had to move back with their parents just to survive? > There's an Autoweek article[1] that tries to spin this positively, but it basically says that Millennials and Gen-Z are responsible for just 30% of vehicle sales in 2017. They aren't "spinning" anything. They are just offering data and expectations. As the economy improves and as the younger generation get on better financial footing and as they get older, they'll buy more cars. What's so shocking about that? Even you acknowledge that they went from a 20% market share in 2011 ( a major recession era ) to 30% today. And as millenials get wealthier and as gen-z gets older, common sense and data says that trend will increase. > Essentially, people ages 18-35 are purchasing less than a third of the vehicles, despite being at a position in their lives where a demand should be at its highest. How is 18-35 at the age where demand is the highest? You think kids in college need cars? > Complicating matters, it looks like the market research pointing to millennials essentially purchasing them merely out of pragmatic necessity, to drive to work or cart families around because there are no other options: As opposed to buying them to hang on your wall as decoration? > As boomers die off, their economic and political power will wane and we're going to see some pretty dramatic changes to urban and suburban landscapes. In some matters sure. But certainly not when it comes to cars and most definitely not in the suburban landscape. Even in urban landscapes, like NYC metro area with great public transportation, people still love cars. Come check out the yearly auto show at javits center.
JBlue42 8y ago
That's an interesting point. Made me think of my friends compared to my parents. I'm 35 - pretty much everyone I could think of my age or slightly younger has run their vehicles into the ground before getting or new one or had to get something due to life events (babies). My parents (Boomers) somehow cycle through new cars every 3-4 years. It's weird to get a call or text from my mom with a photo of a new car that she traded her barely two year old one in for but 'she just had to have it!'. I'm pretty content with my 15 year old one that knock wood hopefully has more years in it.