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I can certainly anecdotally confirm this. The only reason I'm even in the process of getting my license is because my parents want me to, and many of my peers a

I can certainly anecdotally confirm this. The only reason I'm even in the process of getting my license is because my parents want me to, and many of my peers are similar in that regard. Additionally, when my dad got a new car recently, I was not excited due to its beauty or power, but because of its convenience, energy efficiency, and price (he got a Spark EV). Add this to self-driving cars coming soon, and cars are definitely looking more and more like a utility.

ams6110 12y ago
Interesting to hear. My son (17) and all his friends are quite interested in cars, watch Top Gear, talk about cars, etc. The one difference I have noted between he and I is that he is not really interested in how cars work or how to maintain/repair them. I on the other hand do all the basic maintenance myself and mostly enjoy doing it. It might be an urban/rural thing as well. Edit: I also think practical self-driving cars as well as EVs are a lot farther off than you seem to. I've just seen in the automotive world too many stories about amazing technologies that are "just around the corner" but never seem to materialize.
- stcredzero 12y ago
  I also think practical self-driving cars as well as EVs are a lot farther off than you seem to. For heaven's sake: don't get your information about EVs from Top Gear. I love watching those guys, but they really are a bunch of clowns, and the show's just pure entertainment. The Tesla S model with the 260 mile range is a perfectly reasonable (though pricey) car for getting around the Bay Area. Also, I've heard that if you lease a Fiat 500e, you get some long distance car rentals as part of your lease. (100 mile range is too short, though.)
  - sliverstorm 12y ago
    The Tesla S model with the 260 mile range is a perfectly reasonable (though pricey) car for getting around the Bay Area. That's like saying a private jet is a perfectly reasonable (though pricey) airplane for making flights. I'm sorry my pockets are not gilded like some of the folk around here, but a Tesla is way too goddamn expensive for us normal folk.
    - malyk 12y ago
      The plug-in hybrids are a great alternative. Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion, and more. All have some electric range (38/11/19 miles respectively) and then have gas engines that extend the range to "normal" ICE car ranges. We just bought a volt and it's a great car. We've driven 168 miles since we got it and have driven 0 gas miles. And with the $7500 federal tax credit and $1500 california rebate the cost is only $25,000.
    - stcredzero 12y ago
      That's like saying a private jet is a perfectly reasonable (though pricey) airplane for making flights. Your analogy is off by a few orders of magnitude.
      - sliverstorm 12y ago
        It's exaggerated to make a point to people who consider a Tesla affordable. My house cost less than two Teslas.
        stcredzero 12y ago
        It's exaggerated to make a point to people who consider a Tesla affordable. A Tesla is in the same price range as a lot of conventional luxury cars. To me, that's a good first step. I didn't say to stop there.
- jmgrosen 12y ago
  It's probably a case of selection bias as well :) Most of my friends are the nerdy programmer types, so perhaps it's natural that we're not interested much in cars (although I feel that sentiment among my not-so-geeky friends as well). I do have to object to your statement that EVs aren't practical yet; while I admit that they probably aren't great for urban environments, my dad has loved his Spark EV, and it's hard to beat the price after rebates. (To be fair, we also have a gas-powered car for longer trips, but it's rarely ever used for drives that the EV couldn't handle, and in those situations a rental might be more economical, anyway.)

ams6110 12y ago

Interesting to hear. My son (17) and all his friends are quite interested in cars, watch Top Gear, talk about cars, etc. The one difference I have noted between he and I is that he is not really interested in how cars work or how to maintain/repair them. I on the other hand do all the basic maintenance myself and mostly enjoy doing it. It might be an urban/rural thing as well. Edit: I also think practical self-driving cars as well as EVs are a lot farther off than you seem to. I've just seen in the automotive world too many stories about amazing technologies that are "just around the corner" but never seem to materialize.

stcredzero 12y ago
I also think practical self-driving cars as well as EVs are a lot farther off than you seem to. For heaven's sake: don't get your information about EVs from Top Gear. I love watching those guys, but they really are a bunch of clowns, and the show's just pure entertainment. The Tesla S model with the 260 mile range is a perfectly reasonable (though pricey) car for getting around the Bay Area. Also, I've heard that if you lease a Fiat 500e, you get some long distance car rentals as part of your lease. (100 mile range is too short, though.)
- sliverstorm 12y ago
  The Tesla S model with the 260 mile range is a perfectly reasonable (though pricey) car for getting around the Bay Area. That's like saying a private jet is a perfectly reasonable (though pricey) airplane for making flights. I'm sorry my pockets are not gilded like some of the folk around here, but a Tesla is way too goddamn expensive for us normal folk.
  - malyk 12y ago
    The plug-in hybrids are a great alternative. Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion, and more. All have some electric range (38/11/19 miles respectively) and then have gas engines that extend the range to "normal" ICE car ranges. We just bought a volt and it's a great car. We've driven 168 miles since we got it and have driven 0 gas miles. And with the $7500 federal tax credit and $1500 california rebate the cost is only $25,000.
  - stcredzero 12y ago
    That's like saying a private jet is a perfectly reasonable (though pricey) airplane for making flights. Your analogy is off by a few orders of magnitude.
    - sliverstorm 12y ago
      It's exaggerated to make a point to people who consider a Tesla affordable. My house cost less than two Teslas.
      - stcredzero 12y ago
        It's exaggerated to make a point to people who consider a Tesla affordable. A Tesla is in the same price range as a lot of conventional luxury cars. To me, that's a good first step. I didn't say to stop there.
jmgrosen 12y ago
It's probably a case of selection bias as well :) Most of my friends are the nerdy programmer types, so perhaps it's natural that we're not interested much in cars (although I feel that sentiment among my not-so-geeky friends as well). I do have to object to your statement that EVs aren't practical yet; while I admit that they probably aren't great for urban environments, my dad has loved his Spark EV, and it's hard to beat the price after rebates. (To be fair, we also have a gas-powered car for longer trips, but it's rarely ever used for drives that the EV couldn't handle, and in those situations a rental might be more economical, anyway.)