Millennials and the future of our cars.

[2K2BIRD]

What Millennials like or don't like really doesn't bother me that much, unless their poor choices result in me having to come to the rescue financially. As for what happens to the retro, the collectibles or anything else I own after I'm gone, I couldn't care less. They can keep them, sell them, give them away, throw them away or burn them for all I care now or will care then. Anything I've bought, I like and I earned the money to get. If those that follow like it, so be it, if they don't, oh well ... it made me happy along the way ..

[couture]

I noticed the lack of interest in young people for aviation also. Not many interested in learning to fly or in classic aircraft. I predict that general aviation ( small planes ) will disappear. It's sad to see this happening.

[jerrym3]

Jerry agree. None of my 4 children have a car interest other than starting and going from A to B.

Cellphones? Daughter -in law- and son had to have the new iPhone X asap at a cost of a small fortune.

Love the fact that there are low mileage cars out there for when I need a next one.

I hear you. I used the wrong terminology. Should have said smartphones?

[Jimr]

I personally don't own any of my cars for an investment. In my opinion own what you like and if someday I make some money on it great and if not I've enjoyed every minute I owned them. I get a thrill I go into the garage and look at my Thunderbirds.

[EllisonCal]

Jerry, I agree if our beloved 2002-2005 Thunderbirds got too valuable it would difficult to buy a replacement as I did. My first one "Annie" was just under $30,000 when it was 1 year old and had less than 10,000 miles. My current Tbird "Roxy" is an '04 which had under 29,000 miles and cost $17,000 tax included. I put 94,000 miles on Annie before I passed her on to another owner. He is enjoying the car and all the enhancements I made to it over the years, Borlas, backup camera, bling lights, pinstripes etc.

[Rondor]

Let's not forget that the percentage of people who like a car for reasons other than transportation has always been small. The article I was referring to was in Hemmings on-line Classic Cars news letter about millennials getting tired of digital and seeking the simpler things. The true car culture never has been about money, but about style and individualism.
I have bought and spent money on many cars that I could not " logically " justify. How many of us have removed perfectly good wheels and tires to replace with something we liked better.? A retro is more toy than transportation so it stands to reason we will value it differently. I have lost a lot more in my Expeditions over the years than I will ever lose on my totally impractical Retro.. My first Expedition in today's market even with low mileage might be $2,000.and cost much more than the t bird

[Welker]

The normal car collector has a priority in mind for those autos of his or her youth that made the heart go faster. It is entirely age related. At 11 years old I was knocked off my feet at the local swimming pool by a beautiful blonde standing beside a new yellow 1947 Buick Roadmaster convertible. I never forgot that and rate all new model cars, or collector ones for that matter, to the feeling that old Buick left in me. The current ages for those now able to buy cars that appealed from the time of their youth makes you wonder what those cars might be.......1972 Pinto(just kidding), 1964 Mustang, the GTO's and many other classy looking if not great mechanical marvels. I look at what we are seeing now, electronic miracles, almost self driving SUVs and wonder what would be collectible in the future and who would want them.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

Let's not forget that the percentage of people who like a car for reasons other than transportation has always been small. The article I was referring to was in Hemmings on-line Classic Cars news letter about millennials getting tired of digital and seeking the simpler things. The true car culture never has been about money, but about style and individualism.
I have bought and spent money on many cars that I could not " logically " justify. How many of us have removed perfectly good wheels and tires to replace with something we liked better.? A retro is more toy than transportation so it stands to reason we will value it differently. I have lost a lot more in my Expeditions over the years than I will ever lose on my totally impractical Retro.. My first Expedition in today's market even with low mileage might be $2,000.and cost much more than the t bird

Ron makes perfect sense to me

[AyPapiii]

What gives buoyancy to the value of a car as it ages is the buyer who could not afford one when new who is now earning enough to buy one and it is only the used ones that are available which are diminishing in supply.

In my opinion these buyers are not typically interested in the Thunderbird. This age group did not read car magazines and build car models. They may buy more because someone else likes it rather than from a their own well researched and informed opinion. Their lusts are other placed. They buy soulless Miatas that run forever and ask very little of their owners while delivering top down fun inexpensively.

To buttress this I offer the average age and sex of the Thunderbird owner. Not too many female buyers in their thirties today in comparison to the number of male owners and couples in their sixties. I suggest the market for the Thunderbird is not a healthy one.

I have aged out of FAST while still appreciating a good line and decent handling. I want one.

[AyPapiii]

Need a movie/series that has a Then Came Bronson/Easy Rider/On Any Sunday theme that includes a Thunderbird as vehicle.

Posted on another forum about how millennials are in the midst of an exodus from crowded cities.

Plot something like a young male/female couple cashes out of Silicon Valley, chucks their smart phones and goes off-grid searching for America.

Good idea and ordinarily I would agree but even this did not reach them. TVR faded away despite this exposure. As someone who owned them for most of his life I am sad to see them gone.


WARNING STRONG LANGUAGE and violence. Some might be offended.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh5siM_vcOw

[RBIRD]

Don't give up on TVR yet Tom!

Merry Christmas,

RBIRD

[doc]

I've been teaching young college students for over 40 years, and I can honestly say, cars are not very important to this new generation. If anything, the uniqueness of our Thunderbirds is still attractive to them, as I get a lot of compliments from students about the car. But I doubt if their interest would equate to actually wanting to purchase one. I am in the camp of enjoying the car and not caring what it is or will be worth.

But as an aside, many millennials (by no means not all--I've been blessed enough to have a great deal of wonderful students) do live up to the criticism of them and their addiction to social media; however, they shrink in comparison to the snowflakes--they are truly lost. The ones I see are college students who believe that shouting down opposition and violence is an appropriate and justifiable way to prove their points. But despite their aggression, they need adult coloring books, comfort dogs, and "safe places." They are vicious in their attacks yet deeply wounded by any and everything, and their list of offensive things grows larger and larger everyday. I am retiring at the end of this month and am very happy to be doing so. I am looking forward to driving my T-Bird. It is beautiful, sleek, and unique with the porthole top attached and a heck of a lot of fun as a convertible!

[jerrym3]

My daughter and her husband are visiting us for the holidays. They are from Illinois, west of Chicago.

He also sees mostly older folks at the local shows, but, there are a few local dealerships that specialize in classic cars.

Here in north Jersey, I can remember one Lincoln/Merc dealer that had a section devoted to classic cars. The section closed down, and then so did the dealership. There was also a Chevy dealer that had an old car on the floor every now and then. But, that stopped, and that dealer also closed down.

As stated above, most car lovers link old cars with their younger days. Today's youth doesn't have that car connection. They go to shows sometimes, but they are glued to their hand held devices.

It's kind of like me going to an art show. I'll admire some of the paintings, but I wouldn't spend the money to own one.

Imagine future shows with tables filled with old computers, flip phones, and old smart phones!

[Rondor]

I truly believe that most retro owners aren't that concerned about their value beyond the conversational aspects. As a security blanket the biggest value driver is as simple as the low production numbers coupled with the impracticality of the car. It's not going to take many buyers to outnumber the sellers.Having something you know somebody else wants just makes you appreciate it that much more. ( Of course you know we aren't supposed to admit this ) So sssshhhhhh

[Quickdraw]

I truly believe that most retro owners aren't that concerned about their value beyond the conversational aspects. As a security blanket the biggest value driver is as simple as the low production numbers coupled with the impracticality of the car. It's not going to take many buyers to outnumber the sellers. Having something you know somebody else wants just makes you appreciate it that much more. ( Of course you know we aren't supposed to admit this ) So sssshhhhhh

Bingo - today they are probably worth as much as they ever will. What is that equation going to look like in 25 years since the next generation doesn't appreciate or want our retros?