Filed under: Aftermarket, Car Buying, Trends, Sedans/Saloons, Wagons/Estates, Buick, Cadillac, Lincoln
Young drivers going after "grandpa cars"
The Wall Street Journal is reporting on a rather disturbing trend among younger buyers of new and used cars - the tendency to buy outside of the culturally acceptable boundaries of age and generation. Why, there's an absolute epidemic of young adults, some not even yet out of their teens, cruising around in Oldsmobile Cutlass Supremes, Buick Park Avenues, and Chevrolet Caprices! Buick's Lucerne appears to be one of the heirs to the throne currently occupied by Chrysler's 300C, and there are more than a few youngsters roaming around Cadillac, Lexus, and Lincoln dealerships as well.
We mock the WSJ only because this isn't a new trend (despite the CNW marketing data - specifically, its "stodgy index" - that shows the emergence of this buying habit). The release of the Chevrolet Impala SS in 1994 attracted buyers that were an amazing 10 years younger than typical Caprice owners, and lit off a B-body customization craze that continues today. Older RWD cars, including the large number of retired police cruisers that hit the market every year, are a blank canvas for the custom crowd. Want to throw it on bags and "lay frame"? No problem. Do you have a desire, as misplaced as it may be, to lift your car four feet and throw on a set of monstrous 28s? Go right ahead - it's as easy as lifting a pickup truck. There's also some serious performance potential. And for those going for a more subdued look, a clean set of dubs on an mid-nineties Buick Riv or Ford* Lincoln Continental is an easy and affordable way to stand out from the sport-compact crowd while still giving yourself and three or four friends plenty of room to stretch out during road trips. Of course, there's an ironic tinge to all this, what with so many pensioners going after 'youth brand' cars like the Scion xB.
In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that the author of this Autoblog post owns two vehicles with wire-spoke hubcaps and stand-up hood ornaments.
[Source: The Wall Street Journal]
*Thanks to the reader who pointed out my error - apparently, driving old-people cars can also cause slight dementia.
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 7)
gwballin 10:30AM (5/10/2006)
In my second year of college I was in need of a change, the '92 cavailer just wasn't doing it for me anymore. I ranked the things that I hated about the cavailer and decided that I wanded a rear wheel drive, V8 car. I checked the local used car dealerships and bought a 1994 Crown Vic. I loved driving the car and I still have it but it was time to upgrade eariler this year so I took ranked the qualities that I liked from the first two cars: still wanted rear wheel drive and V8, but also wanted a manual transmission, and for it to be a smaller coup like the cavailer. So that is what I got a new cavailer with the "Pontiac GTO" option, lol.
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pavster 10:30AM (5/10/2006)
I drive an 02 Lexus GS430. When I was buying it, my friends were mocking me for buying an old man car. They still mock me. They wanted me to buy an STi or an EVO, but I was tired of little harsh cars from Japan and Europe.
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loikll 10:40AM (5/10/2006)
Ha, I remember those times back in the day when I drove to high school in my parents' 12-year old, 80-foot long Cadillac. Great make-out car, actually.
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John 3:00PM (5/10/2006)
I remember riding in the 80's Chevy Caprice as a kid. That thing was smooth and had more room than most full size cars of today.
As for the trend, I would not call it a trend. There has always been people modding these RWD land boats. Only now does it get any publicity.
Let's hope that this "trend" does not get overinflated and exploited by the automakers and "Mmiddle America".
It seems that when "Middle America" embraces a trand, it's OVER. Just as it did for the Sport Compact Scene. The Pre-Fast and Rediculous compact car scene was respected and had substance. Cars were actually fast and looked clean. No wings, stickers, or specia paint. The problem was that it went mainstream and that KILLED it. Posers and wanna-be's ruined the craft by sporting style over subatance. Let's hope that this "Grandpa's car trend" does not spread for its own sake.
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John 3:38PM (5/10/2006)
If you think today's "grandpa cars" are big, I had friends in high school (back in the day) who drove a '66 Wildcat, a 74 Electra 225, and a 64 Bel Air (6 cyl. three on the tree). Those were boats!
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John 3:38PM (5/10/2006)
If you think today's "grandpa cars" are big, I had friends in high school (back in the day) who drove a '66 Wildcat, a 74 Electra 225, and a 64 Bel Air (6 cyl. three on the tree). Those were boats!
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Steven Janus 9:49PM (5/10/2006)
Well I disagree with some of the fellow posters. Admittedly, I am more fortuante than most being that I am a only child going to college. I love big American cars. I love the ride, the way they handel, and the power. Thankfully, I had some money in my name and I was able to buy a used low miles 2003 Mercury Marauder and do some minor performance modifications to it. My father thought everyone was going to look at me like I was some crazzy kid driving an AARP car but most, if not all, of my younger friends took a verys trong liking to the car and had many positive questions to ask.
I think in this day we are being burdened with too many wrong wheel drive unit body imports and domestics that really don't get all that better gas millage or performance than the boats of just a few years ago such as the b-bodies and the panthers. My car can get 17-18mpg city and 20-24mpg highway if I can avoid stepping on the gas which is very hard to do since it is so tempting. Thankfully, 93 isn't too badly expensive in Florida and is about $2.99-$3.09 per gallon locally. Yes, I do consider myself highly fortuatne to have this car considering I am in college and I am only 21.
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Fred Lesinski 9:15PM (5/15/2006)
Well, as a dealer that sells mostly Roadmaster, Caprice, and Custom Cruiser station wagons, I can tell you that my average customer IS getting younger. Sure, I still sell to octagenarians who swear that they're their "last cars," though most of these guys look spry enough to outlive my 36 years. But the younger buyers KNOW what lurks beneath the hoods, and have seen enough custom jobs to have dreams of their own. Let the mods begin!
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Barry 9:33AM (5/16/2006)
Thanks guys for keeping the value of my old wagon on the upswing. Maybe it will be a collectors item someday! More and more people are finding out that these old wagons are nothing but neat & retro!
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John 12:04AM (5/18/2006)
This is a very true artical
Hi im John im 17 living in NH and im in love with my 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, with the 5.7L L05 350
why, paid $4900 on ebay last year, less then 90,000 on it and it was cherry all around...has about every option you could want in a car, leather, and it is about as big a backseat you can have, unless you run a Buick RM wagon, and get 19-20mph to boot
being said, places to have relations is limited and when the girl Im brining out hears or sees what I drive, not only is she like wow the a nice ride, but oh so we dont need to worry about my dad sneaking into my room.
It also is the easyest car i have ever worked on, I can get to about every place in the engine compartment , and since its "old tech" I can run diognostics with the on-board rig.
anyway I love the b-d body GM cars from 91-96...wont drive much els
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Al 8:26PM (5/18/2006)
I have a 1967 Pontiac Catalina 2 door hardtop for sale. White with teal interior. Interior is done, body could use some work of course, b ut a great way to start into the hobby. Many people stop me about the car. I have two other cars and it's just too much to take care of now. If anyone is interested in some pictures let me know and I can hook you up. I eben have the fender skirts for it. Let me know!!!
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Jon 8:30PM (5/18/2006)
I don't see much difference in spending money to customize older RWD cars and taking the massive hit on depreciation, taxes and insurance on new cars. I drive
an old RWD 98 Olds coupe that's in really decent shape. Its roomy, comfortable, and gets good commments, especially from the younger crowd. New cars make you feel like you're sitting in a capsule!
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Damomma 8:30PM (5/18/2006)
Just turned in a leased P. U. gas guzzler. Bought an '88 Celebrity wagon. Def. Grandpa car. Buick has a model something like it. Guy had every service, part & accessory ever done to the thing. My early teen & her friends love it. Gets just about as good gas milage as my Elantra. Like the previous comment said, when you need a car, these oldies are definetly goodies. Spent a fortune repairing the truck when hit (parking lot, parked on the street, etc.)
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Al 8:30PM (5/18/2006)
I have a 1967 Pontiac Catalina that I have enjoyed for years but I am ready to let go. I can send pics if you want.
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D Van 8:33PM (5/18/2006)
Well I guess I Break the mold to a degree according to the author, I am 21 and I drive an '04 Ion Quad Coupe. :-P. course I have it pimped out as it were (although I do want to add more when I get a better paying job)
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Butch 8:42PM (5/18/2006)
The love of the car is in the blood of some. And I`m one of those people. From car shows, to just goin to car dealers. I have to look at cars. When I was first married I had a 1941 Ford Coupe. Now that was a car. Since than I have had many...lol Now I`m just a gear head. The car is what has made things move..
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Steve 8:47PM (5/18/2006)
I own a 99 crown vic Police Interceptor. All the paint matches and it is in great shape. I still have the police wheels, grill, ect. on it. If I pull behind you majority of the time you'll move. But I also have six 12's in the trunk for bass. The older big body cars also have plenty of trunk space for music. When I turn my radio up it will amaze you, especially coming from a police car.
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jayy 8:55PM (5/18/2006)
Hey whats up to all my old school riders. I love my 89 box caprice. I just dropped a 383 stroker engine in it performance headers causing it to push out 480 horse power. Man I love it so much I recently put it on some 23 inch flate blades, I even got some flowmasters dual. Anyone who want some come get it.
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Kevin 8:55PM (5/18/2006)
Jane's got it right. My high school land yaht was a 68 ford country sedan (think country squire, no fake bark)
My girlfriend and I rang in New years 1977 with a bang. The back seats folded down for lots of room to spread(!) out.
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bill 9:01PM (5/18/2006)
I drive a '64 riviera daily that will smoke all the custom rodders on the road. it was the banker's hotrod of the 60's and only old rich guys could and would buy them. now they kick ass. by the way, I'm 60 yo and can kick your asses and take your women. lol . really.
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