At the time of writing, I’m 29, so that doesn’t cover the current teenage generation, but I may be able to offer some insights on someone straddling the fence between groups.
I think there are a few different key areas worth mentioning when talking about a younger generation and car enthusiasm. For most, their first bicycle is a tool in which they now have the freedom to visit places or friends when they want. A car only expands upon that. For many, it’s not about the journey but about the final destination, if you really think about it. The object itself isn’t usually part of the fascination for many, in the same way you may not know the exact grade of steel the hammer is made from other than ‘it gets the job done’.
This is heightened by two factors with the younger generation. Their access to capital to buy the enthusiast vehicle in question and the access it allows them to have within their social circle.
Through little fault of their own, the younger generation currently has less financial agency than pretty much any previous group. For many, this means not being able to afford the performance vehicle they would like to attain. Or for others, this means no thoughts of traditional performance at all – with a greater emphasis on sale price and mileage.
Additionally, there seems to be an increasing model of non-ownership regarding subscription services. In the coming days, especially once self-driving is a more-mature technology, people won’t even own cars, but share a single car multiple people ‘subscribe’ to (think of a timeshare, but as a vehicle). For urban people with high rent, a lack of prominent mass transportation (or if that is seen as too low-class), and the lack of bandwidth to want to deal with registration, insurance, maintenance, parking costs, and storage space, this seems to be a worthwhile proposition (see the increased use of services like Uber or Carvana when compared to the traditional Taxi experience or the Dealership experience).
Additionally, cars nowadays don’t grant access to one’s social circle like they may have previously. With the maturity of the internet, especially evident now during Covid, people don’t need to be in proximity to one another to communicate or share events. Technology is now the ‘vehicle’ that allows people to connect with their friends (since the days of AIM, my generation), not necessarily cars. Need to see a movie? Netflix. Need to get groceries? Many of them are online and will ship to you. Need to get literally anything else? Amazon Prime. There of course exists (many) reasons why one would still need or want a motor vehicle, but our dependence on personal vehicles is getting lower and lower.
Many of the ‘tinkerers’ that grow up now, having grown up in a computer era, and seeing how technology is the vehicle for many of their worldly interactions, may now turn to computers and technology to unleash their creative side. Building enthusiast-level computers is seen as not only easier but also more cost effective (often costing around 1,000 – 2,000 dollars) when compared to even maintaining a car correctly, not even considering the modification cost for an enthusiast (including the fact that a computer, 3D printer, or many other components can be assembled with a flat head screwdriver in your livingroom, in comparison to a car garage with the tools needed). 3D printing, CNC, and home manufacture are taking off as well as they begin to enter the range of accessibility. The same types of people still exist, they have just transitioned their field of interest, since for many a performance vehicle is outside their range of accessibility (this is also why there was a big focus on overseas Japanese vehicles, because they were often cheaper and therefore more accessible, as well as the unique factor. The same could be said for those that couldn’t access a performance-related tier, admiring their increased MPG or value-for-the-dollar).
As far as Tesla and electric vehicles are concerned, I do believe that electric vehicles will be a part of the future and may ultimately be the future. You have to also understand that in California, being in business is also fashionable. Owning a Tesla or a certain Apple product is now a social standing signal, much in the same way that a well-adorned mechanical watch with a tailored suit might have been the apex in yesteryear. The populous now having access to the Model 3 only enhances that, as multiple people can now access what is deemed to be fashionable and of high stature (to include the green earth virtue people). To bring up the watch metaphor again, before the mid-1800s pocket watches existed, but were only for those of extreme wealth (and the class that came along with that) since they were all made individually by master craftsmen. When the pocket watch was first able to be mass produced and still retain accuracy, you saw a lot of people showing it off in their photograph portraits at the time (especially soldiers). It was seen as a luxury good and people wanted to flaunt it. It also helps that a Tesla can blow the doors off most vehicles on the road. Within that circle, the classic car enthusiast is still there and you should definitely check out Mountain Pass Performance.
To speak personally, starting out I didn’t have any interest in vehicles other than as a tool. What started me getting interested in them was the process of fixing them, and how one could save money in a DIY fashion. My mentors taught me how to rotate my wheels, change my oil, and change my filters. That evolved into the neighbor teaching me how to use a tire mounting and balancing machine on my econosteelie wheels. It’s these sorts of things that brought out my engineer-side and made me interested in how stuff works. “The ride” is definitely a proponent of getting people’s attention, but for some learning these now-uncommon skills gives them the gratification of completing a job well done (which is a great endorphin hit, as many of you know) as well as the prospect of saving money while gaining knowledge. I was elated the first time I used a wiring chart and multimeter to diagnose that my alternator was in fact NOT faulty, but that I had blown an unknown-to-me large fuse on my firewall (saving big bucks at the time and feeling like a genius). If it was up to me, driving school would include sections on how to take off and change to a spare tire or how to jump a car battery, but they don’t and often the parents don’t bother either. When was the last time you got a wiring diagram with your washing machine? When was the last time you read a vehicle owner’s manual that didn’t just say ‘take it to the dealer’? While I agree that the internet has many available portals in which one can self-teach, many might feel that it is beyond their skillset when taking the first plunge and no one wants to mess up their expensive vehicle (common scare tactic by dealers). We live in an increasingly ‘disposable’ world, where once something breaks (and it often breaks easier), it’s thrown out. Large manufacturers realize they can persuade people not to repair, but to replace, with the profits going into their pocket.
I work for a very well known television company and one of my primary responsibilities is overseeing the post-production of content for our major car-related network (on air and digital). The network had no idea why they aren't scoring Neilsen ratings with any demographic under 55, but for that same period of time they only had content relating to 60s-70s American muscle cars. More young people identify now with a Honda Civic more than a 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda and it's just their failure to recognize this and expand their programming to include a larger group.
TL-DR: Between shifting personal transport and fashion trends, expense, and availability to knowledge and space – it really isn’t the young generations fault that they may not know to love cars in the same way. If you want to foster the relationship, I suggest being a mentor as much as you can and fostering a relationship related to repair. If the younger person sees the merit and feels empowered, you’ve lit the flame and they’ll pursue it.
Apologies for the longest post this forum probably has, but wanted to throw in my $200. As far as I’m concerned, I have no issue with the electric vehicle future (or even being driven around) as long as I get to fire up my Mustang on the weekends and row through the gears on my own.