Q. I read in a Wall Street Journal article that “The Kids Are Over” with driving. Your thoughts? — R.B. (via Internet) 

A. The article says the percentage of teens with a driver’s license has fallen a lot in the last few decades. Why? Whereas a driver’s license once was a symbol of freedom, letting them escape from home and drive to visit friends and socialize with them, things such as social media and video chat “let them hang out without leaving the house.” Moreover, when they get a few years older, many move to large cities with mass transit where owning a car isn’t necessary nor practical and can be expensive. On weekends, they can rent a car. And then there’s ride services such as Uber and Lyft. 



Q. I don’t see as many high school student drivers as I once did. Why is that? — LN. (via Internet)

A. Many public schools no longer provide free driver’s training because of such things as state budget cuts. 



Q. I see many teens and people in their early 20s driving used cars—or what I assume is their parent’s expensive car. What gives? — J.W. (via Internet)

A. Used cars not only cost less than new ones, they also don’t have lots of technology, which makes them harder—and more expensive—to repair. Insurance premiums for new cars thus cost more. The average price paid for a new vehicle was $32,544 in 2018, up from $25,490 a decade ago. 




Q. Some major automakers, such as Ford, are giving up on making sedans. I think that’s stupid. I have no desire to buy an SUV. — W.H. (via Internet)

A. Some automakers continue to make sedans because they wisely realize that many older buyers don’t want to have to exert extra effort to get into an SUV or crossover vehicle with a higher floor—and also want the type of car they’ve been familiar with most of their lives. 

Q.  I’ d like my kid to have an inexpensive new car, rather than a used one that could have hidden safety problems. Will I have any luck finding a new one? — R. G. (via Internet)

A. Many automakers are no longer interested in selling low-priced new cars because, for one thing, they aren’t very profitable. However, smart automakers such as Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and Toyota offer low-priced new cars with under-$20,000 list base prices—but most cost $20,000-plus if you add desirable options. These automakers hope to draw younger customers to their brands with low-priced models so they will buy more expensive models as they grow older. However, few dealers want to stock the lowest-priced cars without options.



Q. I just read that a new study suggests that electric cars touted as a diesel alternative aren’t so great for the environment. I’m confused. —G.H. (via Internet)

A. The full picture of electric cars often isn’t told by the general media. For example, a study by the IFO think tank in Munich found that a popular electric car releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than a comparable diesel engine, reports the Wall Street Journal. One problem concerns the CO2 emitted to make the battery.




Back to Q & A main section