Why don’t teen boys work on cars anymore?

[Anonymous]

It used to be that teen boys loved tinkering with their cars. Now, it seems that boys don’t have anywhere near the same interest in cars in general, much less a desire to mess around with them. Why is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It used to be that teen boys loved tinkering with their cars. Now, it seems that boys don’t have anywhere near the same interest in cars in general, much less a desire to mess around with them. Why is this?

All kids' time is spent on video games and social media now. It's awful.

[Anonymous]

Cars have become much more complicated. My boys can do a whole lot, but there are limits simply because of the technology involved in newer cars.

[Anonymous]

You can't work on modern cars with simple tools in your driveway. Things are all computerized and specialized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It used to be that teen boys loved tinkering with their cars. Now, it seems that boys don’t have anywhere near the same interest in cars in general, much less a desire to mess around with them. Why is this?

Cars nowdays are more of moving electronic/computer chips, not mechanical like old days. i always get a kick out of guy with hood open on the highway like he's going to fix it. he is looking down and thinking "oh, sh8t, I am so screwed".

[Anonymous]

It used to be much easier to tinker with a car and not mess anything up. The electronics have become much more involved and complex so the barrier to entry is a lot higher. I would not let a teenager try to take apart my modern car engine.

[Anonymous]

Well, it wasn't just boys when I was growing up.

I think it is partly because of the electronics in newer cars that require the computer program to access. I mean, you can change the fluids and check the tires but not too much else these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It used to be much easier to tinker with a car and not mess anything up. The electronics have become much more involved and complex so the barrier to entry is a lot higher. I would not let a teenager try to take apart my modern car engine.

Also, the equipment involved is specialized and cost prohibitive.

[Anonymous]

Cars are basically computers. DH works on cars (he's has a masters in mechanical engineering and enjoys it) but he specifically buys cars he can work on. European cars are the hardest to work on since they want you to use unionized repair shops.

[Anonymous]

My nephews (in law) in the Midwest like tinkering with old cars. They live someplace where demolition derbies are still popular, and a lot of guys do what they can to fix the banged up cars with old parts so that they can compete multiple times with the same car.

[Anonymous]

My 17 year old works on cars. We buy safe, but old cars. He is about to sell his first Honda Civic, and is now working on a VW GTI.

I think it's the area of the country though. Many dads in this area do not work on cars. They work in an office, and don't have time or desire for car maintenance.

[Anonymous]

Because their fathers don’t. I could do just about any repair on a car back in the day, but there’s not much you can do in the driveway with newer cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't work on modern cars with simple tools in your driveway. Things are all computerized and specialized.

+1

I was just in a garage yesterday dealing with some issues with my car -- I ended up back where they work and it is hardly even dirty like it used to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because their fathers don’t. I could do just about any repair on a car back in the day, but there’s not much you can do in the driveway with newer cars.

Not entirely true. We have had mazdas, VWs and Hondas. It is harder to repair them than a Ford would be, but we (and by me, I mean DH) still do our own brakes, oil changes, shocks, you name it. We had to buy special tools for the VW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It used to be that teen boys loved tinkering with their cars. Now, it seems that boys don’t have anywhere near the same interest in cars in general, much less a desire to mess around with them. Why is this?

Just curious how old are you, op? I've never seen any teen boy work on a car and I'm 52.