Quote:
Originally Posted by 90503
Believe me, you are only scratching the surface....If you really delve into the issue, it will make your head spin and your stomach turn....and it's not a pretty picture at all. I doubt anyone will agree, and for simplistic reasons it will sound outrageous, but I'm telling you this: Young people will only buy 4cyl, tuner-type cars for many seemingly irrational reasons...
Anything big V-8 (even V-6) engines are perceived as an "American" car, a racist, homophobic purchase of old-school technology....The 4 cyl turbo is global, saves the planet, is trendy...American cars and "gas-guzzlers" are hated by college professors. Young people are peer-pressured into avoiding anything patriotic or that contributes to global-warming....Some Sororities and Fraternities will not associate or "date" (if you get my drift) anyone who owns a gas-guzzler, especially one American made.
I'm not trying to rant about politics, just highlighting a huge school of thought that has gone unchallenged and allowed to fester for many years. Young people are mostly unfamiliar, and unwilling to learn or care about the performance and benefits of a V-8 or V-6. It's a Turbo-4 tuner, or nothing.
Al O. and GM are putting the reasons mildly and in a positive spin. But they are absolutely correct there is a large segment that will only buy a T-4....but there's more to the reasoning of why that is. More like the entire future of GM and passenger cars for the general public will soon not even include a V-8...
Sorry, I had to put it out there, flame away and/or delete it if you see fit...It certainly won't apply to all turbo-4 enthusiasts....but it will to a significant amount, for sure...Mark my words, once the 4banger forums get rolling....You'll see what I mean.
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I heavily disagree. Most young people prefer this because they like the fuel economy and power. The hasty generalization of young people disliking V8's is not true. I'm sure plenty like them, but can't afford them in terms of capital and O&M costs. I've spoken to young friends of mine and they tend to like cars that look sporty. Many of them actually like the Tesla. What we're witnessing among young people is mostly a cultural shift. V8's aren't affordable as they used to be and the overall car culture has gone down since the 60s. Different generations grow up with different frames of mind; every generation thinks uniquely. Young people buy the base level because it's cheaper up front, has good fuel economy, fast, but is still is a Camaro.
Unfortunately, V8's won't last forever. Technology will replace spark and compression ignition engines by the next 100 years. It's time to embrace change and reflect on what made the past great.
And the V8 being racist and homophobic?
I don't know where you got your ideas about the college professors and dating norms, but they seem out of place.