There Is Hope For The Younger Generation, Priceless 914 Encounter Options

[Osnabruck914]

Last Sunday I decided to use the local high school's huge empty parking lot to balance my carburetors (for my neighbors' ears sake). While I had my head deep in the engine compartment tinkering with the linkage, I sensed the approach of someone and heard them say "Are you alright?". I looked up to see two kids. One was about 8 years old on a skateboard, the other about 11 on a bicycle. I told them I was fine, just working on my carburetors. That's when the 11 year old asked me "What, running rich?" I was taken aback and answered "No, just balancing them, they often need to be balanced." That's when the kid really floored me. With great authority he stated "That's why I like single-carb setups, or fuel injection." I was dumbfounded. He then performed a walk-around inspection of my car, saying "This is nice, yes, this is very nice. Porsche is my dream car." I asked him what model he wanted. "911." he announced.

I wanted to find out what made this kid tick, but they drifted off before I could quiz him.
And I do believe he will get that 911 someday. I think perhaps there is hope.

Osnabruck914

[sb914]

Great stuff! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Root_Werks]

I probably would have fainted given the kids answers. Haven't seen anyone under the age of 40 in years that doesn't think of a car as anything more than a basic kitchen appliance.

[930cabman]

My lil granddaughter (4 y/o) might be falling into the trap. She loves speed and the sounds on youtube of screaming engines. Hoping to get her into the car shop soon and put some tools into her hands. Started with my daughter 40 years ago and these days she is in line for taking over the small biz I have been building for several decades.

there is hope (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[Shivers]

They are out there. My great nephew is a wrench in the air force, he's about 20. He raced Briggs and Stratton rail dragsters as a kid. He has a 70's C10 short bed waiting for him to come home. It's those darn games, no games back when so I built bicycles and mini bikes, go karts and motorcycles. Nothing better to do and I liked it.

[Artfrombama]

I really enjoy seeing a kid show some interest in one of my cars. I 'll go out of my way to start a conversation, show them interesting things about the car, let them sit behind the wheel, blow the horn etc.
Never know when being nice to a kid will spark a lifelong interest.

[sb914]

While at a cars and coffee a young man comes up and says “wow a 914”
Then he looks into the engine bay and says “wow it’s got a v8 in it this is my dream car”.
He said his dad owns a 911 and he gets to work on it with him.
I was pretty blown away. I then let him sit in it and I fired it up.
Probably my favorite cc day .

[930cabman]

While at a cars and coffee a young man comes up and says “wow a 914”
Then he looks into the engine bay and says “wow it’s got a v8 in it this is my dream car”.
He said his dad owns a 911 and he gets to work on it with him.
I was pretty blown away. I then let him sit in it and I fired it up.
Probably my favorite cc day .

1 young man will never forget that day, ever

great way to pay it forward

[jd74914]

I love the interest!

But...I'm not sure the interest in cars is waning. The issue I see is that the barrier to entry is substantially higher than it was even 20 years ago. I bought my first 914 at 14 years old (23 years ago now) and it was complete, albeit rusty, for $500. I therein bought a second parts car for $300 and a running 2.0 for $1200. No way that happens now. And a lot of the cheap cars now aren't cool in any way, or require a lot more electrical troubleshooting knowledge than most possess-particularly a 15 year old and their 50 year old dad.

[bkrantz]

I feel better about young(er) people continuing some sort of car love at every local cars and coffee. Between Subies and other Japanese brands, and the kids that show up with just about everything, from Mustangs to race trucks, there is still another generation coming up that likes motor stuff.

[FlacaProductions]

That’s why I put little kids for a sit in the drivers seat whenever I can. The little dude I dropped in the 67 911 at the SMC show last week loved it.

[AZBanks]

I have several pallets of rock crawler parts sitting on the back of my property, Engine blocks, heads, axles, etc, etc, etc. They belong to a kid(Thomas) my son went to high school with.
Thomas is a die-hard gear head. He's built gas powered drift big-wheels. gas powered shopping carts, an off road crown vic that lasted longer than any car had a right to based on how it was abused.
He just built a diesel powered square-body suburban. He put the suburban body on a diesel powered 3500 truck frame.
He's open to building more of them if anyone brings him the parts.

My oldest(23) loves his 914.
My middle son(21) wants to buy a Cayman to go with his Subaru baja.
My youngest (18)wants a Camaro SS

The kids are all right(at least some of them)