Do Young People Like Cars Anymore? — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 238
5/18/202659 min
As a society, we’ve been throwing around the phrase “The kids are alright” for decades. But in the automotive landscape, is that really true? On today’s episode, Derek and Jason dissect the theory that young people are getting less interested in cars and whether or not it has any validity in 2026. Before getting into the thick of it, Jason and Derek discuss the latest Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo GTS joining them in the studio. Carmudgeonation occurs, naturally. Between unintuitive infotainment and UX, lackluster interior volume, and - naturally being a current Porsche - an eye-watering sticker price of over $180K, the newest Taycan certainly leaves some ground to be desired. But not all is lost, as the updated adaptive air suspension, good looks, and the endlessly mind-bending acceleration certainly make up for lost appeal. And of course, the existence of any wagon still on sale in 2026 - let alone, a Porsche wagon, is a win regardless of its flaws. The bulk of this episode discusses youth interest in cars and how trends have changed in recent years. Most notably, the cultural shift in interest to Porsche products like the 992 GT3 RS over Lamborghini and Ferrari - why do kids fawn over cars that are inherently more commonplace and accessible? Does industry accessibility to press cars affect young tastes? Will broccoli haircuts live on forever? Some of this, and more - on today’s episode of The Carmudgeon Show with Jason Cammisa and Derek Tam-Scott, driven by Hagerty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsDerek Tam-Scott· Host0:00
Greetings Salutations Welcome to our guest this week, a Porsche Yeah, but a, but a station wagon, which- Porsche station wagon ...
Jason Cammisa· Host0:09
5 billion horsepower.
Derek Tam-Scott· Host0:11
Mm-hmm.
Jason Cammisa· Host0:11
Um, that is a Taycan GTS in the background. I don't know if you can see it because it's r- Sport Turismo ... R- sorry, Sport Turismo. It's roughly the same color as the walls.
Derek Tam-Scott· Host0:19
Yes.
Jason Cammisa· Host0:19
Um- Millennial gray automobile [laughs] Uh- This is the Carmudgeon Show, which is driven by Hagerty, which is a, a company that provides insurance for enthusiasts by enthusiasts And presented by Jason Cammisa and Derek Tam-Scott Or similar Or similar Yeah. We're a little off today. We'll see, we'll see how [laughs] [laughs] We'll see how good we get. Uh, today we use the Taycan and its amazing engineering prowess t- as a prop- Springboard ... springboard to discuss the possibility that maybe people that are young aren't interested in cars at all anymore.
Derek Tam-Scott· Host0:56
Agree? Disagree? Find out- Only one way to find out ... after the- After these messages ... the incompetent clap and the jingle. [claps] Eh.
Jason Cammisa· Host1:06
I wouldn't call that inco- yeah, no, I would.
Derek Tam-Scott· Host1:08
Wasn't competent [laughs] No, that's for sure.
Jason Cammisa· Host1:11
[upbeat music] So what were you saying, that Porsche is actually Austrian?
Derek Tam-Scott· Host1:18
You were speaking with an Arnold accent, so It's fine.
Jason Cammisa· Host1:22
There's no substitute. [laughs] I don't do a good Arnold.
Derek Tam-Scott· Host1:26
Mm.
Jason Cammisa· Host1:26
Uh, half my crew does a really good, uh, Arnold.