Fewer Americans Loving the Road

For auto lovers – and in this office that’s all of us – a survey released by the Pew Institute today is very disappointing. While we agree with many drivers that the daily commute can be a chore, we’re trying to find it uplifting that 69% of those polled still “like to drive.” Sure, that’s down from 79% in 1991, but we bet the frequency of daily annoyances (like bad drivers, construction and traffic) is up way more than 12% over that same period of time. 

According to the study, Americans are driving more than ever and for some reason see their cars more as means of transportation than as “something special.” The number of drivers who do see their cars as special is down 20% over the past 15 years, from 43% to 23% of all drivers. This number doesn’t make sense to us, as most shoppers we hear from want a distinct vehicle in their driveway, even if it is used as a daily workhorse. We car lovers demand a recount. If you feel like we do, please comment below.

[Americans' Love Affair With Cars Starts to Skid, AP]

Comments

[Joe Wiesenfelder]

This HAS to be about traffic patterns. A study in 1991 would have been about cars built in the 1980s -- the darkest automotive period since prehistoric man first strapped a sled to a prehistoric yak!

[sboyNAcamaro]

I used to love driving, but there are so many evil "bad cops" out there just itching to pull you over because you drive a nice sports car...insane tickets, extremely expensive insurance, and higher gas prices kill the fun of driving

[Dave T]

Joe,
As the graph and the study clearly say it's not just about traffic. They ask directly about cars and how people feel about them. This of course goes against millions of dollars in research by auto companies that say directly the opposite: Consumers want distinct style on top of reliabilty et al.

[Joe Wiesenfelder]

I read the text, and what the study asks is hardly the end of the discussion. If it's 100 degrees out (and look at that, it is), you're not going to think your parka is as special as it was a few months ago. Likewise, if every time you go for a drive it's a frustrating experience, you're not going to feel about your car the way you would if the experience were consistently good. People can't separate these things no matter how you -- or the Pew Institute in this case -- ask the questions.

[Phil Knoll]

I still love to drive, and I see my vehicle (Aztek) as something special (because it doesn't look like every other vehicle on the road). But I agree (with many of the commentors) that driving is frustrating and not much fun any more because of the congestion, bad (distracted)drivers, over zealous cops, et. al. Bottom line is it's hard to find an area where it can be fun to drive my "special" vehicle in peace and safety.

[Greg Hare]

If you hate overzealous cops, you might just want to try not speeding. It is, after all, against the law, and if you screw up you could kill someone. Use your cruise control and if you gotta go fast, that's what weekend tracks are for.

[Jim R]

I can't help but think this has something to do with the prevalence of "appliances" on the road--all those faceless Camrys and Accords, all those soulless Malibus and Tauruses. They're bland, they're boring, they get the job done and that's it.

That's why people moved to SUVs. They were bold, they were big, they were different. Now they're EVERYWHERE, and becoming appliance-mobiles as much as the minivans and station wagons they replaced.

Look at what happens when an automaker builds a new car that's got some style to it. The PT Cruiser FLEW off dealer lots the first year or so because it was different, it looked fun. The Chrysler 300 FLEW (and is still moving quite briskly) off dealer lots because it looks fun and different. It's not like every other box on wheels. The Pontiac GTO ...flopped. Because despite having the performance credentials it looked like a Cavalier, like every other car on the road, and most wrote it off.

My question is what the heck happened to styling? Too many automakers are letting the wind tunnel do all their styling for them, so every car winds up looking like a jellybean on wheels.