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An informative section from The New York Times on the changes Boomers are and will be exerting on a variety of issues....take a look...Click Here.

We brought this section to the attention of The Colonel, here are his comments..."Guys told you that these Boomers were not just going to go away into retirement oblivion, or remain passive as they get older".

The other day The Colonel started on Boomers again, and we feel that its worthwhile to let him continue expressing his thoughts.

Q- Colonel what is on your mind?

A- The future of automobility looks foggy and confusing, and most folks will lose focus.

Q- Boomers have enough experience to remained focused.

A- I'm certain they do, they might lose patience and understanding and get rebellious.

Q- Boomers get rebellious...

A- Its very easy for Boomers to get rebellious and even confrontational. Don't forget that these Boomers 40 years ago made it a point to incite change, made it a point to be heard, made it a point to be different.

Q- This sounds aggressive...

A- Not aggressive....call it assertive...call it making sure.

Q- You are basing this on what thought process.

A- Simple...as Boomers start to retire, get out of the corporate environment, they will free themselves of numerous layers of "corporate think" and seek an enhanced sense of "intellectual freedom".

Q- This sounds complicated?

A- Perhaps it is a little complex, a little leading edge....

Q- What does it have to do with cars?

A- One simple question....do boomer really want these overly complicated cars? I don't think so!

Q- You don't think so?

A- As much as they might have appreciated the initial upside of the complexity, they understand the downside of the complexity, they find the downside disturbing.

Q- Disturbing?

A- If it does not resonate...it can be disturbing...it can be annoying...the eyesight, motor skills are not as keen...what is simple for a younger individual is annoying for a Boomer. Just one example, and ther are millions of Boomers.

We had to include this poster from the original Woodstock Concert in 1969. Yes its a few years ago....almost 40.

Boomers were in their late teens and early twenties in 1969.

To give you a feel Santana performing Soul Sacrifice at Woodstock...Click Here.

Boomers are enduring, Santana performing the same song in 2002...Click Here.

Lets continue our dialogue with The Colonel.

Q- Are you familiar with Woodstock and Santana?

A- You guys are kidding me? You are trying to get me going again. Other folks should be familiar with this stuff! Did you hear about the Led Zeppelin concert a few weeks ago? It confirms how enduring Boomers are, and the sheer number.

Q- There's a lot of Boomers, they are still influential, and they get their points across.

A- I'm glad to see that you have an understanding of the overall picture. 

Q- With oil hitting $100/barrel does it change anything.

A- Yes it does! It compresses the time frames, and accelerates the evolution of automobility. Have you guys seen GMnext? General Motors is asking questions, and inviting answers from the readers / participants. Which is what you guys are doing with this blog.

Q- Colonel you are saying that Boomers will have an interest in the past, the present, and the future?

A- Boomers realise that automobility as they have experienced is inexorably being altered. They want to be part of, and have a say in the altering process, I think that Boomers want to see changes in automobility that make positive contributions to the future. At the same time Boomers want to keep reminders of the cars they knew, and experienced as younger individuals. The cars that were mechanical with no electronics, the cars that have a compelling sense of mechanical elegance, and beauty.

Q- Why do you make references to mechanical amd Boomers relating to such a feature.

A- Boomers are familiar with older entirely mechanical cars without the electronic aids, they learned how to drive with such cars, that require a completely different involvement than modern cars.

Q- We have a section of the blog entitled Think Verde, is this of interest to Boomers?

A- Absolutely, that is the future its the general direction of automobility in the coming years. Boomers want to be a part of that evolution, they want to experience the future of automobility. For people that have seen so much change in their lives, its a strong temptation to experience the future.

Q- How about the present?

A- The present automobility is straining under its own weight, and entering a turbulent period. On one side there is incredible horsepower and performance which has reached its zenith, and on the other side incredible complexity which is mind boggling.

Q- Are you saying that Boomers cherish the past, endure the present, and are looking forward to the future?

A- Well said, the present is a stepping stone towards a future that will make a contribution.

Lets get started, it will get involved, and the Colonel is in full form today.

Q- What is on Boomers' radar screen when it comes to cars.

A- The future, sustainability, moving away from fossil fuels, fun, passion, emotions...its a wide spectrum of ideas and concepts. The future and sustainability are at the forefront, especially that has one gets older and wiser (had to throw it in) they realise that they need to leave resources for the future generations.

Q- Will Boomers respond favorably to vehicles that make a contribution to conserving, and sustaining the environment?

A- These people since they were children experienced widespread automobility in North America, and their children have lived through the same experience. The lingering question is always...how long can it last? When will it come to an abrupt end.

Q- You are saying that they would respond favorably, but also have a wide spectrum of interest when it comes to automobility?

A- These folks have experienced all sorts of vehicles, and by now have their own opinions and visions as to what will keep them satisfied.

Q- Will it be just one vehicle, or a few?

A- Its all over the place some might be content with one or two, other have more, and will want some more, and other have the garage to go along with the various vehicles. With the primary source of transportation being socially responsible to the present, and making a contribution towards the future.

Q- Could you be more concise as to what vehicles?

A- This could become a long dialogue, the average Boomer would enjoy a vehicle that reminds them of when they were young which would be one form or other of Detroit Iron. Especially that Boomers grew up during the golden age of Detroit Iron. At some point many of them gravitated towards imports, in many instances they were luxury imports. It would make sense that they would have a luxury import. They could have a toy which could be a vehicle that ignites the passion. The daily driver with the most usage would be a socially responsible vehicle.

Q- What features are they looking for, appeal to them?

A- These folks in many instances started driving with cars that did not have seat belts, let alone all the other safety features that are taken for granted today. In modern vehicles Boomers want comfort, it has to be effortless. In older vehicles that are a reminder of years gone by, it has to be fun, simple, mechanical. At the same time Boomers have actually lived through the changes in the price of fossil fuels, this presentation explains it well...Click Here.

We will continue....

Did we upset The Colonel yesterday? He seemed tense towards the end of our dialogue. Here he is, lets ask him?

Q- Colonel did we upset you yesterday?

A- Not at all, I'm used to your confrontational questions! You were trying to get me going admit it!

Q- We wanted to push your buttons to see what you would do.

A- I see...

Q- There is a chasm between one generation and another, and after yesterday we can sort of understand that manufacturers are asking the same questions, and probably arriving at the same vague answers.

A- The generational differences create a chasm, the environmental awareness, the conservation of resources are additional elements that create disparities. Boomers that have lived through constant change are seeing additional change on the horizon, and even some turbulence.

Q- Lets get to the point, what sort of vehicles will Boomers want, or expect in the near future.

A- The majority of Boomers started out with domestic vehicles, as Detroit floundered in the mid seventies they moved to imports, and now are still in imports, although some staid with domestic. Another aspect, most Boomers have always had several vehicles at their disposal, its not a question of one vehicle for all uses.

Q- With Boomers having several vehicles, they have a wider perspective and complex requirements to be happy and content.

A- Absolutely, these individuals can cover several segments, and be influenced by different stages of their mental image of their life.

Q- You are starting to sound complicated here.

A- Not at all, its relatively simple and straightforward.

Q- What do you mean by mental image of different stages in life?

A- One vehicle can remind a Boomer of a specific time frame, another of a different situation in their own journey through life. It has little to do with how good, or bad the vehicle was, its the memories of the stage in life that counts.

Q- This is dealing with the past!

A- Here we go again...yes its the past which also becomes part of the future, but it is primarily the past...at a certain point in life reconnecting witht the past is also connecting with the future.

We will continue....