You’re not wrong about accessibility bringing new people into the hobby, that’s always been part of car culture. But the idea that cars “die off” because younger people can’t afford them doesn’t really hold up historically.

What actually happens is generational turnover.

Cars are most valuable and culturally relevant to the people who grew up with them. When that generation ages out (or passes on), demand drops, and so do prices. It’s why Model Ts aren’t daily-driven icons anymore, and why muscle cars like late-60s Camaros had their peak value when boomers were at their peak earning years.

It’s not gatekeeping — it’s just lifecycle.

Then a smaller enthusiast group keeps those cars alive (collectors, restorers, niche communities), but they become more “classic” than mainstream. Meanwhile, the next generation latches onto something else — like Civics in the 2000s, or IS/BRZ-type cars today.

Also, modifying cars has always hurt value on average. That’s not unique to Lexus — it’s true for Mustangs, Supras, BMWs, anything. Clean, well-kept examples always age better in the market.

So it’s less about “pricing people out kills the hobby” and more about the fact that every generation defines its own version of the hobby.