What Would Grandpa Drive? Edmunds goes 'Top 10' on pensioner's wheels
Edmunds has compiled what it considers the top ten best vehicles for senior citizens. Seniors, defined as
those sixty-five and older, represent the fastest-growing segment of America's population. The article addresses the
strengths and weaknesses of each vehicle as they relate to a senior’s perceived needs.The list, in alphabetic order, includes :
- Audi A8
- BMW 7 Series
- Buick Lucerne
- Chrysler 300
- Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego
- Honda Civic
- Pontiac Montana SV6 (NOTE: The Montana is being retired by General Motors)
- Toyota Avalon (pictured)
- Toyota Prius
- Toyota Sienna
Are there other vehicles you think deserve the AARP seal-of-approval?
[Source: Edmunds]
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_thumbnail.jpg "2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Jason 9:16PM (3/01/2006)
That's such a wide variety of vehicle types that it's meaningless. They'd have found some way to describe any on the car on the planet as "senior friendly".
"The Hummer is extremely rugged, so when grandpa plows it through a fruit stand, it's likely to be undamaged."
"The Porshe 911's mid-engine design will discourage Uncle Arthur from fiddling with the motor (and pouring 10W-30 into the washer fluid), because when he pops the hood and can't find it, he'll forget what he was doing and wander off."
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Trevor 9:18PM (3/01/2006)
Most Senior Citizens I know are cruising in a Ford Crown Vic, Lincoln TownCar or Mercury Grand Marquis. Reason being is that most prefer a V8 rwd.
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Mal Fuller 9:30PM (3/01/2006)
"Seniors, defined as those sixty-five...." Boy, as I approach 65 I'm pleased to learn that after only one year I won't be a senior anymore!
It's going to take a huge shift in my preferences in order for me to consider any vehicle on this list!
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max 9:31PM (3/01/2006)
Camry Camry Camry......it's the rule in the Long Island/Queens NY for oldster to drive it.
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bri 9:31PM (3/01/2006)
why in the heck would a senior citizen want to buy any of the following?
Honda Civic
Pontiac Montana SV6
Toyota Prius
Toyota Sienna
strange survey to be sure.
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Kevin 9:32PM (3/01/2006)
Where are these seniors getting the money for some of these cars? The A8, the 7-Series? Great cars, don't get me wrong, but think about this: the A8, base engine, 335 hp, the 7, 360 hp, what is a 60 year old man going to do with that kind of power?! Drag race his neighbor's Mustang?
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Proud Japanese 9:32PM (3/01/2006)
911s are rear-engined btw
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bernie 9:37PM (3/01/2006)
I love how we let the media tell us what senior citizen-hood has to be like. How patronizing they suggest five star crash rated, pillowy riding dull mobiles for the elderly.
The closer I get to 65 the more I want to be the old guy in the Caterham Super Seven wearing a stroker hat and listening to The Who Live at Leeds REALLY loud.
The day I give in and buy a Lucerne I'm as good as dead!
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CJ 9:40PM (3/01/2006)
As someone who lives in South Florida, I find this list to be a bit off. The most popular among the old fogies are:
Toyota Avalon/Camry
Merc Grand Marquis/Ford Crown Vic
and Buicks...well, mostly the large Buicks (unfortunately :/)
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Joe 9:51PM (3/01/2006)
the closser I get everyday to 60, I am always thinking about geting the most for my money and about comparing competing quotes, so I would have to go with the Honda civic for the best money spent,
Just My thoughts
Joe
http://www.compare-competing-quotes.com
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Nathan Jones 10:00PM (3/01/2006)
Yeah, I'm sure there are tons of Seniors out there just dying to figure out how to use I-drive...I had to give my Mom a week long course on how to turn the windshield wipers on and off in her new Grand Marquis.
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Kevin 10:03PM (3/01/2006)
You want good senior cars? Listen here, what seniors need are inexpensive, economical cars like the Cobalt or the Focus, not an A8 or a 7 Series. What's next? Senior Citizen Street Racing? I would pay money to see that. Here's a good race for that. The first one to 3rd gear wins.
(No offense meant to seniors at all.)
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Kowell 10:04PM (3/01/2006)
Something big and fade like a Toyota Avalon should be onthe list too, as well as all existing Buick models.
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RHM 10:05PM (3/01/2006)
Why on earth would the 7-series make the list? Its a complex task to change the radio station or adjust the climate settings (LINK). I don't think the A8 is much better.
I nominate the Scion xB as a fogy friendly ride. Toyota would probably be horrified to know that the xB possesses a number qualities that are attractive to older folk including, including ease of ingress/egress, simplicity, and low cost of acquisition and ownership.
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Robert Aitchison 10:06PM (3/01/2006)
Ford "redesigned" the Focus in 2005 to appeal directly to the AARP set, by making it blander with a boring front end & boring (& cheap) interior. I'm surprised that didn't make the list.
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Kevin 10:09PM (3/01/2006)
Because we all know seniors need that iPod input jack
, Lane Departure warning systems, CD/DVD/Navigation, and Parking Assist.
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Doogs 10:15PM (3/01/2006)
"Where are these seniors getting the money for some of these cars?"
Huh? It's not as though all seniors are living off social security.
And besides...picking out the best vehicles based on some arbitrary categorization (age, gender, income) is just silly.
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Kevin 10:16PM (3/01/2006)
2 Buick models currently in play
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paulkastner 10:18PM (3/01/2006)
with Buick average age dead how could it not be the winner?
if you go to your local Buick dealership on Thursdays they give away free oxygen.
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Kevin 10:20PM (3/01/2006)
Whoa, whoa, hang on, i didn't mean ALL seniors, Doogs, i meant not everyone can afford an $80,000 Luxo-boat.
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