Five great vehicles for seniors (and not a Crown Vic in sight)
A Golden Age couple asked Savvy Senior writer Jim Miller for recommendations on a new vehicle, but the the couple didn't provide a price range or say if their sunset years are spent driving like Paul Newman or Morgan Freeman. Miller took a guess and based his recommendations on reliability, ease of entry, ability to adjust the seats for comfort, driver visibility, and of course value.
His recommendations, based on data from Edmunds include:
- 2006 Toyota Avalon (pictured)
- 2006 Ford Five Hundred
- 2006 Toyota Prius
- 2006 Buick Lucerne
- 2006 Toyota Sienna
Related:
Everybody knows Buick is automotive prune juice except for GM. Discuss.
[Source: Blade Plus
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Dan 5:22PM (8/06/2006)
I would have selected the Amanti instead of the Prius!
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TJ 5:29PM (8/06/2006)
Interesting list. Living is South FLA, I can contest they're dead on with the Avalon. Old people love those things. Second most popular is the Grand Marquis. Hell, the So. FLA market is probably keeping Mercury alive. They don't seem too fond of the five-hundred, and God help us all if they start driving Sienna's. They're dangerous enough driving small cars!
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Mal Fuller 5:31PM (8/06/2006)
I'd suggest a 1949 Hudson Commodore 8 with Overdrive just like the one Morgan Freeman drove in Driving Miss Daisy.
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Sam 5:49PM (8/06/2006)
Are you guys kidding?!?
Old folks love the Camry, salesmen drive the Buicks.
At least that's the way it seems in the greater NY area these days.
What's the Prius even doing on this list?!?!
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iQuack 6:04PM (8/06/2006)
"Everybody knows Buick is automotive prune juice...."
Maybe so, but the Buick Lucerne is a contemporary style that's not nearly as much automotive Metamucil at the Ford 500/Mercury Montego bland look-the-sames that are designed to emulate a big, empty, cheap shell of what an Audi might look like if de-contented and priced under $20K.
I think the Honda Accord EX-L sedan belongs on this list--not because I'm and old geezer who owns one, but because the Accord is a sensible and comfortable car with a firmer ride and crisper handling for geezers like me who want a bit more than a limo-soft ride while we're driving.
Generalizing about "Golden-Aged" people's car preferences doesn't mean squat.
Interesting that the Prius is on this list. It's certainly a spacious and comfortable car, but the Toyota Prius seems more for the tech-savvy, middle-aged, tree-hugging, Al Gore/global warming, vegan, Socialist Democrat, flunked Econ 101 crowd. Most of us older folks have wised up to that crap by now.
Prius is still a good choice so long as it doesn't have remnants of Kerry-Edwards bumper stickers on the back as so many Prii do here in San Francisco;-).
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Will 6:06PM (8/06/2006)
I agree with the Sienna and Avalon, I see a ton of geezers in those. But I think the list is missing a Scion xB. Every one of those I see on the road is driven by someone 60+.
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richard elsbree 6:17PM (8/06/2006)
The only car for senior citizens is a crown vic taxi and yes, that includes me.
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Old Cowhand 6:18PM (8/06/2006)
As a 73-year old guy, I wouldn't take any of those cars, except maybe the Avalon. I'll try not to upchuck at the thought of a Prius. Ye gods, minivans and Prius? Agh!! Give me a Mustang GT, a Silverado or a F-150. The vhehicles listed must be for senior women, right? The Tacoma is the best Toyota this side of a Lexus. There are just the two of us at home now and four-doors not required or requested. The tamest vehicle would be a Ranger, Dakota or possibly a decent size station wagon.
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Jack Mehoff 6:28PM (8/06/2006)
Interesting that Tiger Woods is the official spokesman for Buick and his car of choice is the Lucerene. It's probably because it has that huge back seat that he can use to entertain the Swedish wife while he puts from her rough.
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iQuack 6:31PM (8/06/2006)
Yeah, lookin' good here:
http://xs104.xs.to/xs104/06321/Avageezer.jpg
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jc 6:33PM (8/06/2006)
The Ford 500 is very easy to get in and out of because of it's taller ride height.My parents own a 2004 MB e320 and said the Ford was easier to use
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J 7:08PM (8/06/2006)
My grandma is 86 she just bought an 06 Mustang GT.
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Linda P 7:12PM (8/06/2006)
Most seniors who have money drive the large Fords, Mercurys, and Caddys. The other seniors drive small Chevys,Hyundais, Corollas, or Dodges. I live in suburban Pittsburgh, along the Monongahela River, and we are polluted with drivers over 70.
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Vctor Rubiera 7:17PM (8/06/2006)
This guy forgot the Chrysler 300.
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Go2YourRoom 7:25PM (8/06/2006)
"I live in suburban Pittsburgh, along the Monongahela River, and we are polluted with drivers over 70."
POLLUTED with drivers over 70? Is the Monongalhela River where you young folks throw your unwanted seniors?
JUST WAIT--SOME DAY THEY'LL COME TO GET YOU!
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David 7:43PM (8/06/2006)
iQuack:
"Generalizing about "Golden-Aged" people's car preferences doesn't mean squat"
Neither does generalizing about people who didn't vote for Bush.
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ken 7:52PM (8/06/2006)
Why is the Prius on this list you ask? Because Political Correctness shows it's ugly head once again. What 'senior' would even THINK of buying a Prius? Maybe 1 or 2. But it goes to show you how the "mainstream" media editorialize even in a regular news story. The writer is afraid of catching flack from his peers and not being invited to the good parties.
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DC 7:59PM (8/06/2006)
The Prius is probably on the list because it is easier for arthritic people to drive. Push button start and very light steering.
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HUGE BRAIN 7:59PM (8/06/2006)
Older people can be slow and distracted at times, but the most dangerous and thoughtless drivers tend to be the younger ones who speed, weave in and out of lanes, and act like a**holes.
Worst transgression among the old is driving too slowly in the left lane. That's annoying.
Older people have more money and are likely to me more paranoid about auto crashes, so choose larger, upscale cars.
Older folks don't like to crawl into nor hoist themselves up from a car that's too low. Many recently designed sedans are taller now than in the past to satisfy the aging population. Lots of seniors prefer SUVs for the same reason even though they don't need the loading space.
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Sam 8:08PM (8/06/2006)
"Older folks don't like to crawl into nor hoist themselves up from a car that's too low. Many recently designed sedans are taller now than in the past to satisfy the aging population. Lots of seniors prefer SUVs for the same reason even though they don't need the loading space."
I'm glad someone pointed that out, that's why my Dad owns an Explorer.
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