Suitable car for 80+ year olds

[BRoo]

Hi

I am looking for potential car options for the parents both in mid to late 80's. They recently managed to burn the clutch out (due to riding it) on their older diesel Fiesta.

Things to be taken into consideration - height as they are both getting a little bit less agile so sitting in a low down vehicle is a no. Needs to be an auto - to stop the wear on the clutch! Don't think fully electric will work but willing to listen to that side of things. I had problems getting the BT man through the door - don't get me started on electrical or tradesmen! Mileage is pretty low just supermarket and back a couple of times a week.

Anybody got any serious suggestions, I have had many funny ones go through my mind, but please only realistic suggestions, somebody must have been through this.

Thanks

[SydneyBridge]

My Dad had several Honda Jazz but got a Hyundai i10 just before he passed away, my mum still drives it. I also drive it and a cracking little car

[biggles330d]

BRoo said:

Hi

I am looking for potential car options for the parents both in mid to late 80's. They recently managed to burn the clutch out (due to riding it) on their older diesel Fiesta.

Things to be taken into consideration - height as they are both getting a little bit less agile so sitting in a low down vehicle is a no. Needs to be an auto - to stop the wear on the clutch! Don't think fully electric will work but willing to listen to that side of things. I had problems getting the BT man through the door - don't get me started on electrical or tradesmen! Mileage is pretty low just supermarket and back a couple of times a week.

Anybody got any serious suggestions, I have had many funny ones go through my mind, but please only realistic suggestions, somebody must have been through this.

Thanks

Electric all day long with that low use. Easy to operate and pennies to run.
A 2nd hand Nissan Leaf would seem ideal.

Mother in law recently bought a new Honda Jazz hybrid. Nice little car but like your parents, rarely goes beyond a 5 mile radius and mostly backs on and off the drive once per week to get the bins out. Once fill up in 9 months or something silly. It just seems a total waste of a petrol engine, not to mention the think is unlikely to get warm, ever, so it's bound to be problematic after a relatively short time.
Electric though, perfect for this use case.

Edited by biggles330d on Wednesday 13th September 15:09

[Squadrone Rosso]

Taxi.

[biggles330d]

CheesecakeRunner said:

BRoo said:

Anybody got any serious suggestions

An Uber account.

And yes, that’s a serious suggestion. For the use you’re describing it’ll probably work out cheaper, and potentially safer.

This too. There's a huge number of taxi journeys that could be done for the cost of owing any car. Loss of independence is a big issue for older people though no matter how much they don't actually go anywhere so it may be a hard sell. My father had to have his licence taken away before he'd accept it, and even then it was very reluctant and for a long time he was dead set on getting it back. He was a rolling hazard to all other drivers though so glad it never happened.

[deckster]

Squadrone Rosso said:

Taxi.

This. All day long. Cheaper & easier for them, safer for the rest of us.

[stumpage]

My Dad's 82 and drives around in his 2010 BMW E90 330i Auto Convertible and won't change to 'an old mans car!' (his words).

Not all octogenarians are decrepit and frail so it totally depends on the person! I am more than happy to be driven by him as his driving standard hasn't dropped at all.

Edited by stumpage on Wednesday 13th September 15:24

[Vasco]

Can I please chip in with a similar-ish request please. Much longer distances (300 miles return) on occasions but seat height important. Existing Fiesta has been excellent but nowadays just too low down.

Thanks all.

[QuartzDad]

Dad was 80 and did occasional 400 mile trips plus local pottering in an i30. Mum and he both liked it.

[Krikkit]

Vasco said:

Can I please chip in with a similar-ish request please. Much longer distances (300 miles return) on occasions but seat height important. Existing Fiesta has been excellent but nowadays just too low down.

Thanks all.

Fiesta "Active"? One of our neighbours has replaced their Kuga with one, and apparently it's a much better car all round.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?advertisin...

[Jonny_]

If your folks are only pootling around doing a few miles a week then an EV would be ideal. Plenty of crossover options if they're after something a little higher off the ground, e-Niro or Kona perhaps? The smaller battery versions will be more than adequate. Or maybe an e-2008 or DS3 Crossback.

If they are dead set against an EV then perhaps look at "conventional" hybrids, Jazz or C-HR or the taller version of the Yaris maybe.

[Earthdweller]

My octogenarian parents in law have a Golf SV auto which seems to suit

Reversing camera, auto, parking sensors all round, very big glass area for visibility and a slightly raised seating position for getting in/out

Both of them love it and tbf apart from being as boring as porridge it’s a perfect car for them

[threespires]

How nice to get a new car at 80. We gave my gran a new Cortina automatic for her 80th. We got the reg JOL 8E to go with it.
She drove it until she was 92 and than she gave up. Sadly we didn't keep the number when the car was scrapped.

[Silvanus]

What's the budget? Are we talking old Honda Jazz or new Merc money.

[jayymannon]

Cheap options: Picanto or i10, reliable and I think (haven't driven one) the seating position is slightly higher than some bigger cars.
Auto probably very slow.
Suzuki Ignis?? Slightly higher ride height, Auto available.
Money-to-burn option: Toyota Yaris cross, higher ride height, Auto. Reliable. No idea how hybrids like this cope with low mileage/lack of longer journies.

[Vasco]

Silvanus said:

What's the budget? Are we talking old Honda Jazz or new Merc money.

My additional request, to replace a Fiesta, suggests around £15-20k

[Silvanus]

Vasco said:

Silvanus said:

What's the budget? Are we talking old Honda Jazz or new Merc money.

My additional request, to replace a Fiesta, suggests around £15-20k

I might have missed it, but haven't seen the OP suggest a budget, all they say is to replace an older Fiesta, older is open to interpretation.

[mikeyr]

Budget is key here!

Have they driven an automatic before? If worried about general standard of driving (but feel they are safe) then it can be a big step change if have spent the last 50 years in manual cars.

I would suggest an electric car too but:
1. Would want a charger fitted in most instances
2. Many have touch screens; I imagine my parents of similar age would hate having to navigate through the screen on my ID to change the fan speed. To be fair, I do too.

On plus size, EVs have batteries under floor normally so assume seat heights are higher which might help with getting in/out.

[blue_haddock]

surely the only possible option is a honda jazz......

[Silvanus]

blue_haddock said:

surely the only possible option is a honda jazz......

Loads of potential options depending on budget