My MIL needs a new car. What to get?
 

My Mother-in-law is 78 and currently drives a 2000 Mercedes C230 that she bought new. It is a good car and she does not have any problem with it except getting in and out of it. Typical arthritis issues. It has about 50,000 miles on it.

She is looking for a bigger vehicle mostly because they are easier to get into and out of. Her Mercedes requires premium fuel and she would like to get away from that. She lives in a small town 90 miles from a major metro area. For the most part she is the prototype "little old lady that drives back and forth to church and the grocery store." If the weather is icy or bad, she just stays home so 4 wheel drive is not needed.

She is looking for something in the mid 30s that is safe, reliable and gets decent gas mileage. So many of the nicer cars seem to fall into the big high horsepower mode and get 16 MPG. She does not want a big engine. She will never ever want to tow anything, drag race or carry a heavy load. She does want a car with 4 doors, coupes are out.

She is likely to buy a new car just to avoid any of the previous owner problems.

Where you you start looking?

She did not like my suggestion of a Panamera GTS. ;)

Just another C should do it...you can put mid grade in the naturally aspirated ones.

Small SUV. Easiest entry and exit, loading from the rear at a decent height. They make sense. She may balk.

+1. Lexus RX might be just the ticket if she doesn't mind used.

Many of the older ladies at our church have moved to minivans. They love the visibility and convenience. Maybe something sort of in-between like the Mazda 5 or VW Tiguan?

Small SUV is on the radar. Just which one is the big question.

i like that little benz SUV. cant remember the model number.

i tried to talk my aunt into one..she wont let any part of her body touch anything except mercedes..and she has arthritic knees.

Honda CRV, most popular for a reason.

Less than you are looking to spend, my folks recently bought a Elantra. I very impressed with it, much nicer than the price point would indicate.

You can't go too far wrong in your choice. Almost everyone is making "good" cars nowadays. And her needs don't sound complicated.

Just look for a chair-like seating position, power seat, adjustable pedals and/or telescopic steering, and leather so she slides in/out easier. The seat should be just a few inches lower (when adjusted in her preferred position) than her hip when standing outside the car. If she's short, a car will do. If she's taller, maybe a front-drive cute-ute.

A back-up camera would be nice.

A hood ornament helps with depth perception (or add one, or add corner markers)

Make sure she is comfortable gripping and moving the shifter. Some cars are pretty hard when you lose hand strength or have arthritis. A column shift is easiest. Same with turning the key/ignition. Perhaps a pushbutton starter and entry ala Nissan would be nice.

Subaru Outback. I convinced my MIL to buy one when her Honda Accord expired. That was 4 years ago and she has had zero problems with the car over now 80K miles. I drove it recently and it felt like a new car. Not rattles or shakes - just a solid nice car. Lots of options for the new ones but I think nicely equipped she could easily stay under $30K.

Thanks. I give your opinion high regards in things automotive.

Seniors i know seem to love the Toyota Highlander, most changed over from Mercedes, Caddies, etc.

That is what my dad has. He likes it. It did have one weird problem. One of the freeze plugs started leaking. Every few weeks he had to add antifreeze. It cost a lot to replace that dang freeze plug.

CRV or Pilot

Toyota RAV-4, Highlander, or even Venza (tall wagon, ask Seahawk) would work
Honda CRV (meh)
Nissan Rogue or Murano (ask wdfifteen, his mom just got a Murano)
Kia Sportage or Sorento
Hyundai Tuscon or Santa Fe
Ford Escape (wait for new one) or Edge (ask Angela!)
Subaru Legacy Outback or Forester
Chev Equinox (great gas mileage!)
2013 Buick Encore (not out yet)
Infiniti EX
Mazda's new CX5

Juke :)

Ford Fusion Hybrid

SUVs will be harder and harder to get in/out of as she ages. The seating position is too tall, IMO.

i was just thinking along the same lines. my knee has been killing me. climbing up into my tacoma is funny looking. i would get a roomy sedan.

Funny you should mention that...when I think geriatric, I think vash. ;)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QKU1mb3gnI...1600/PMred.jpg

Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Towncar. Not so bad of fuel economy as they used to be, reliable, sturdy, easy to get in and out of. No step up, room in back seat for things. Drawback is all her friends will want her to drive THEM around to appointments and erands and such. At least, that has been our experience with my Mother. Though your MIL is a bit younger...

WRONG...my 78yr old mother has real problems getting into the subby they bought a couple of years ago. she does like the seat that will adjust in hight but getting in an out really are a problem. not sure if a small suv will be better since she has a problem getting into dads ford ranger too. mom has bad knees and hips and all kinds of issue with arthritis

there is a reason many old ladies drive olds-mo/Buick's....they are easy to get into and easy to drive if they can see over the dash

How about a Volvo S60 sedan or XC60 crossover. Both start around $30K and include 5 years/50,000 miles everything except tires. Super safe and very very comfortable seats. She might want leather to make sliding in and out easier, which will add to the cost.

Something with "Lambo" doors. ( kidding )

Steve

73 911 T MFI Coupe, Aubergine

How much are Mercedes GLKs? Does it have to be new or is almost new ok? I'd have a hard time going from a Benz to a Mazda or Subaru, but maybe she doesn't care.

The hardest thing for me when giving car advice is to keep my own preferences out of it. My preferences might not be someone else's.

How about an older Aston Martin. Even one with an auto transmission. One to give to her favorite son in law when she passes one. :D

Mazes 5. I volunteer for an organization that helps elderly folks with transportation. Several of them have commented that my Mazda5 is easier for them to get in and out of than the average vehicle. The doors are big and square plus the seats seem to be the right height.

Sounds like the specs for a wife.

We looked at a bunch of cars. Many of the SUVs were too tall. She had to climb up into them.

We looked at one Toyota Altima Limited that was a nice car. We asked for a sales brochure and the hard sell began. "What will it take to get you into this car." We wasted some time just wanting a brochure and he made an offer that was just one grand off sticker, and 2 grand less than her car is worth as a trade. We just walked out.

In the end her old Mercedes looked even better. I adjusted the seat to be a little higher and that helped.

I also discovered her car is actually a 2002 C240, 46,000 miles. I suspect she will keep it for a while.

Some Mercedes seats are floor mount (not side rail mounted) and/or the seat body attaches to the seat frame with horizontal mounts. So you can install easy-to-make spacers to raise the seat even further.

If that poses a pedal-fit issue, mobility companies make pedal extensions.... or you can make your own.

Keeping a known-good car (esp with low miles) is always the most cost-effective way to go.

Every Benz I've ever seen has seats that adjust for midgets or 6 year old drivers. I'm not kidding, when I put front seats all the way forward and high up to clean the rear floor, I simply cannot believe it.