After nearly 15 years of faithful service from her 2000 Honda Civic, my grandmother is looking for a new car. There’s nothing wrong with her car, other than the fact that the Civic’s relatively low seating position makes the car difficult to get in and out of for someone who will turn 81 and has broken their hip twice.
Naturally, I’ve been tasked with helping my grandmother find a new car, but I wanted to draw on the collective wisdom of the B&B for some ideas.
Her requirements
- Brand new, under $20,000 CDN
- Automatic transmission (she drove a manual well into her 60s, but that ship has sailed)
- Similar footprint to her 2000 Civic
- Reliable
- Not overly laden with tech (touch screens would be an unwelcome distraction)
- But a backup camera would be welcome
Based on the reliability issues afflicting the Ford Powershift transmissions, the Fiesta has been struck from the list. The Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio seem to have struck her interest, as has the new Honda Fit. Sadly, a decently equipped Mazda3 is over the $20,000 threshold.
What am I overlooking here? Please keep in mind the requirements. This is an 80 year old pensioner we’re talking about. She thought that the much-unloved 2012 Civic was fantastic. The first person to suggest a used, maintenance-intensive enthusiast vehicle or provide unsolicited financial advice about buying a new car will get an all-expenses paid one-week vacation from their commenting privileges.
Derek, you’ve highlighted what so many people face these days, not just your grand mother.
After having read all the comments submitted I would like to add, “Make sure that the floor of the vehicle is low and the roof is high (for ease of entry and exit).
I have no personal favorite to recommend because tastes vary, but I think it would be well-advised to have your grand mother look around at vehicles in parking lots and on the road to find out what she likes, and likes to be seen in.
If Grandma likes her 2000 Honda Civic, and assuming (1) the driver’s seat cannot be raised, and (2) the car has sufficient headroom, why not just add brackets under the seat rails to raise the seat?
Sure, Derek could just loan her his welder and maybe give her a hand getting the seat out and back in since for this to work she’d have to be 4’3″ or less.
Got to be the Fit. She knows and likes Hondas, it has a higher seating position, and I think it can meet all of the other criteria you laid down there.
Can she wait a few months for the HR-V?
This was going to be my suggestion. The driving metric in this purchase is seating height.
Yep, the HR-V sounds absolutely perfect if she can wait for it. Not sure if it will be under $20,000 CDN but if not it will be very close.
A strong second on the Fit, and the base model at that. I have NEVER known someone with a Fit who hasn’t been deliriously happy with it, and have recommended it without reservation for years now.
The EX adds a fancier radio, silly paddle shifters, and all that stuff that’s neither needed nor wanted by your grandmother.
In the US, I’d probably go for a base LX (<$17k US with CVT), and then call your local Katzkin installer and spend the extra $1600 or so on getting a custom leather interior with heated seats, because all Grandmas deserve to sit on butt-warming genuine cowhide rather than black cloth.
It looks a little more complex in Canada, as the base model has no AC, and the one-up has a 5 speed rather than the CVT, while to get the CVT you get the “display audio” ah well.
But I’d still go for the fit.
+1 for the Fit. Also, what reliability “issueS” with Ford’s 6 speed? Aside from consumers being unfamiliar with the feel of such a transmission, that is.
The roof height on the HR-V is 64.7″. That’s mighty nice for a small footprint car (although it immediately slopes down past the driver’s door). But I doubt it’d be under 20K, even American. Canadian, probably 26-ish.
you can still find new 2014 Nissan Cubes on dealer lots for a great price. My father has Parkinsons which makes getting inout of a car difficult. The seats in the Cube are perfect height for him, lots of door clearance, and handholds to grab.
Along the lines of a Cube, you mentioned the Kio Soul, which is a good car. Also the Scion xB which has similarly high seats and lots of door clearance.
This. My wife’s grandmother, 92, was driving and loving a PT Cruiser until about 6 months ago when she gave up driving. Chair-height seats, low floor, high ceiling, good visibility, etc. I’d suggest Grandma check out the Soul/Cube/etc crossover wagon thingy genre.
Box-shaped car looks like the winner here. Fiat 500L might just squeak in under the target price. Are we assuming the Civic has zero trade-in value because it’s a teenage hoser?
I think Derek likes his grandma and does not want her to drive in a 500 deathtrap.
Kia Soul?
500L, not the regular 500. I think it’s bigger than a Soul.
blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/fiat-500l-commercial.jpg
Unfortunately the cheapest 500L with an automatic is $23,490 CDN, after $1000 rebate, but not including taxes or destination. There’d be an extra $3k in taxes on this where I live.
I was going to suggest the Soul. I think that checks all the boxes.
I see what you did there.
It is in mint condition and has 75,000 kms and a stack of dealer service records.
I want your Grandmother’s Civic; my niece in Labrador needs a car and is the only member of my family that can’t drive stick. How much?
The drives seat height on the Cube is adjustable, and the roofline is surprisingly high; your grandmother can easily raise the seat to an SUV level height from the floor. This makes getting in and out very easy, and the higher seating position also allows for a 90 degree bend at the knees when sitting.
The Cube looks odd but is very easy to drive, has a lot of room, gets great fuel mileage, and is fairly cheap to buy. That should check off a lot of boxes.
My mom has a Cube, and she loves it. Seems like it would fit the bill.
Honda Fit is most similar to the MY00 Civic IMO, however its seating position may be just as low. Civic is much larger than the MY00, Corolla too. Depending on its seating position I’m thinking Subaru Impreza.
Here’s a follow up question, if grandma is unable to drive in the future what happens to the car? If someone in your family will take over payments/have it gifted to them you should probably take this factor into consideration.
I am not sure how the pricing works out but the Cross trek is an Impreza with raised suspension, slightly higher seating and about the size of the Civic.
I believe base Impreza starts in the US at $18+dest, so I figure auto is just at $20K USD minus any incentives. I believe CrossTrek is 23 to start (again in the US) so its already over budget.
No way, Fit has a substantially more chair like seating position than a 96-2000 Civic.
I’ll throw in the Versa Note in the mix as a possible candidate.
I wouldn’t know, but it is the closest to size, footprint, and I imagine drive.
Impreza jumped to mind for me as well. Higher seating position and the AWD can’t hurt in Canada can it?
My mother in law got a RAV4, and may need to dump it as the protruding interior door handle hits her and bruises her all the time.
We seem to have similar thinking, Impreza is worth a look at the very least.
I was thinking a new 2015 Civic probably has a higher seating position than a 2000 model.
The Kia Soul might help with that height/ seating position issue. According to the Kia Canada website, the base MSRP is southbound of 20k.
If that doesn’t work, then a nice used Peugeot would surely be a winner. Just make sure that it’s a diesel.
I see what you did there…
As SOON AS I saw the headline, I thought ugh here we go, it’ll take seven comments before we’re talking Fleetwoods b/c grandmas love em, and someone recommends a reconditioned IH Travelall because of good visibility.
So I’m glad you put a ban on it this time. Lots of people won’t be commenting now!
My Grandpa loved his big American luxury sedans. My Grandma has always liked British/European stuff, she owned one of the first Civics imported into Canada, drove a manual into her 60’s. Even if she could afford it, a big luxury car wouldn’t be her thing.
Hey Derek,
Reading your list of requirements, the thing that struck me most was that chairs higher off the ground are probably harder to come by at less than 20k. Suggestions of the Soul and Cube make sense. What about the RVR? it starts at 20k, has easy ingress, and a long warranty, and I believe Mitsu dealers are more prevalent in Canada. (They are out west anyways)
My mom (74) has always preferred smaller cars. She had a ’98 Civic for awhile and liked it, then upgraded to a ’02 BMW 325ci (with a 5-speed) – she loves that car, but I suspect the ingress/egress will start to annoy her eventually.
Are you saying you wouldn’t drive a restored IH Travelall?
I’m not 80! ;)
I think I’d prefer a later restored Grand Wagoneer, simply for increased refinement and interior accomodation.
And I THINK it was the last SUV you could purchase in America with a hood ornament. In 1993 that and the Ram Charger both had a hood ornament.
Does the Soul address the seating height issue?
(If not, then I’m sure that there is a fantastic Panther in her future.)
the Kia Soul actually makes sense as it’s tall, but not to tall. i may be wrong but things like an Escape are a little taller.
Unless that is she needs/likes to carry things. in this case, and if they’re even available in Canada, the Ram ProMaster City (Fiat Doblò) or Ford Transit are actually quite hip friendly and as they sit a bit lower to the ground than CUVs are actually easier to get in, out of. Plus the lower stance makes them vary car like, no stilts to deal with here and your grandma might like that.
Had a similar issue with a family member. Ease of access and egress were very important. As were sightlines. Too many cars today have low rooflines and low seating which makes access/egress too hard for those of a certain age.
And too many CUV’s/SUV’s are too high for them to get into easily.
We narrowed the field down to a few, some no unfortunately longer manufactured.
A used Honda Element, can meet all of your requirements.
Kia Rondo, either the older or the new version. The newer will be slightly over your target price but you can get one that has the equipment she needs for not much more (A/C, auto, heated seats, 4 cylinder, power windows/mirrors/locks and 6 way manually adjustable seat.)
Kia Soul, as others have mentioned.
Honda Fit: again as others have mentioned.
Previous generation Nissan Versa. Lots of space in a small package but allegedly not up to the reliability standards of those previously mentioned.
Scion XB: good build quality, lots of interior space. Possibly the exterior will bother her.
Nissan Cube: Again the exterior may dissuade her.
No to the Element. Too tall, my 87-year-old mother has a hard time climbing into ours.
We tried the previous generation Mercedes B-class for my family member with the same requirements. Could get a 3 or 4 year old B in remarkable condition for a good price, but it’s floor pan was too high, making it to hard for her to get into.
Didn’t try an Element so I was not 100% sure of their height but aren’t they basically a raised and boxed Civic, the same way that an Xb is based on the Matrix platform?
And forget the Matrix. Its sill are too high making visibility a problem for most older female drivers.
Now if it was for his grandfather, then definitely a used Buick, Cadillac, Town Car or Crown Victoria (somebody had to say it).
In our situation the Rondo best fit the bill. Good ergonomics, great visibility, perfect seating height, perfect roof height (no bending, stretching etc to get in or out), height adjustable seats, length is manageable, flat hatch style makes judging distances when backing up easy and came without too many toys/options but with standard heated seats which those of certain age really appreciate in a Canadian winter.
if she is looking at honda fit, make sure she checks out a 2013. I’m sure yall can find a new one on a lot somewhere.
no touchscreen, and likely discounted price. no backup camera though.
cheerful little car.
IIRC, Versa Note makes it possible to get a backup camera without a touch screen (at least in the US).
Derek, as someone who’s not so young, I can tell you that with age, it’s harder to turn your head around to look behind you. So I very much recommend the backup camera as well as really good site lines. Also, the controls should be relatively straightforward and large enough to see easily. Also, the size of the numbers and letters on the gauges and screen should be decently large. I’d rule out difficult to use controls that require strength and flexibility such as with seat adjustments, etc. Also, lift height for the trunk lift-over should be reasonably low. Last thought: no pronounced seat bolsters to get over. I’m not knowledgeable enough, though, to suggest a specific car. But I’ll bet Kyrie could.
Jeff
I agree with everything except the backup camera. I am willing to wager that someone who is 81 (and this could be far from reality, just my thoughts from personally using a backup camera in a rental a few times) that the backup camera may throw them off a little bit vs the more tradition way of doing things. I know when I used a camera for the first few times I sorta felt like I was trying to backup a trailer because of the changed perspective and the unfamiliar views.
Of course Derek’s grandma could be a sharp as a tac (not something I can claim) and knows how to use a smart phone (I don’t, have never owned one) so I could be way out of line.
Get grandma two parabolic 3″ mirrors and stick them on the outside of her side mirrors. No more blind spots and she barley has to turn her head when using them.
$2 each at AutoZone. You will like them so much you will probably get two for yourself.
I have access issues myself, and our last two car purchases were a 2005 Scion xB (still my daily driver) and a 2015 Subaru Forester.
Toyota’s abandonment of the “mini-box” market after only four years will be forever a mystery to me (the newer version of the xB is an entirely different and much less practical car, IMO). Nissan’s attempt, the Cube, could have been a contender, but lost most of its appeal in the process of Americanization.
Which leaves the Soul. We rented a 2014 Soul while waiting for our Forester, so I had a chance to directly compare it to my xB. I was very impressed, although my wife hated it. Comfortable, upright, chair-like seating, good outward visibility, felt well-planted and fairly nimble, sufficiently quiet, nicely appointed.
Fuel economy was disappointing (we’re getting better mpg from our new Forester), but should be OK for a low-mileage driver.
The Soul would be at the top of my list for someone with hip issues looking for a small car.
How about a new Jeep Compass? Been around a while, FWD Sport + AT and AC comes within couple hundred of $20k CDN before any negotiation. And it’s been around a while, shouldn’t be unreliable. Good visibility and easy to get in and out.
Resident Expert Danio confirmed for me recently that the 2.4 World Engine is solid, reliability wise. Good call, Mr. Corey.
Jeez, I thought all you canadians just rode bears.
Anyway, 20k Canadian is not very much for something with elevated seating position. Is the Grand Caravan CVP a possibility? That’s the best I got.
That’s going to feel like driving a bus for someone who is 80 years old and coming from a Civic.
Congrats, you win!
LOL.
I’ve had it for about 6 months so far…….All I wanted was some basic transportation with a few niceties like heated seats, bluetooth connectivity and room for 4 people.
It has the six speed automatic and the lower horsepower (138 hp) 1.8 liter. It shifts smoothly and the 138 horsepower isn’t a race motor-but it’s sufficient.
Does fine for me and gets an honest 28-30 mpg in mostly city driving.
Grandma’s Boy is a terrible, terrible movie.
-1,000
Grandma’s Boy is a great movie. I saw part of it again last night and laughed riotously. I really like the Dance Dance Revolution scene.
A contemporary stoner classic I say
Before I make any direct suggestions, since she has done so well with Honda for 15 years, it seems logical that she might want to stick with Honda.
Her requirements:
Brand new, under $20,000 CDN — This is somewhat limiting considering some of her later requirements/desires, but there are a few nice CUVs that fit into that range which will give her a slightly higher seating position, making entry/exit easier.
Automatic transmission (she drove a manual well into her 60s, but that ship has sailed) — Don’t ignore CVT. I doubt she’s a leadfoot at 81 yrs old, so it should be quite reliable with no shift jerk at all for a better ride. A few compact CUVs offer this, including Honda, IIRC.
Similar footprint to her 2000 Civic — Most compact CUVs should fit that requirement.
Reliable — Honda and Toyota especially seem to fit this bill. You _could_ try a Fiat 500L, but its reliability (or lack thereof) hasn’t been established. Personally, I’m discounting Fiat’s 40-year-old reputation because we really don’t know how they perform today on average unless you life in the EU and can offer first-hand experience.
Not overly laden with tech (touch screens would be an unwelcome distraction)
But a backup camera would be welcome — Hard to get the camera without the screen, though not impossible. Some few models put the display for the backup camera in the rear-view mirror. However, these will affect cost and I don’t know how well you’ll meet that budget figure with this.
This is super easy”
A Nissan Sentra (If CDN price permits).
Why? Easy to drive CVT with extremely comfortable seats (also a decent hip point which is something to think about for a senior citizen), tons of room, a huge trunk, and fantastic road manners. Some people won’t like the styling or interior, but the car is a great bang for your buck. It feels like an Altima but with a smaller footprint. Grandma will love it. I know my Grandma does. She’s had TWO. ;)
Nissan Sentra.
I loathe them, but it’s perfect because it’s cheap (can butnthwt for $15k to $16k in U.S.), has a relatively high point of ingress, fwd, rides like a marshmallow, sips fuel, and should be decent in terms of reliability (especially for someone your grandmother’s age who probably doesn’t do 120 kmh on highways and drives relatively little each year.. It has large rear seat and trunk, too
Don’t let your grandmother pay the hefty 20% to 30% CUV “tax.”
Hit ’em where they ain’t.
Just what I was thinking.
Sentra or whatever equivalent small car that works best for her getting in and out. Personally I’d take her around to all the different dealers to see which one is best. Any of the small cars today, should go 100k without any major issues. Ease of use is much more important in this situation then long term reliability.
Derek, if she likes the car and nothing is wrong with it, have you thought about keeping the car and just increasing the ride height and, by extension, the seating position?
A quick search shows that rally drivers and people in India post on message boards about increasing ground clearance of their Civics, and according to some forum or whatever the Civic is sold in Brazil with 1-2″ of increased ride height. Maybe give that a shot while waiting for the new mini Honda CUV?
Derek…How far is the Mazda 3 over the limit? The reason I ask. Will that old Civic certify and pass an E test? If so, you would do well to put it on Auto Trader. ca. The new car dealer will give her squat for it. The extra cash may get her into the Mazda?
Oh yeah, it’s mint. $20k is her budget and I think she’ll want to stick with it.
Would she want a 3? The things that everyone on here seem to love about the 3 (firm ride, athletic, etc) would make me less inclined to want one were I in my 80’s with a bum hip.
Scion XB, selling in the 17k range new. The don’t dicker with the sticker but I bet they give stupid money for the Civic as a trade in. Also maybe the Scion XD. They look taller then average economy car but might just be looks. Never been in one.
Chevrolet Trax plus a Trifecta Tune.
CPO Buick Encores are already showing up on dealer lots. Grandma will be the first to bingo and get 50 mpg while getting there.
I miss Norm’s crazy stats. He may be the only person in the universe that would quote storage space in a car with the front passenger seat folded. Well, besides GM PR releases.
And she’ll have more cargo room than a CR-V*
*comparing CR-V cargo space behind the second row to Trax cargo space with all seats folded, including the front passenger seat.
I miss Norm’s statistics.
Someone needs to find out where they are and make sure everyone is ok, this is not like them.
LOL very good*.
*Indeed
Don’t forget the awesome skid pad numbers comparisons.
“My, Acura’s calipers are looking quite tarnished!!!”
And figure eight tests.
I’d have said Encore too. My in-laws have owned nothing but Buicks since I’ve known them. It’s not a “true” Buick in the vain of the MIL’s current 04 Lesabre though, so it’s a hard sell. Not only that, but I believe my father in law paid 7k+ plus under sticker for the Lesabre new, with incentives,GM points,etc.
That’s not going to happen with the Encore and the LeSabre had roughly the same window sticker price ten years ago as a new Encore. For old time buyers, they used to be able to get a giant Lesabre for the price of the Encore. I like the packaging of the Encore though and I’d go for it over the Verrano.
The Encore isn’t a giant barge of a vehicle, a tough sell for someone raised on bigger is better. The low step in and terrible seats of the Lesabre can’t be good for her ailing hip either. It’s only her usually in the car or her and one other person, so she doesn’t need the room. I’d say Soul too, but I don’t know if my in laws would buy a foreign car.
uh-oh. I think we have a winner here, folks!
that’s scary, I was just thinking that guy was going to say that…
Norm and BigTrucks haven’t been around lately.
The Trax does fit the bill though. It can be had for under $20K CDN, is about the same footprint as the Civic, shouldn’t be overly tech laden, but I am unsure about the back up camera.
I don’t miss Norm.
That’s because him being associated with the Verano makes you feel unclean.
Personally, I’m glad billfrombuckhead isn’t around anymore, because he makes ISIS seem reasonable.
Mopar uber alles!!
Imports are for subhumans!
Norm is deep inside of Area 51, using his Verano to produce fuel for the war effort.
As for ISIS, they’re just the living the gangsta life to an Arab beat. Allahu akbar yo and all dat.
I’d recommend the Trax too. Small, high seating position, pretty good value for the money if you ask me.
This really sounds like a question for one of Sajeev’s Piston Slap Articles.
ZOMG son! Y U no ask me???
Perhaps a custom job from Gas Monkey Garage? Failing that, at 81, it may be time to let somebody else do the limited amount of driving your Grandma needs. Take the money and spend it properly.
My experience with aged parents and grandparents is that driving itself is not really usually a good experience. Stepping UP or DOWN into a vehicle is not good, either way.
If Granny must drive, get an old person’s car. A well used Caddy or Lincoln is perfect. The gas mileage is terrible, but how many miles is Granny gonna drive?
Did you read and take into account all the criteria? “Well-used” and “brand new” are two different things.
81 isn’t the same for everyone. Many folks in their 80s are still perfectly fine with driving themselves around and being self sufficient. My grandfather is 83 and just returned from a month-long solo trip to India. If I tried to take his keys away he’d probably put me in a headlock and ask if I was high or something.
I was driving a 2000 Saturn SL2 for the past few years…..hated to low driving position.
I bought a new 2014 Hyundai Elantra with the Plus package for about 18.5k earlier this year.
Heated seats, backup camera, tilt and reach adjustable steering, tons of room and a height adjustable drivers seat. I’m 5ft 9in and I have the height jacked up the whole way-super easy to get in and out of.
The Fit as well, but also consider the Mazda5 – great sight lines, plenty of room for Grandma stuff and bingo runs….
Is something like a new Escape out of the question? They have a relatively small footprint and the higher seat allows someone like your grandmother to climb in and out easily.
The base model has a backup camera and the naturally aspirated four cylinder.
With incentives, they cost around $21k here in Michigan so the price is in your ballpark.
I was going to suggest the Hyundai Tucson for the same virtues but looking on the Canadian Hyundai site it looks like after taxes it would miss the 20k by quite a bit.
Looks like the Jeep Renegade slides in for under 20k, but just barely and that is a manual so it is likely a no go. I think bang for the buck I like the Jeep Patriot. It checks all the boxes for the price but the footprint is a little larger than the Civic.
Ugh, the Hyundai Tucson is a truly wretched vehicle.
My sister has the older version, and it’s one of the most awful places I’ve ever spent 7 minutes, as I drove it from her house to my parents. I TOLD her not to buy it.
But SUV!
But cheap!
But efficient!
That’s all she needed to know. Now she has it and a new Forte sedan. I don’t like that either, but it’s better than the Tucson.
Is Bertel back with the threats of banning people? :)
Is that where my Panther comment went? REALLY?
all signs point to probably.
Chris,
I don’t see your Panther comment in the spam filter either. Davefromcalgary and others have been having problems. I am investigating. Nobody has been banned guys, the “vacation” comment was a joke to keep things on track and not veer into unsolicited financial advice regarding new vs used cars and all that.
Rumor has it that Bertel is putting in a lot of time with his Scorpions cover band mates.
They’re playing The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor in October.
I can picture Bertel singing “Winds of Change”, and it makes me laugh.
Bertel, with leather chaps, a lot of product in his hair, facing the crowd, microphone to mouth:
Follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
An August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the wind of change
Scion xB is the best value. Only problem is the gauges are mounted in the middle of the car, away from the driver’s line of sight. Otherwise it’s the best price/cabin space ratio if you (rather, your grandmother) can get past the interior’s sea of hard black plastic.
A more stylish alternative is the Fiat 500L, but you can’t get an auto for under $20k, not even in US dollars.
The Honda Fit and Kia Soul are a smaller but very likeable cars. I would recommend those, or the upcoming HR-V if she wants something heavier. xB if space and price are the dominant factors.
I think you will find that the dealers will deal on the 500l… My local Studio has a couple with $5k off signs in the front window. Plus that minty low miles Civic is worth bank.
Is the $20k with or without the value of the Civic?
I know the rules were “brand new”, but what about a CPO Prius-V? My Mom loves hers, and her life is carting around my 90-something grandparents, so it does old folks well. A new one is way too expensive, but a certified used one should fit the budget. And you know it will never have been hooned. :-) She will love the fuel economy at Canadian gas priced, and it has a backup camera.
the xB has had “normal” gauges (relatively) since 2008. upright seating, lots of room and really good visibility. 2014 toyotas and scions all have an LCD base stereo, IIRC. its not fancy and could probably get a rear cam hooked up
The current xB gauges are still in the middle of the console. You might be thinking of the xD.
how much is a base 4-cyl fwd Chevy Equinox in Canada?
My 80+ year old grandparents just bought one of those and love it. Pretty much slide direct sideways in and out of it. No climbing up or down getting in or out.
Scion xB – although I admit I don’t know what CDN price is for one.
Reliable as the sunrise, solid visibility, very easy to get in and out of, and older drivers really appreciate them.
I would think a Kia Soul has similar qualities.
Ha! Should have read comments before posting, I see the post right above mine makes the same recommendations.
The xB’s frontal view is restricted because of the long dash/roof, no? I found it as annoying as the FJ Cruiser…
Why not a CR-V? It’s a Civic, minus the low seating position.
The CR-V costs too much.
It’s become quite a lot larger and more costly than the EJ Civic the first-gen models were based on.
Kia Soul is perfect. Higher seating position. Great warranty. Under $20,000.
Nissan Micra (non-u.s., Canada only) $17K loaded. 15 year old Civic? It`s just broken in.
I was wondering about that too – cheap, simple (the backup camera is pretty much the only techy feature), reasonably proven, upright.
It’s not the nicest thing, but it’s not an utter penalty box, and for someone who drives about 5000kms a year, it’d be just fine.
Is the seating position that different with a Civic vs most other cars? You said you were looking at Hyundai Accents and Kia Rios s a replacement. Are they that much of an improvement with regards to the seat height? I would guess they’d be almost the exact same.
I almost wonder if you’d be better off just having an upholstery shop modify the driver’s seat to fit her better on the current car, especially considering her Honda is barely broken in. It sure would be a lot cheaper than buying a brand new car.
I’m just looking out for your inheritance.
The EJ (96-00) Civics are very low to the ground. Even when compared to recent compacts, they sit low and can be challenging to get in to and out of.
I second the Nissan Micra, sight-lines are great, the mirrors are truck-like, sips gas, is quiet and composed in traffic. Effortless ingress and egress. Rock bottom maintenance costs. Solid, quiet, tiny to park….. fits anywhere. very strong lights… they should be, they are big puppies!
Also all the switchgear is analogue and so simple to use. Nice big, and round, easy to grasp dials, no weird setups, no fiddly screens, just her eyes on the road and her hands on the wheel. Can be easily used with gloves on in the winter. I only had to consult the manual once on how to activate the rear wiper washer. She will thank you for that.
OK, no backup camera, but lots of aftermarket ones easily installable. I am sure the dealership could install this good one from Costco Canada. http://www.costco.ca/Backup-Camera-System-with-Built-in-Heater.product.10350403.html Be a good grandson and take care of that for her :-)
With all the money saved on the purchase she could buy 4 premium winter tires and an emergency winter safety kit. Safety First!
I don’t know anything about how it drives in the snow but I can say that here in the tropics we get some huge rainstorms and I have driven it thorough flooded streets that were only supposedly accessible by truck and got through without a whimper.
Here’s an exercise for your grandma, have her open and close a door and ask her what the sound and feel remind her of. She’ll probably say it’s like a fridge door. How the engineers accomplished that at this price point is nothing short of amazing!
Some people have called it a cockroach car but I prefer to call it a potential, Post-Apocalyptic survivor vehicle. As we say in French, you will sleep soundly on both ears knowing that your grandma is safe and sound in her Big, Little Micra.
Canadian market Micras are actually available with a backup camera (optional on the mid-level SV and standard on the top SR).
Why not a new Civic.
It is a much different car then her 2000.
The LX is 19,800 CDN with auto and has a back up camera.
The seats also have a height adjustment that just might be enough added height.
Worth a try!
I just went through this process with my mom. Ended up getting a slightly used Accent – which still has more warranty than most new cars. She complains it is too “fancy” (I think it has power windows), but was a decent deal for $11,000.
I helped my mother-in-law with her car purchase a few years ago, and now she has stopped driving. If you are interested in a Ford Focus station wagon with under 10,000 km I can get you a great deal!
I would advocate giving some consideration to how many more years she will be driving – a new car at 81 could end up as an expensive proposition if you have to sell it in a few years.
Is the seating position that different with a Civic vs most other cars?
You said you were looking at Hyundai Accents and Kia Rios as a replacement. Are they that much of an improvement with regards to the seat height? I would guess they’d be almost the exact same.
I almost wonder if you’d be better off just having an upholstery shop modify the driver’s seat to fit her better on the current car, especially considering her Honda is barely broken in. It sure would be a lot cheaper than buying a brand new car.
I’m just looking out for your inheritance.
Derek, I’d start with a trip to Car Max to see which cars your grandmother can get in and out of easily.
I rented a previous generation Nissan Sentra in 2011 that was relatively tall with a small footprint. Nothing exciting, but it was relatively comfortable. The CVT was well suited to city driving. HVAC controls were big simple knobs.
In no particular order:
-Honda Fit
-Honda HR-V if it is on sale in time
-Nissan Versa Note
-Nissan Micra, though that is quite a bit smaller than her Civic
-Jeep Patriot
Not sure if all of those are below the price ceiling in Canada, but they ought to be close at worst.
My wobbly grandpa, bad knees, chemo weakness, etc. went from a 2010 Corolla (too low) into a 2011 Jeep Patriot (brand new at the time) and was happy-as-can be with the ingress / egress.
Actually, Derek I hope your grandma will be the real winner. Regardless of what she eventually buys, it would be interesting to view her ownership experience through her experienced eyes. I would wager it would be an entertaining and enlightening read! Ladies from her generation have a crushing logic that can’t be denied, in addition to putting pen to paper in a fashion that puts most of us to shame.
Derek,
After reading through your Grandmother’s requirements a few times; the same car comes to mind each time. I shudder to suggest this: Toyota Corolla.
A simple, old school auto transmission. A higher seating position than the Civic, but a similar footprint. Incredible reliability. And it’s not loaded up with a bunch of tech that could confuse or frustrate.
It’s basically a Grand Marquis-Lite. I’m not sure what Canada prices are for Toyota Corolla, but I can’t imagine a mid level Corolla would be over $20K.
Scion xB or maybe toyota yaris. you sit upright in either
I second someone’s interest in hearing your grandmother’s evaluation of her purchase after the fact. I;d probably have recommended the Fit–I think the visibility out is important, and she’d have that with the Fit, but the Soul also sounds promising. And so does the Corolla. I’m not familiar with the upcoming HRV. Good luck!
I would also check crash test results especially since at 81, one’s bones are more brittle than they were.
$20k worth of Taxi chits.
With the typical $1700 freight PDI ripoff fee, plus the typical $599 documentation ripoff dealer fee (hey, we have to keep the lights on!), Grandmother is down to $17,500 plus whatever the Civic yields for trade-in value.
Then there’s the HST, 15% here in NS (13% in Ontario?).
Hmm, I think it’s Nissan Versa or Note time. One other alternative is the new Accent. It towers over my LGT in parking lots, and might well be easy to get in and out of. Plus it got a really good review at autos.ca.
The Chevy Sonic is also well worth a look, both for price and ingress/egress. They’re not too bad at all.
It’s at the low end of the market that ludicrous freight and documentation fees bite the hardest, unfortunately – it’s just money out the window to keep those dealer principals in houndstooth jackets.
The Mazda 3 would be my choice by far, but it’s about $22.5K with auto and fees for the cheaper sedan, and the backup camera is decent and at head height. As you say, Derek, too much.
The Impreza starts at $20K plus fees, and is totally whipped by the Mazda3 in every way bar traction.
Difficult for $20K in our fair land.
What about the Mazda2? I liked it enough to buy one (admittedly, for reasons that may not gel with an octogenarian’s desires), it’s reasonably upright and simple, shouldn’t be to hard to get a decent deal on, and should be a reasonable transition from a 15 year old Civic.
Outlander Sport? About the size of my grandfather’s 2001 RAV4, and that’s a great car for a senior citizen. You can get an ES for well under 20, they have good safety ratings, and they’re reliable. The uncertainty of Mitsubishi North America’s future is something to keep in mind, however. This was a lesser reason why my mom didn’t buy an Outlander in 2012.
`15 Kia Soul LX hands down.
Warranty, IIHS Top Safety Pick +.
Just tell the dealer you want a spare installed.
I vote for the Fit. Since your grandmother had good luck with her Honda Civic she might be happy with a Fit with an automatic which is a relatively simple and reliable car with none of the complexities of some of the other new cars. Also someone mentioned a Honda Element which if you can find a low mileage later model would be very easy to get in and out of and would be a relatively simple car. I might be interested in her Civic–sounds like a cream puff.
Fit. Honda Fit. Just take her to the Honda store and let her sit in a Fit. The spaciousness of the cabin and excellent sight lines should appeal to the obviously wise and practical judgement that made her love the Civic.
They’re 60 inches tall which is pretty reasonable nowadays and the very cab forward design allows for easy entry and exit.
Unfortunately, even if she gets past the anime-inspired interior and dash, there is the problem of driving it. Once she drives the Fit on the highway, she will write you out of her will. And probably stop baking cookies for you. I test drove a 2013 and found that the ride and noise levels were bad enough that I (mid 30s car enthusiast) dismissed it as an impractical choice. I thought it was a shame, as the utility of the car was very good, and well planned out.
I also found it slow and not very interesting to drive. With a manual, it might be somewhat fun. But I doubt an octogenarian with a bad hip will be getting a manual.
In this scenario, I would at least buy something with a comfortable ride. Corolla? (shudder) … Yaris? (maybe) … Mazda 2? … Mazda5? Great incentives right now, as they clear out the final model. Probably more car than she needs. Ford Focus might be a good choice (but again, suffers from the anime madness, and is a bit pricey).
Only Grandma’s opinion matters.
Take her to the Honda store.
Also a late model preowned CRV would be a good choice and you could find a low mileage one with FWD and cloth interior for possibly around 20k. CRVs are easy to get in and out of and are based on a Civic platform.
My grandmother got a 2014 Soul Plus w/nav earlier this year. It’s got a perfect ingress/egress height—although she is quite tall—and she can see out of it easily. It was either that or the Nissan Juke, but the Juke’s triangular cargohold wouldn’t fit her walker in the back. However, I really don’t like the way the Soul drives. It rolls like a barrel and the engine makes the most dreadful, tortured noise if you so much as *think* about putting your foot on the accelerator. The Juke drove and handled much better, and she agrees with me on that.
The Soul is tall; there is some expectation that it’s going to lean in the corners, not anywhere near a barrel…I would know I have access to a Lincoln Town Car. I find that the Soul drives just fine, better than the Cube or Fit that I drove. (CVT was stupid in the Cube, and the Fit was was noisy)
Also C&D showed better skidpad numbers on the Soul! they drove against the 500L and a Juke they tested.
After a few months now my wife loves her base 2015 Honda Fit and I am quite impressed with it also if you can overlook some of the hard interior surfaces.
I was thinking a used Chevrolet HHR (my 80-something aunt is on her second, and apparently loves it), or Chrysler PT Cruiser. Both have a high seating position, are easy to see out of, and are reasonably reliable (with cheap parts and insurance to boot).
Sorry, must have overlooked the “new” part. If you can find a new leftover HHR or PT in a dealer lot, it may be worth a look, especially at a discount. Otherwise, provided they aren’t marked up to the high heavens, a Fit would, well, fit.
Production ended on the PT in 2010, and the HHR in 2011.
I’m not sure if they are still available in Canada, but what about a Toyota Matrix? My uncle had one a few years ago and loved it. One of the single best things about my Sienna is I can open the door and walk out of it. I agree with others here, sounds like the HRV may be what she is looking for. Not sure about the price though.
I wouldn’t buy her a Fit. Too many awkward conversations could ensue:
1. Ya my Grandma has a Fit.
2. When does she have a Fit?
1. No, she has a Fit now?
2. Jeez you should help her! Do something!!
and on and on
An Autotrader Canada search revealed to me that a Dodge Journey may not be out of the question. Otherwise the Jeep Patriot as others have mentioned seems like a solid choice.
This has Kia Soul written all over it. I’ve rented a 2011 Soul, and I’ll guess the new one improves on the same formula.
I can’t imagine anything being easier to get in or out of. I think most CUVs are too tall with too much door sill to step over for easy ingress/egress. Soul is perfect height. The boxy shape means you don’t have to watch your head either. Once you are in the Soul, the driving position is very chair-like.
Without knowing much about the car, I guess its price several thousand dollars higher than it actually was based on the interior. The ride was comfortable enough, and it wasn’t obnoxiously loud on the highway.
I had low expectations based on the ridiculous hamster marketing, but I thought it was a surprisingly likeable car. Kia even sells it in brown!
“The first person to suggest a used, maintenance-intensive enthusiast vehicle or provide unsolicited financial advice about buying a new car will get an all-expenses paid one-week vacation from their commenting privileges.”
A Day in the Life of an Internet Car Forum – https :// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWnAdB-vkXo
Try a Cruze.
If you’re in Canada, try the Nissan Micra or Versa. These are nice upright and comfortable cars. I have a Micra and despite my long legs, I’m quite comfortable. I really enjoy driving the thing. Simple, inexpensive transportation and it looks great. The SR package with auto/air/tint/blue tooth/5-year warranty out the door price was $21,000. I added in some stripes and a bumper guard. Seriously, it is Nissan hidden gem. I even drove it from Toronto to PEI — logged 3700 kms and the car handled very well.
When you say $20k you mean before tax, right? So $22,800 or so total assuming she’s not in Alberta. If you mean to include tax in that $20k then you’re pretty limited in your choices to sub compact, just get the Fit.
top gear, season 19, episode 5.old peoples car episode.
The Fit would probably be a pretty jazzy option!
Had the same issue with my mom.
She went with the jeep patriot. Liked the AWD and the power rear hatch.
Honestly, I am not sure they are still in production anymore or what the price point would be up north. She likes it, easy on gas and good in the foul weather.
She’s and American car kinda gal, so no honda or Kia for her. No sense getting into the it’s made here argument with your mom, just make her happy was the route we decided on.
She needs to pony up the cash for a Buick Encore – she’s the perfect age to be a Buick owner! :)