Car for woman in her 70s - suggestions please

fricatus

Hi,

My mother (in her 70s) is going car shopping soon and I'd welcome any suggestions.

- Trade in: 2008 Opel Corsa, petrol (think it's 1.0 or 1.2 l)
- Budget: up to €20k on top of the trade-in

She's looking for something new now with the intention of holding onto it for the rest of her driving days. She does very little mileage (city plus occasional trips to the beach) and she's happy with the size of her current car. It needs to be a four/five-door so that she can get her grandchild in and out. Not that bothered about most of the spec items, e.g. heated seats, leather, electric windows all round, but she does want sat nav, so any other goodies that come with that will be a bonus.

She had a bad time with Opel customer service, so she's pretty much ruled them out. Other than that, I guess she'd lean more towards the mainstream Japanese and Korean brands.

My own view is that automatics suit older folk better (who wants to use a clutch in the event of arthritic knees?) and therefore she shouldn't look beyond a Yaris hybrid (I'm hoping there's a sat nav option there somewhere). However I'd love to hear if anyone has alternative suggestions that we haven't considered.

Cantona's Collars

Seat Mii? My mother bought another one recently. Anytime she changed the car she just got a newer version of it.Small car but deceptively roomy inside.The huge plus is that it's not a bloody Nissan Micra.

IrishZeus

Nissan Leaf?

Nuw

Can't go too far wrong with a Yaris Hybrid IMO, bombproof and very easy to drive.

Alanstrainor

Nuw wrote: »

Can't go too far wrong with a Yaris Hybrid IMO, bombproof and very easy to drive.

+1. My mother has had 2. One 132, and another 162 last year. Really nice and easy to drive. Automatic, very efficient and nicely spec'd. Definitely worth a look anyway.

Dia1988

A Renault Zoe

fricatus

IrishZeus wrote: »

Nissan Leaf?

Yes, this would be on my shortlist, but her view is that electric cars are very expensive (certainly if she's to buy new) and she doesn't do enough mileage to make the savings to offset that.

I can see where she's coming from, although I agree it's a fine car that otherwise ticks all the boxes, and is very nice to drive.

Maybe if no other option includes sat nav, or if it's really expensive to add, that might sway her.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Dia1988

If she opts not to go new she'd have a greater choice.

Like this, easy access with elevated driving position and very safe for the grand kids too.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/land-rover-range-rover-vogue-se-a/14627232

frozenfrozen

that a joke dia?

micks_address

if she is used of opel then its worth looking at the Meriva. My parents bought one last year. They have a higher seat position so easier for getting in/out of and good driving viewing position. They are quite happy with theres. Only thinng they dont like is the electric handbrake - they would prefer manual

--apologies... i missed the bit re ruling opel out

dar83

Dia1988 wrote: »

If she opts not to go new she'd have a greater choice.

Like this, easy access with elevated driving position and very safe for the grand kids too.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/land-rover-range-rover-vogue-se-a/14627232

Haha, seriously?!

James Bond Junior

Dia1988 wrote: »

If she opts not to go new she'd have a greater choice.

Like this, easy access with elevated driving position and very safe for the grand kids too.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/land-rover-range-rover-vogue-se-a/14627232

Gangsta granny!

Parachutes

A bus pass?

oscar2

Honda Jazz for reliability and safety.Not a cheap car but the The Es mid range spec comes in around €20000. Sat nav seems to an extra so price it first.
Would you consider the Nissan Note or the new shape Micra? Both a bit cheaper.

Suzuki also have fine range of small well specced cars.

JohnBoy26

The new kia rio would be a good option.

colm_mcm

Yaris hybrid would be what I'd suggest.

bazz26

There is a new Yaris out later this year so there might be a deal to be got on the current model.

colm_mcm

There's serious value to be had in bringing in a nearly new one from the uk.

listermint

Nissan note.

Good driving position.good visibility.good steering. Reliable .

Has to be a note.

colm_mcm

Nissan doing scrappage I think. The note is a very nice car for the money.

bazz26

The Note is being replaced soon by a new Micra based crossover so there should be good deals to be had on existing Note stock.

ba_barabus

Yaris Hybrid is the perfect suggestion.

I was really impressed with the rental one I had

fricatus

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. She decided to go for the Yaris Hybrid in the end. Happy out! :cool: