Recommend me a car for the parents - 70 years old

Buddy Bubs

The mother just told me she wants to change her car in the new year, she currently drives a 2019 Corsa. Fathers daily driver is a campervan (dont ask, he refuses to drive the Corsa!) so they are looking for a car for both of them to drive.

Requirements

Budget in around 40k I guess, currently estimating about 10k trade in for the Corsa

a 251 or maybe a 241/242 demo depending on deal, could get a decent 2024 car for a decent chunk off before end of this year but I will be on top of any of the finances/decreased trade in value etc for a demo over a new one, they won't be hoodwinked.

Not too big for the mother, not too small for the father

Probably a bit of height as she says she likes the look of a few neighbours cars which are crossover/small SUV whatever the style is called now. 3 of them are Toyota Yaris cross, a dacia duster and a kia sportage (old one) so looking along those lines

She is reluctant to go EV but they might go PHEV, they have a charger from when the father had an etron, which I bought off him because he didnt like it. In the end though I would say it will be petrol

Automatic, the father has some kneww/ankle issues so this would suit him in particular.

Not too "techy" was the word she used, the father hated everything being touch in the etron, I know touch screens are inevitable nowadays but the important things like radio volume and heater/demister should be physical buttons/dials

I think a long warranty would sway them into something over another, so thats important

Looks are subjective but if she finds something ugly it will be out

GustavoFring

My old lad is similar. He bought a new model Niro EV last year. He'd been looking at EV6's and we were a bit worried about his spatial awareness at times so he tried the Niro and is delighted. Similar size to his old V40, slightly elevated driving position means getting in and out is a breeze, comfortable seats, really good spec, range seems excellent. They do a PHEV in them too.

Wouldn't be my cup of tea but it's a very easy car to live with.

Greengrass53

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058373783/recommend-me-a-car-for-the-parents-70-years-old

Any other issues?

drunkmonkey

A low mileage Toyota CR-H, maybe 1-3yrs old, hand them the keys and forget about it. Half their budget and hope it goes towards your inheritance.

Borrow one form a local garage and take it home to them to get comfortable. I went test driving loads of cars with my mum and that's where we ended up.

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707192#Comment_122707192

No, they are both well able to drive. Young enough 70 year olds to be honest. Would be just for the parking my mam won't want anything too big. And I dont like the idea of them going through menus to get a function they want while driving, like heating.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707211#Comment_122707211

I’d be inclined to agree with this too

Oops!

Suzuki Vitara is the way to go…..

Oops!

Suzuki Vitara/S-Cross is well worth looking at…

Buddy Bubs

Yeah, she is at home obviously browsing on her phone she has sent me Yaris cross and Aygo as cars she likes the look of, so is obviously looking at Toyota, I told her aygo is tiny but she may not have realised that from the website

I might take them to the Toyota dealer tomorrow for a look

I had a loan of a CHR for a few weeks and didnt like it, but its not for me I suppose. I had to crane my neck to get into drivers seat but I am a good bit taller than either of them

I dont like cars that have sacrificed function for form personally, I found CHR very cramped inside for soemthing thats meant to be SUV.

I suppose look at Corolla while I am there too.

Other dealers that would have a few cars of the type they want would be Hyundai and Kia and both have local dealers

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707700#Comment_122707700

Yeah I never thought of that, might be an option

PopePalpatine

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707241#Comment_122707241

If they really need the height, what about an AygoX?

drunkmonkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707702#Comment_122707702

I brought home the Yaris cross first but she didn't like it, she had a golf and then a Kia Sportage, she's loving the automatic, she was gone brutal driving a manual, I'm not fond of driving the crh either way bigger than her as well. She spent a week or two test driving cars with me in fairness to her, she kinda liked the puma as well. Toyota are just up the road so makes life easy and we got a really good deal, it was a used crh but the plastic was still on lot of the car, she still hasn't taken it off the sun visor.

Tabnabs

This yoke will likely tick all the boxes

https://www.toyota.ie/models/corolla-cross

Henry Ford III

Ford Puma - best driving car is it's class and the biggest selling vehicle in the UK.

kermitpwee

Audi Q2 Auto

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122708069#Comment_122708069

Yep an option alright

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707719#Comment_122707719

going to be too small overall, regardless of the added height, but thanks

Matthewjohn

Lexus LBX is worth a look, a more premium Yaris Cross.

https://www.lexus.ie/new-cars/lbx

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122708069#Comment_122708069

yep based on the OP description and profile of the parents that’s exactly what came to my mind too

sligopaul

As mentioned Yaris Cross, my folks bought one last year ( 80 yr old ) and its perfect

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122708383#Comment_122708383

Good price too, well under budget

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122708886#Comment_122708886

Called into Liffey valley there I was able to finish work early- talking to them again the range is big in what they will consider, one wants as small as they can both tolerate, one as big as both can drive confidently.

in Kia the niro is definitely a runner, probably the PHEV. Sportage going to be too big. Possibility of the ceed being suitable but manual only might be a stumbling block. I am very impressed with Kia as a brand these days.

VW - Tiago and T-Roc possibilities, as well as maybe the trusty Golf

Toyota, absolutely nothing jumped out at me at all, I didnt like any of their cars interiors but thats subjective and i will bring them down tomorrow for a look. I do respect Toyota as a brand and maybe their preferences will be different to mine. Corolla, CHR and Yaris cross will be possibilities.

Nissan, the Juke they had looked good although I have my own reservations about that. Qashqai likely too big. Funny enough the Leaf they had down there was lovely and only 23k or somehting, I know all about the limitations of the chademo and i wouldnt buy it for myself but price will certainly interest them. Would probably mean borrowing my brothers car for any long spins but that should be no problem, I dont want them out in the wild trying to public change anything, least of all chademo which I have never even used myself. But for home charging and well over 99% of what they will be doing, the Leaf would work. From July 22 to Feb 24 my dad had an etron and never once publicly charged.

Opel, since they have a corsa to trade in I had a look, Astra and Mokka the only 2 cars there and neither really great

peugeot Bluebell - nothing really jumping out and I think the small steering wheels will be a deal breaker - they are tiny!

Ford - defo going to get them to look at Puma and maybe focus while we are there. I do think the higher position will rule out focus, and golf, and ceed etc……

Hyundai - nothing yet but I do like the brand and I will defo call into one of them

Lexus and Audi mentioned on this thread - I was surprised to see sub 40k cars from those brands but I know you get less car for same money with premium brands and they are only really premium up the model range. Audi badge on Q2 does nothing for me anyway having owned A6s and etrons

BrianD3

New Dacia Sandero Stepway? it is available with a CVT and while it is in the B segment it is quite wide (about the same width as a B6 Passat) and is high but not too high.

bazz26

Cupra Formentor: https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/cupra-formentor-1-5-etsi-new-model-dsg-150hp-ed/37966321

Renault Symbioz: https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/renault-symbioz-1-6-e-tech-hybrid-145-prices-sta/38030958?campaign=3

Honda HR-V: https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-hr-v-elegance-i-mmd-cvt/37366529

Chippy01

Yaris Cross or Corolla Cross. (CHRs shape compromises the inside a bit, so I would avoid)

WhatsGoingOn2

Seat Arona would be a good size for them

Audioslaven

Lexus ux250h maybe a two or three year old.

kermitpwee

Screenshot_20241011_213504_DoneDeal.jpg

Forget about your A6 and Etron, totally different cars than the Q2.

The Q2 with the comfort pack is a lovely car. Full leather, heated seats, reverse camera, nice high driving position, not too big or Small. Also it doesn't have touchscreen. Everything is button or dial.

It has the Audi Interiors from 2 generations back on the A6 so it's actually better quality.

The Sline has too harsh of a ride. SE with the comfort pack is perfect. Now the Puma is Cheaper and perhaps better value

Buddy Bubs

Ok, bit of a change of plan for them. They're actually buying 2 cars.....I was in dealerships with the mother today and she won't entertain any class anything bigger than what she drives at the moment, Opel Corsa. Even Yaris cross etc was ruled out completely as being too big. So it's the traditional supermini only that she wants.

I'm going to get her sorted with a purchase first then go on to the father. Hell probably go for a decent sized saloon or SUV, think Tiguan kind of size.

So for the mother, brought her out today and saw a beautiful Polo R Line for 30k, an ok Corsa for 28k and she loved the Yaris GR but that was 36k. Probably won't go yaris GR but maybe Luna sport for about 31k. All Yaris are now 1.5 hybrid automatics so that's a bonus. And a 10 year warranty if the car is serviced with Toyota.

She didn't like anything in Kia they didn't seem to have a direct competitor.

All cars come with 3 year service packs, option to extend warranty etc.

No trade in value given on her 191 Corsa from VW yet but the other 2 were in around 10k so leaving 18 to 20k to change and come up what will be 6 years in January.

So, what else is out there similar to these 3 cars that we should look at? Narrowed down now to this 1 class of car which will make it easier. Keeping budget to low 30s now

bazz26

If she wants a Polo then I'd haggle hard with the dealers on them. The current model is around nearly 6 years now and it looks like VW will let it soldier on before phasing it out rather than replace it with a newer ICE model.

Kia's rival to the Yaris was the Rio but I think they stopped selling them in Europe about 2 years ago.

Mazda 2 hybrid is worth looking at too, it's literally a rebadged Yaris. Not alot of them around but a Mazda dealer may be more eager to do a better deal on one over a Toyota dealer who sell the Yaris all day.

Eg: https://www.carsireland.ie/3410338?journey=Search

If she prefers something more old school then maybe a Suzuki Swift is worth a look. They are cheaper but a bit more old fashioned and come with a long warranty: https://www.carsireland.ie/3782208?journey=Search

Buddy Bubs

Thanks @bazz26 I didn't know that about the Mazda. It would need a decent discount on the Toyota with it's 10 year warranty.

djan

The new Dacia Duster could be a shout. Really a great package for the price and is all about practicality of use so no overbearing assists and plenty of buttons with simple to navigate menus. Top spec trim in auto hybrid would be well within budget.

ShadowSA

Toyota or VW. If they can go with a simple interior with less features then they could get a car for a great price. No need for all the bells and whistles that the other brands give.