Everyone eventually reaches the purpose where they’re searching for a retirement automobile. Many describe it as their ‘last automobile’.
Some people do it after they hit their retirement day from full-time work, others do it at the primary sign of serious health troubles, and others because they feel the necessity to downsize.
But getting old, or in point of fact just old(er), shouldn’t be an fast trigger for a automobile swap. If you’ve gotten a automobile you’re keen on, and it does the job and owes you nothing, then why change?
That said, my parents bought their ‘last automobile’ after they retired, expecting it to hold them through to later life in a nursing home, while they were still of their late fifties. But there have been five more cars before their time was done.
So selecting a automobile to take you thru the twilight years will not be easy. Unless you’ve gotten the cash for a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and a chauffeur as well, it’s going to be some form of compromise.
The last automobile also must be just like the last dance – special.
Reasons to change
Searching for a ‘last automobile’ is usually a morbid operation. It’s definitely going to be a challenge.
But downsizing, in size or price or each, may also be fun if you’re searching for a automobile to tick your later-in-life boxes.
Some people will even go for a selfish sports automobile to enjoy the very best of their twilight times.
You possibly can do as one particular 80-year old man did and buy an Alfa Romeo Giulia, joining the community of worldwide Alfa fans referred to as the ‘Alfisti’ and handing off his Kia Cerato to his son.
A decent budget can mean some secondhand searching for a variety of down-sizers, but it surely’s best to stretch the budget and switch a retirement automobile right into a retirement gift.
Going latest also eliminates most of the questions and worries, in addition to providing the stunning ’new-car smell’ as a later-life highlight.
Even so, there are inquiries to be answered, and people answers will point to the very best selection for the long run.
Are you making a switch to get monetary savings? Is it because you might be travelling less, and staying closer to home?
Is it since you’re buying a caravan and heading off on The Big Trip around Australia? Are you on the lookout for a greener solution, either hybrid or battery-electric?
Needs change and so do priorities, but even a retirement automobile may need space for kids – the grandchildren this time – or bicycles or pets.
Easy methods to downsize
Selecting the subsequent move on a retirement automobile is about timing, price and size.
Don’t be rushed on any front – from disposing of a current automobile through to signing the paperwork for something latest.
Time is in your side. So, too, ought to be some expert assistance.
Search for a member of the family who knows about cars, someone who knows about funds, and maybe even a relative or family friend who’s excited by your current wheels.
A keyboard warrior, to do the inevitable online research and comparison work – taking a look at all the things from cabin space and engine size to insurance and fuel economy – is a must.
Setting the parameters for the change are so simple as answering one basic query: what do you actually need for a retirement automobile?
Most individuals will want something smaller and more fuel efficient, lots can be on the lookout for a hybrid to chop running costs, and safety ought to be a high priority.
Then there’s a high-rider driving position, to enhance visibility and in addition make it easier to get out and in of a automobile.
So list your needs after which leave some space for a little bit of ‘wow factor’ to make buying a reward and never a punishment.
The best size
The straightforward answer for a retirement automobile is a compact SUV. Consider it as a small station wagon with extra ride height and easier access.
Everyone has one, from Alfa Romeo to Volkswagen and Volvo, but any easy start line for comparison work are the Subaru Crosstrek and Forester. They’re the closest in concept to an old-school wagon, driving most like a passenger automobile with the protection advantage of all-wheel drive for greasy or gravel roads.
But things – and pictures – will be deceiving.
The Toyota RAV4 is way greater today than it was when it first arrived in Australia, catering to growing families, with the Corolla Cross filling its previous position.
Firms resembling Hyundai and Kia and Mazda all have SUVs in various sizes, so it takes a visit to the showroom to do the ‘Goldilocks’ work on the precise size.
The overwhelming majority of family cars now sold in Australia are SUVs, but it surely’s essential to think about other decisions. Skoda has a wonderful range of station wagons along with its SUVs and, although sub-$20,000 hatchbacks are all but dead in 2024, a city runabout can easily be a Kia Picanto or a Mini.
Should you are going to travel, things develop into rather more complicated.
Would it not be easier and cheaper to have a city runabout at home after which rent a giant four-wheel drive in your adventures? The fuel saving alone could be massive.
It’s best to focus the dimensions questions on the day-to-day passengers, likely one or two people, but additionally remember there may very well be extra relations or friends at times. Or a variety of the time.
Safety first
Older people need more help with driving. So, safety is vitally essential – but it surely means rather more than the highly touted five-star rating from the Australasian Recent-Automobile Safety Program.
It means a great view through the windscreen, camera help for parking, an easy-to-use dashboard set-up, and even something as basic as quick access to the boot.
Headlights, too, must be vibrant for night driving.
It’s easy to overlook the fundamentals and depend on ANCAP, and things are tougher for secondhand shoppers.
The very best source of assistance is the used-car safety rankings compiled annually by Monash University’s Accident Research Centre. It gives star rankings for a whole bunch of cars, taking data from real-world crashes involving deaths and injuries.
Then it becomes vital to make sure the automobile is correctly maintained, a job for a pre-purchase inspection by one in all Australia’s state motoring bodies. It should discover any and all faults.
On the new-car front, safety first means putting yourself first.
An entire bunch of electronic driver aids sounds impressive, and can help with an ANCAP rating, but they mean nothing should you cannot see all 4 corners of the automobile or if the headlights are dim.
It’s also essential to feel protected. Which means a snug driving position, a automobile that gives confidence when cornering or braking, and lightweight controls which offer good feel and feedback.
Also, consider a automobile which is the precise size. It must be sufficiently big to feel comfortable, but a suburban couple should avoid the temptations of a high-riding dual-cab ute.
Now a warning: should you’re coming from something old, every latest automobile will feel great. So test drive, often if needed, until you discover a automobile which works for you. Don’t be rushed or bullied, check all of the facts and figures yow will discover, and get help.
It’s easy to be mesmerised by latest technology, like 360-degree camera views across the automobile and head-up displays, but they’re no good should you’re busting your budget or the fundamentals don’t feel right – for you.
The H point
Within the automobile world, ‘H-point’ means the peak off the bottom for the driving force’s hips.
In case your hips meet the seat without stretching, up or down, it’s the precise start for access and driving.
It’s the rationale why so many older drivers want to take a seat up high, or struggle with access – either down right into a sporty sedan or up right into a LandCruiser-style off-roader.
It is also a compromise for a pair, either because one has a health challenge or they’re a mismatch on height.
So visit showrooms, climb out and in of cars, and don’t forget to check out the back seat too.
Just as importantly, have a look at access to the boot or – within the case of an SUV – the load height into the back end. You may additionally be excited about a ramp for the dog or stowing a walker or wheelchair.
All the pieces is very important, even the smallest details. Some SUVs have a grab handle to drag yourself into the cabin, but many don’t.
Needs and desires
Changes in later life will be scary. Funds are vital, but so too are freedom and mobility, in addition to removing the fear that’s inevitable on an old ‘clunker’ that requires constant maintenance.
Think twice, plan smart, and a retirement automobile will be your latest best friend.
Starting on size, get the smallest automobile that works for you. All the pieces greater can be costlier, from the acquisition price to fuel, and always remember about parking…
On the engine front, there’s little point in getting a battery-electric automobile in 2024 should you intend to drive throughout and around Australia. They only make sense if you’ve gotten a snug budget and spend most of your driving time on short hops near charging points.
A hybrid makes loads of sense should you mostly travel near home but need extra range and adaptability for infrequent long-range runs.
Remember, too, that modern small-capacity turbocharged engines – which may seem feeble should you’re coming from a ‘big Aussie six’ – are literally each punchy and frugal. So a small engine is usually a win-win.
Should you want leather seats and a sunroof, and it won’t break the budget, get them.
If you’ll want to prioritise the grandchildren, do it. Consider things like space for kiddie seats and USB ports for teenagers will be essential. Proper air-conditioning, with rear vents – and, perhaps, individual controls – can never be neglected.
Lists works and, like every new-car purchase, it’s vital to have all the things settled before you head to a dealership.
The spend
The showroom sticker is very important, but shouldn’t be the ultimate decider.
You furthermore mght need to think about running costs, fuel economy, the warranty, proximity of a dealership for service, and maybe even the resale value for one more ‘last automobile’.
You’ll be able to actually get monetary savings should you’re smart in balancing needs against wants, by buying something smaller than you first selected.
A daily petrol automobile may also be more cost-efficient than a hybrid, should you have a look at fuel costs for minimal driving against the upper purchase price.
Then there’s insurance. And annual maintenance, which needs to think about the ‘capped-pricing servicing’ numbers for many major brands. These can vary enormously, and a few brands also require six-monthly trips to the dealership when the industry standard is twelve.
It shouldn’t take a spreadsheet to crunch the numbers, but a listing – once more – could make things simpler and supply quick-and-easy comparison figures.
Going forward
Visiting a dealership will be intimidating and hard. So never go alone, never be bullied, and all the time resist any pressure. Take your time, work through your checklist, after which move to some back-to-back test driving.
Some salespeople consider older buyers a simple goal, so dodge and weave. Don’t just take the primary automobile and the opening price – now COVID is completed, latest automobile demand is falling and buyers have more power than for the past three years.
Don’t be suckered, either, into unwanted extras – even when it’s just extra-cost floor mats. Many dealerships make their big profits from finance packages, ‘protection’ for paint and trim, and prolonged warranties – often locking you into servicing only on the dealership.
Read all the things and ask a lot of questions. All the time push for a correct answer.
Whilst you’re within the dealership, also ask to fulfill the service manager. Once you’ve gotten the automobile, they’re the primary point of contact and you’ll want to feel pleased that you just can be heard and helped when you drive away along with your well-deserved retirement automobile.
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
