I’m an octogenarian in search of a small car for mainly city drive – The Globe and Mail

I’m an 80-year-old widow whose automotive is a 2009 Ford Crown Victoria with 77,000 km. It’s the third Crown Vic I’ve pushed over the previous 30 years. Now it appears to be larger than I would like, since I primarily drive within the metropolis and infrequently 50-80 km out of city. I’ve misplaced contact with developments in small automobiles – final one was a VW Beetle within the 1960s. Have you ever any ideas re. some automobiles I ought to take a look at? – Homosexual, London, Ont.

Gentile: Wow – an 11-year-old Crown Vic with solely 77,000 kms on it. Superb! Clearly, Homosexual likes her Crown Vics. However there are a number of different good choices, particularly relating to small sedans.

Richardson: Sure, she definitely doesn’t want one other full-sized sedan, and immediately’s smaller automobiles are much more spacious inside than they was once.

Gentile: That’s so true. Smaller automobiles just like the Honda Civic have grown in measurement over time – they’re extra like Accords now. Even the trunk house has grown considerably. Homosexual doesn’t want an excessive amount of house. She’s not shuttling round youngsters or cargo, so a small automotive would do the trick.

Richardson: I wouldn’t advocate too small for her, only for her piece of thoughts. She in all probability doesn’t want something larger than a Sensible automotive, but when she’s used to the scale of a Crown Vic, she’ll in all probability respect the house of a compact sedan, not a sub-compact.

Gentile: I agree. I’m considering one thing dependable, not too radical, and inexpensive. Maybe home. No level in contemplating Ford – aside from the Mustang, they’re getting out of the automotive enterprise, so to talk, and specializing in SUVs. However a Chevrolet Malibu is certainly value a glance. Wouldn’t you agree?

Richardson: Truly, the Malibu is the solely automobile I’d advocate for Homosexual from the Detroit Three, although it’s a bit previous now. Ford is all SUVs and CUVs, and Chrysler – sorry, Fiat Chrysler Vehicles – is all efficiency and SUVs. The Chrysler 300 is the one sedan from FCA, and it’s far too massive.

Gentile: Don’t low cost the Chrysler 300 simply but. Homosexual is used to driving massive automobiles. She may really like its measurement and all of the house inside.

Richardson: Effectively, you possibly can point out it to her, however I can’t advocate it. It’s an previous design and actually has no redeeming options for me, other than being inbuilt Ontario and having an excellent, non-compulsory all-wheel-drive system. Nevertheless it’s costly at $35,000 to begin, and it’s nonetheless too massive for her. I’d a lot slightly recommend that she take into account a wise, snug, dependable mid-sized automotive just like the $30,000 Honda Accord or the $28,000 Toyota Camry. Truly, the Malibu’s one of the best deal, at round $27,000 plus taxes.

Gentile: You probably did point out the 300’s greatest promoting factors: inbuilt Brampton and AWD. And also you normally can get nice reductions on it, too. I hate to agree with you, however I additionally choose the Accord or Camry over the 300. Each have wonderful observe information for reliability and dependability.

Richardson: To be reasonable, this can be Homosexual’s final new automotive, since she appears to hold on to her automobiles for some time. I feel she’ll need a mid-sized sedan she will be able to belief that’s snug and doesn’t overwhelm her with gadgetry. So she ought to play it secure and take into account a fundamental Honda Accord. If she was my mother, I’d in all probability attempt to promote her on a fundamental Civic as a substitute; it’s a bit smaller and fewer geared up, however begins at round $20,000 plus taxes.

Gentile: Truthfully, all she actually wants is a Honda Civic. Full disclosure: I simply purchased a Civic sedan to exchange my practically 20-year-old Accord. And it’s not quick on house. My Accord is barely longer and wider, however not by a lot. I’m single and I don’t have youngsters, and it’s the perfect measurement for one individual. And it’s additionally made in Canada! There’s a cause why it’s Canada’s best-selling passenger automotive for 22 years straight.

Richardson: Extra full disclosure: I simply inherited my mother-in-law’s 15-year-old Civic sedan. She now not drives, so it’s our second household automotive. In 100,000 km, nothing’s gone improper. I feel Homosexual may like the additional house of the Accord, however she ought to check out each whereas she’s on the dealership.

Gentile: I feel Homosexual will probably be more than pleased with ol’ dependable Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, for that matter. But when she needs that further house, it’s undoubtedly value taking a check spin in an Accord or Camry.

Richardson: And if she needs home, take the Chevy Malibu and possibly the Chrysler 300 for a check drive, too.

What automotive do you have to purchase? Write to Mark and Petrina at globedrive@globeandmail.com.

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