Grandpa needs a safe car

[Raizinman]

Grandpa wants to buy a new car. Because he has poor vision, he wants a vehicle with as many built in safety features as possible. He wants rear camera, rear beeper, adaptive cruise control, self parking, and blind side mirrors, and more. Due to age, he does not want a low car like a Corvette, but prefers something higher up (for better visibility), but no trucks or SUV's. What car has the most safety features built in? Price is no object. Grandpa has money.

 

[olds]

My grandpa has poor vision too so we got him a tank.

 

[Gerle]

Grandpa should get tested prior to getting another car, to see if he is still safe to drive. I don't mean to be rude.

 

[Crono]

Lexus LS 460

 

[dbcooper1]

Minivan

 

[Raizinman]

Grandpa should get tested prior to getting another car, to see if he is still safe to drive. I don't mean to be rude.

Not rude. Grandpa has been tested and has passed the eye and driving test. He just knows that due to age and eye degeneration that his reactions are not as good as they used to and he wants every advantage possible electronically. Fortunately, his background is electronics and he understands and can use the new electronics. Just looking for the vehicle with the most safety features. If he was unsafe, he would not be driving.

He has agreed that when he cannot pass the written and driving test he would turn in his license. Can't really ask for anything more than that and he happens to be a good driver without accident or ticket for over 35 years. He just acknowledges that he would do better with a safety feature loaded vehicle. Why should we not agree?

 

[Raizinman]

Lexus LS 460

Nice safety features, but the Ford Edge can self park, but this $80,000+ Lexus cannot. The Lexus only has beepers on the front and rear bumpers to tell you when you get close. The much cheaper Ford Edge has fully assisted parking, which can even be done remotely. This feature is something Grandpa really needs. Perhaps in the next few years, Lexus will add this.

 

[boomerang]

Sounds like it's the Edge then.

 

[heymrdj]

Buick has the most standard safety features as far as I'm aware. Buick Regal/Lacrosse? If he wants small size but a little higher up, the Buick Encore's seem to be selling like hot cakes.

If self park is important though, Ford and Toyota is the only two brands I know of that offer it on pretty much every model at the more base consumer level. Above that, BMW and Audi offer it. Audi A6?

 

[Jumpem]

A Subaru with EyeSight.

 

[JMWarren]

Nice safety features, but the Ford Edge can self park, but this $80,000+ Lexus cannot. The Lexus only has beepers on the front and rear bumpers to tell you when you get close. The much cheaper Ford Edge has fully assisted parking, which can even be done remotely. This feature is something Grandpa really needs. Perhaps in the next few years, Lexus will add this.

Umm, the LS460 was the first production car to offer fully automatic parking....8 years ago.

 

[Pocatello]

Toyota Avalon, the best Buick GM could never built.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Volvo

 

[The Stigenator]

he should get his reflexes tested, just not eye sight.. we did that test, he failed that miserably.... at some point its safer for him not to drive.

 

[bryanl]

Minivan

Microvan, like a Ford CX or Mazda 5, since it's easier to maneuver while parking and the shorter length, the same as a Honda Civics, gives better visibility behind.

 

[master_shake_]

Umm, the LS460 was the first production car to offer fully automatic parking....8 years ago.

:biggrin:

but its a new thing for domestics don't ruin it for him.

 

[fleshconsumed]

A Subaru with EyeSight.

This one will not park for you, but I agree, it's one of the very few systems on market that is actually designed to make driving safer by having adaptive cruise control, lane departure/drifting warning, and emergency breaking if it detects imminent collision.

OP, you have to decide if you want safety, or stuff like parking. Subaru eyesight will not park your car for you, but it will actually make everyday driving safer for your dad. I'd argue that your dad needs something like eyesight more than he needs automated parking. Bumping into someone else's car while parking is annoying and costly, but not deadly, a real accident on the other hand can seriously injure/kill your dad and others. A few months ago this summer I watched an old retired lady rear end someone because she just didn't break, she rear ended a car in front of her, then that car got pushed into the car in front of it, and then into the oncoming lane where it bumped into yet another car. That one lady damaged 3 cars besides her own because she failed to brake.

If you're not sold on Subaru, I would suggest researching more and pick a car with good collision avoidance system. Volvo offers one, seems like lexus as well.

 

[MiataNC]

I believe the Ford Focus Titanium can self-park and has adaptive cruise (at least as options).

 

[Thump553]

I wouldn't screw around with a lot of fancy gadgets like self parking. The chances of him parallel parking are pretty slim I would think. You want a car he can handle in an emergency with the minimum of distraction.

If you are confident his driving is safe to others then I'd suggest a basic car with easy to use controls and easy to see instrument panel. Think flip phone with large buttons type design.

Good luck. One of the worst stages in life is having to take the car away from an unwilling parent or grandparent. I used to keep "borrowing" my father's car for weeks at a stretch before finally gave in.

 

[gorcorps]

new car? Sounds like you need a new grandpa

 

[BurnItDwn]

Old people drive Buicks.

 

[rommelrommel]

If price is no object 2015 S class.

If you're bullshitting about price being no object, get your Edge.

 

[mmntech]

Can't beat the Buick LeSabre or Lincoln Town Car. Especially with the smart champaign paint job. It's the bee's knees. :thumbsup:

Seriously though, Volvo or Lexus. Top ratings for safety and reliability. Though if you're that concerned about him being in an accident, maybe it's time he gave up his license and gets someone else to drive him.

 

[LTC8K6]

According to the commercial, the Infiniti Q50 is for people who drive with their eyes closed.

 

[NutBucket]

I believe the Ford Focus Titanium can self-park and has adaptive cruise (at least as options).

Adaptive cruise is not even close to same as automatic collision avoidance.