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I know we have some enthusiasts of full-sized American automobiles on this forum and was curious what you thought all the older folks who enjoy full-sized automobiles are going to drive with the discontinuation of the Lincoln Town Car, Cadillac DTS, and Buick Lucerne after this year. I know quite a few older folks down here who love these big American automobiles and after this year, they won't be able to buy them new.
What vehicles are going to cater to this (ever growing) segment of American society? I'd say these three vehicles, as a whole, are the vehicles which the older generation seems to drive the most.
They'll drive the biggest passenger vehicles on the road...the bus. That's because they won't be able to retire and everyone else won't be able to afford driving much with gas prices steadily moving upward.
I know we have some enthusiasts of full-sized American automobiles on this forum and was curious what you thought all the older folks who enjoy full-sized automobiles are going to drive with the discontinuation of the Lincoln Town Car, Cadillac DTS, and Buick Lucerne after this year. I know quite a few older folks down here who love these big American automobiles and after this year, they won't be able to buy them new.
What vehicles are going to cater to this (ever growing) segment of American society? I'd say these three vehicles, as a whole, are the vehicles which the older generation seems to drive the most.
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I am 64 and still riding my motorcycle as long as weather permits. I am looking at a Can/Am Spyder three wheeler if I can get a decent trade in on my Vulcan 900. I may upgrade my four wheeler to a pickup with a towing package to tow my boat to the lake. I have no desire to ever own a Luxury car. The only luxury I want is my recliner in the Den.
Well Ford doesn't really have an answer for those folks yet. However, GM does with the Buick LaCrosse and the upcoming XTS. Both are much better cars overall than the traditional retiree mobile, but they still retain the size and ride that market wants.
I guess they'll have to resort to the used market if they truly feel that there are no NEW options. If you haven't noticed those full size cars last a long time no matter how much they're abused.
I suspect they will remain quite common for several decades to come despite being discontinued. There are a whole lot of them right now on the road and I doubt that parts for them will ever disappear in any of our lifetimes.
Around here only the most "senior" seniors seem to cling to the old full size models. They probably bought them new, drive them only a few thousand miles a year and the estate will sell them off in the end.
The "younger" seniors drive modest mid-sizers like the Taurus and similar stuff. Not too zippy, not too many gadgets, basic transportation. The joke around here is that if we parked every registered brown Buick Century and Ford Taurus end to end we'd have an unbroken line covering most of Pennsylvania from east to west.
Toyota Avalon. Seems like it's pretty much the closest thing to those cars that is still around and it's arguably the most basic/bland/boring car available today.
(Yes I'm generalizing and not saying that everyone over 65 wants to drive a boring car )
Id prefer they drive nothing. 89 year old lady next door to me, drove into my living room 2 years back. Um hello? You are too old to be driving if you cant figure out you are going forwards and not backwards.
With the passage of time I think fewer people associate huge cars and luxury.
I do think there will be more features aimed at older or disabled drivers and passengers - things like doors that are easier to open and that stay opened, more handholds for easier in/out, footwells that don't require lifting your legs up and over and a host of other things. All of those are available now as aftermarket add-ons or conversions, but I think the auto manufacturers will be adding them.
When I was caring for my father in his last few years, it was frustrating trying to find a rental car that was easy to get him in and out of and deal with first the walker and then the wheelchair. Minivans sort of work, but that clamber up into the seat can be difficult.
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